Competent person scheme
In plumbing
A government-authorised scheme in England and Wales whose registered members can sign off notifiable building work they carry out as meeting the Building Regulations and tell building control about it for the owner. The other main route is for the owner to notify building control before the work starts. Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own systems.
Using Competent person scheme in a plumbing system
Updated
A distinction worth remembering
A cylinder fed from a cistern behaves differently from one sealed and fed from the main. Pressure, the parts on the inlet and the safety devices all follow from that one fact. Learn to tell the two apart and to see which faults belong to a competent unvented installer.
Questions to take further
- Is a dripping discharge pipe on an unvented cylinder a minor nuisance?
- No. It shows a relief valve is opening, so something in the system is not working as designed. The discharge route stays open and the fault goes to a competent installer.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Approved Document G — Guidance for England on hot-water safety, including stored hot water; guidance is not itself the legislation.
- Skills England: plumbing and domestic heating technician — The systems, materials, planning and customer responsibilities in the England occupational standard.
Where Competent person scheme fits in the learning path
The Hot Water Systems section covers these topics:
- Hot Water Cylinders
- Combis and Instant Hot Water
- Hot Water Temperature Control
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- Hot Water CylindersHot Water Systems
- Radiators and Heating ControlsCentral Heating
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A hot-water cylinder fed straight from the mains with no open vent or cold storage cistern, so it stores hot water under pressure. It depends on safety devices, including temperature and pressure relief, and on discharge pipework that carries hot water away safely if they operate. Recognise one and hand it over: in England, installing an unvented hot-water system that holds more than 15 litres is notifiable building work, done by a competent installer registered with a competent-person scheme or with building control told before work starts. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own building rules.
Unvented cylinder
Read the Unvented cylinder entryCompare related terms
Open a meaning to compare its role with Competent person scheme, or follow its full entry.
Unvented cylinder
A hot-water cylinder fed straight from the mains with no open vent or cold storage cistern, so it stores hot water under pressure. It depends on safety devices, including temperature and pressure relief, and on discharge pipework that carries hot water away safely if they operate. Recognise one and hand it over: in England, installing an unvented hot-water system that holds more than 15 litres is notifiable building work, done by a competent installer registered with a competent-person scheme or with building control told before work starts. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own building rules.
Read the Unvented cylinder entryGas Safe Register
The official register of businesses allowed to do gas work. In Great Britain, the law says businesses and self-employed people doing gas work are to be registered. Each engineer carries an ID card listing the kinds of gas work they can do, and the card can be checked online before work starts.
Read the Gas Safe Register entryBefore you start: some plumbing work is regulated or notifiable
Some water fittings work needs notice to, and consent from, the water supplier before it starts. Check the rules where you live.
Gas work is for competent workers covered by a Gas Safe registered business in Great Britain. Northern Ireland has separate gas regulations. Do not work on gas pipes or appliances yourself.
In England, installing an unvented hot-water system over 15 litres is notifiable building work: use a competent installer registered with a competent-person scheme, or tell building control before work starts. Leave this work to a suitably skilled person.
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own water and building rules; check which apply before work starts. Electrical connections belong with an electrician.
This guide does not qualify you or make you competent, approved or registered for plumbing, gas or unvented work.
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