Signing off boiler

[questions]

Hi,
Another question! We have had a new boiler installed. The upstairs radiators have been connected, but the downstairs ones are not in yet. The plumber says he can't sign off the boiler until the whole system is completed (which won't be for a while). However, a friend says this isn't right, as he is signing off the boiler, not the system. Which of these is correct? Also, what paperwork should we get when it is signed off?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Rickster123]

If he can run the heating up to temperature and run the hot water then he can commission the boiler. If he hasn't commissioned it yet then it should be left working. So in answer to your question it sounds like he's dragging his heels for some reason.

 

[Masood]

That's a bit of a tricky one, IMO. Your friend has a point that it's the boiler that's being signed off, but as part of the commissioning procedure and documentation the engineer attests that the system has been flushed, inhibitor added, etc. It's a requirement from manufacturers in order to validate the warranty. Only commissioning half the system leaves you in a bit of a quandary!

As for paperwork, the engineer should complete the Benchmark document at the back of the boiler installation manual, and report the installation to Gas Safe, who will in turn report it to Local Authority Building Controls, and send you a certificate of compliance.

 

[mfgs]

The boiler should be able to be signed off by the sounds of it. You should get a certificate through from Gas Safe when it is done, this can take about a month to turn up though once its been registered.

 

[questions]

Thank you all! The system as it is has been flushed, masood, but I don't know what you mean by inhibitor?

So if the boiler is not signed off, should it not be left on at the moment?

 

[questions]

To explain further- as it stands, the upstairs is fully connected and working. It will be a couple of months before downstairs is plastered and rads installed and connected. Should the boiler be signed off in order for us to have the rads upstairs on and have hot water running to the upstairs bathrooms, over the next 2 months or so until the system is completed?

 

[plumber0808]

The boiler should be signed off, if its turned on and working it can and should be commissioned, I would check his gas safe number to see if he's registered.

 

[gassafe]

I only commission the boiler & paperwork & boiler guarantee when paid in full!

Its like my little bit of leverage!

 

[Masood]

Thank you all! The system as it is has been flushed, masood, but I don't know what you mean by inhibitor?

Inhibitor is a chemical added to the system water after installation to reduce the chance of corrosion and sludge formation.

 

[stoker122]

As long as the correct amount of inhibitor has been added your guy can commission and sign it off. Hopefully the downstairs zone has been valved and you won't lose the inhibitor to a drain down.

 

[questions]

Yes downstairs is valved, although I have no idea what a drain down is! Worryingly, I'm quite intrigued!

 

[questions]

gassafe thanks, yes I understand leverage may often be useful. So if you had a job where completion of half the system was planned several months before completion of the other half (and this was known from the outset, with interim payments made as the job went along) would you keep the comissioning held back for those months? Thanks again!

 

[stoker122]

If you didn't have valves you would need to drain the upstairs to join the downstairs up

 

[AWheating]

what do you understand as being signed off?

if you mean the boiler should be commissioned (tested to prove its woring safe and correct) to manufacturer's instructions then yes it should be, but it cant be registered with building control until the system is in complete working order........ie. complete, flushed, interlock etc......

theres no rush if its going to be done in a while, you may want to registed the boiler for its manufacture warrantee in the mean time just in case it breaks down?

unless you distrust your engineer i would not worry about it. As you are having the system fitted in halves you should expect some things to not follow the norm.