Association of Registered Gas Installers

The Association of Registered Gas Installers (ARGI) is a free web-based association. Registration (membership) is open to gas installers who are already registered with CORGI (Council for Registered Gas Installers). ARGI was formed in 2004 to enable Registered Gas Installers (RGIs) to communicate effectively with each other, discuss matters affecting the industry and to make representations on their behalf, none of which is possible through CORGI itself.

Background
In recent years there has been controversy over some aspects of the expanding role of CORGI. Some gas installers feel that the organization is overbearing and an excessive financial burden, and that little is being done to stop unregistered installers operating. It is mainly as a consequence of this that ARGI was formed.

Registration (free membership) with ARGI is increasing rapidly. In total there are around 55,000 CORGI registered businesses in the UK employing nearly 110,000 gas operatives, so there remains scope for the expansion of ARGI.

During 2006 ARGI has gained in credibility and has recently been invited by CORGI to join the CORGI Principal Representative Body (formerly the CORGI Council) and was represented during the latest Fundamental Review of Gas Safety conducted by the HSE.

The real danger of CO poisoning
Notwithstanding gas explosions, the greatest danger to the public in using gas is from Carbon Monoxide (CO), which is a highly toxic by-product of the combustion process. Most of the concern for gas safety focuses on the safe dispersal of CO through ventilation and flue systems. Modern gas appliances are much safer in this respect and the number of fatalities from CO poisoning has greatly declined.

Each year around 30 people are killed as a result of CO poisoning. This should however be looked at in the context of other causes of death such as over 3,000 killed each year by motor vehicles and 30,000 extra winter deaths each year due partly to a lack of affordable heating. Lord Hunt at the recent Parliamentary Review himself raised the issue of "proportionality" and "not the only problem in the world".

Drivers, who bear responsibility for 3,000 deaths a year in the UK (and arguably many more if air pollution is taken into account), are normally tested only once in their entire lives, yet RGIs are reassessed every 5 years. This is arguably inconsistent.

Dealing with unregistered installers
Registered installers must spend time and money on training and assessments to maintain their level of competence and CORGI registration. This adds substantially to their overheads and their charges to the public must reflect that.

However there are many unregistered installers who do not carry these overheads and who typically offer a cheaper service to the public. Consequently ARGI view the RGIs increasing overheads as increasing the price differential and therefore a boost to the unregistered installer with whom they must compete.

One often proposed means of tackling this is to allow gas appliances to be sold only to RGIs. The identified RGI would then be responsible for the installation (or disposal/resale). However the Government appear unwilling to pursue this strategy.