F-Gas folly

[David Rooney]

Having spent a day on the practical, and now having sat the FIA training day and exam, apparently now we need to apply for our company registration etc.

It turns out that as part of it all we are supposed to carry adequate tools and manuals etc to take gas cylinders apart.

Even though we don't physically touch the cylinders apart from disconnecting the solenoids and pressure switches - all we do is the FD&A side.

We employ a BAFE accredited F-Gas certificated firm to do the mechanical stuff.

So what is the point of us being certificated, and why on earth should we be forced to buy tools and test equipment we are not competent to use?

[kurnal]

So is it the European Regulation that requires you to maintain this competence for skills and tool kit that you will never need?

Was it intended that as a certified contractor you took on a policing role of some sort and may have a duty to recover or confiscate cylinders from a site? I dont know it just seems curious.

[Allen Higginson]

Freezer engineer regulation adapted for the fire guys.

[David Rooney]

So is it the European Regulation that requires you to maintain this competence for skills and tool kit that you will never need?

Was it intended that as a certified contractor you took on a policing role of some sort and may have a duty to recover or confiscate cylinders from a site? I dont know it just seems curious.

http://www.fia.uk.com/en/Training/Training_Courses/fgas-certification-for-technicians.cfm

This pretty much explains it all.... it's just a complete money making ill thought out waste of time for companies like ours.

[David Rooney]

So presumably the Brigades are aware of these regulations and the illegalities of engineers touching certain types of fixed extinguishing systems or is this just another bit of legislative dog crap trodden in the carpet sneaked in under the shoe of Brussels and sanctioned by DEFRA??

 

[AnthonyB]

There's a lot of debate on this on http://firealarmengineers.com/forum/ a forum frequented by a lot of people in the trade.

Other than in specification documents for tenders from high end customers (Govt contracts, multi nationals, etc) I can't see it ever raising it's head - just like I've not seen hide nor hair of the 'Halon Police' since it's ban...

[David Rooney]

Yep like me.... ESP !!