Building Regulations Approved Scheme - OFTEC

OFTEC Registered Technicians: Are individually trained at an OFTEC Approved Training Centre, and their skills independently assessed before they can apply for OFTEC Registration; Have their work inspected from time to time by an OFTEC Inspector; Are re-assessed every five years to maintain their Registration; Carry an identity card confirming the type of oil heating work for which they are registered; Have to hold appropriate insurance to work in your home; Are able (in England and Wales) to self-certify work for which they are Registered. (Non-Registered technicians must, by law, notify Local Authority Building Control, or submit plans when installing oil-fired appliances); Will leave with you a written statement of the work they have done on your appliance, replacement parts fitted and recommendations for work needed in the future.

Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS)

Each month thousands of contractors and consultants (suppliers) apply for work with public and private sector organisations (buyers). To win work, they must meet the buyer’s health and safety standards.

Assessing suppliers health and safety competence is usually a lengthy and time consuming process. Suppliers can sometimes meet one buyer’s Health and Safety standards but not another. Being CHAS approved reduces duplication as suppliers compliance is accepted by all CHAS buyers.

CHAS assesses applicants' Health and safety: Policy statement; Organisation and their specific health and safety arrangements to a standard acceptable to buyers and to others.

Gas Safe Register

Gas Safe Register has replaced CORGI in Great Britain and the Isle of Man. The register exists to protect you, your family, and your property from dangerous gas work. By law, anyone carrying out work on gas installations and appliances in your home must be on the Gas Safe Register.  You can find a Gas Safe registered business in your area by entering your postcode.  Every gas safe engineer carries a Gas Safe card which verifies that they are who they say they are and which also gives details of the work they are legally allowed to undertake. Always ask to see their card.

Landlords and tenants can find advice on rights and responsibilities regarding gas appliances and gas safety when renting a property.

Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation

SNIPEF Licensed Plumbing Businesses are inspected on an ongoing basis, employ properly qualified and trained staff, hold Public Liability Insurance and produce an annual Financial Integrity Statement. If there is a complaint either about the cost of the work undertaken by the Licensed Business or the quality of work, these should be raised in the first instance with the Licensed Business. The Licensed Business will investigate any complaints made and take the necessary action to resolve the complaint. If contact with the Licensed Business fails to resolve the matter, then the Plumbing Licensing Board operates an independent complaints mechanism.

Trading Standards - Dumfries and Galloway

The Dumfries and Galloway Trusted Trader Scheme is a local business partnership aimed at increasing consumer confidence, supporting local businesses, and helping protect people from doorstep crime. The scheme is operated by Dumfries and Galloway Council Trading Standards Service. Businesses signing up to the scheme must abide by certain terms and conditions which reflect their responsible and sensible approach to the way they trade and conduct their business.

A major feature of the scheme is customer feedback which is published on an online database maintained by an independent third party, Referenceline Ltd.

Member firms shall be responsible for their work and Dumfries and Galloway Council accepts no liability for any work done.