Since 2006, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has worked with the gas industry to put in place a new regulatory system to supervise the work of gas installers with respect to safety. This new statutory-based regulatory system has replaced the previous voluntary register operated by Bord Gaìs.
The CER has appointed The Register of Gas Installers of Ireland (R.G.I.I.) as The Gas Safety Supervisory Body (GSSB).
R.G.I.I. is a wholly owned subsidiary of R.E.C.I. and is reponsible for the registering of gas installers and regulating their activities with respect to safety. R.G.I.I will carry out this function on behalf of the Commission for Energy Regulation as set down in the
Criteria Document Version 1.4 of 19/09/2013.
On the 26 June 2009 the CER enacted the
Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 which makes it illegal for any person who is not a Registered Gas Installer (RGI) registered with the GSSB (R.G.I.I.) to undertake
"Gas Work". It has also became a legal requirement for all RGIs to issue a
Declaration of Conformance (completion cert) for all "Gas Work" carried out. Individuals who carry out "Gas Work" and who are not registered will be subject to criminal proceedings. It is the CER's responsibility to proceed with such prosecutions where necessary under the Act.
Summarized: For the purposes of section 9G(3) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, 'works which are gas works' means the installation, removal, repair, servicing, maintenance or replacement (or any combination of foregoing) of a Natural Gas Fitting covered by I.S. 813:2002 which is:
(a) used or designed to be used by a Domestic Gas Customer; or
(b) which is designed to be used by a Domestic Gas Customer but whic is installed in a Commercial or an Industrial Premises;
This including all domestic appliances designed to be used by domestic customers, where they are used by both commercial and industrial customers.
The Gas Installer Register is an individual register i.e. each Installer is registered individually with their own Rxxxx ID number, being a Sole Trader or working for a Gas Company. Gas Companies are also registered under an ID number Cxxxx.
Note: Registered Gas Installers (RGI) are separate entities to RGII i.e. businesses or sole traders and RGII have no control over there methods and practices except in relation to Gas Safety. RGII would at all times recommend customers to contact a least three RGI to compare cost, quality and service issues before entering into any contract.