PRESS RELEASE FROM CORGI – 12.10.2003
Re-assessment process and changes to initial ACS
Date: 07/10/03 Author: CORGI
BACK IN January 2003 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) confirmed to CORGI that the Domestic Natural Gas ACS Re-assessment Criteria presented by CORGI to the HSE’s Operative Competency Working Group 3 had received the endorsement of the group. That left the way clear for ACS Certification Bodies to develop assessments to meet the criteria for the re-assessment programme to be put in place by Certification Bodies from the 1 August 2003.
The key features of the “tailored” re-assessment process meet industry requirements, which were expressed through their responses to the Health and Safety Executive's Fundamental Review of Gas Safety.
The key features of re-assessment are:
An expected reduction in assessment time, e.g., re-assessment of core gas safety assessment CCN1 with 4 appliance assessments being completed in approximately eight hours by a well prepared and experienced operative. This is compared currently with three days when the Initial ACS package of Core and 4 appliance assessments are taken.
For those operatives wishing to be assessed on fewer or more appliances than the four covered by the “tailored” re-assessments, certification bodies, through their assessment centres, can offer additional tailored assessments which cover the required variation without unnecessary duplication.
The balance between the amount of practical assessment time and that of knowledge and understanding has been adjusted so that the re-assessment is approximately 85% practical assessment compared with 50% on initial assessment. _ Only those operatives who have previously been issued with ACS certification and/or ACS aligned N/SVQ are eligible to take the re-assessment, i.e., renewing expiring certification.
Operatives extending their area of gas work, for example, into central heating will need to take the full Initial CEN 1 assessment in addition to the re-assessment assessments.
The introduction of new terminology to replace the term “packaged” assessment (which means the collective assessment of a number of different assessments, e.g., core plus appliances) to “tailored”
assessments. The tailored assessment process is designed help to eliminate any unnecessary assessment repetition.
The Re-assessment criteria have been designed to re-assess operatives in:
Areas of gas safety where relevant normative documents have been amended and or superseded.
Areas of gas safety where new technology has superseded existing technology
Areas of gas safety that is fundamental and essential for operatives to demonstrate retention of competence.
Areas of gas safety where working practices have changed due to any or all of the above.
The Re-assessment will not assess operatives in:
Areas of gas work not likely to be encountered on a regular basis.
Criteria initially assessed, where changes have meant they no longer have a direct impact on operative’s ability to continue carrying out gas work, e.g., the long screw, relay valves and bi metal strips.
Key features and benefits of the re-assessment strategy and structure.
Strategy and structure remains in accordance with the requirements of EN45013 (ISO 17024).
Retains the Health and Safety Commissions requirements for five yearly re-assessment of gas safety competence.
Allows continual alignment with the Gas Services N/SVQ.
Performance and knowledge & understanding assessment criteria have been streamlined.
Performance assessment has been amended to assess competence primarily by inspection, testing and commissioning.
Retains Knowledge & understanding assessment of factors directly affecting gas work which cannot be assessed by practical performance.
Tailoring of assessments by Certification Bodies to reduce assessment repetition and to make it easier for operatives and assessment centres to understand the assessment requirements. Further work being carried out to complete the re-assessment process
CORGI, at the request of the HSE, is currently in the process of drafting the following documents whilst consulting with the appropriate industry sectors:
Re-assessment criteria for LPG
Commercial, commercial catering and laundry re-assessment criteria.
Metering and emergency service reassessment criteria.
Revised initial assessment criteria to reflect changes that have been made to the re-assessment criteria.
This work will be ongoing throughout 2003. Changes affecting both initial and re-assessment
Changes have been made to the existing. Requirements and Guidance document, which is now titled Operational Requirements for Certification Bodies Operating ACS. Other significant changes in this
document include:
Application conditions for ACS assessment
Result (pass/fail) procedure for re-assessment
ACS and ACS aligned N/SVQ relationship and matrix
The introduction of limited electrical testing.
Should you require any clarification of this information or additional information please contact any member of the CORGI ACS team.
ACS re-assessment will be available for those operatives whose Domestic Natural Gas ACS certificates of gas safety competence are expiring
Editor’s Note: To see the original document Corgi Registered Gas Installers should access the Extranet via the Installer pages and look under News. Others should access the main website and look under registration.
