Condensing boiler

[Yorkie]

I don't wish to sound like a 'jobsworth' but in commisioning or servicing a condensing boiler (or any other boiler for that matter, the Gas Safe Register (formerly 'CORGI') announced in 2010 that all registered gas engineers who have modules CEN1 now require the combustion analyser ( different name for a flue gas analyser) qualification 'CPA1'. Those central heating engineers who do not hold the CPA1 qualification after 1st April 2012 will have their CEN1 suspended. In other words, if not CPA1 qualified within the next two months, (having had two years to come up to speed), they can still retain their Gas Safe registration, but will no longer be permitted to work on central heating boilers. (ACS stands for Accredited Certification Scheme and CEN1 is the specific diploma required for boiler engineers).

British Standards such as BS 6798, BS 7967 and BS 5871 Part 1 state the requirement to use a flue gas analyser when maintaining and servicing particular heating appliances. The CPA1 Combustion Performance Analysis of Domestic Appliances assessment is intended to provide 'gas engineers' with the essential knowledge of correctly using a flue gas analyser for boiler repairs. Monitoring the products of combustion is intended to ensure that a heating professional has the ability to precisely control levels of carbon monoxide (CO), oxygen (O2), the ratio of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide (CO/CO2), excess air and flue gas temperature.

At the risk of sounding cynical, I dare say that there are so-called 'heating professionals' who can't even spell 'combustion analyser' let alone know how to use one. Whether the traning module will add to their fund of knowledge, only time will tell.

At the rate things are going, in the not too distant future it will be mandatory to hold qualifications in colonic irrigation!

Given that older balanced flue boilers don't have a flue gas analysis point, and can only be checked by access to the flue terminal, I'm not sure to what extent the new requirement will be complied with, when some boilers are in lofts or in other locations high above ground level, with no access to the terminal other than via ladders or scaffolding.

Modern condensing boilers have a sampling point at the boiler which obviates the need to sample at the flue terminal. A jolly handy feature in Ed's case, given his intention to have a 9 M high concentric flue!

Wittered David.