During the peak of COVID 19 the HSE temporarily permitted registered gas engineers whose ACS qualifications had expired to remain on the Gas Safe Register for an additional period.

With lockdown measures easing, more ACS centres (including LCL Awards approved ones) are able to open, so the HSE is urging for reassessment to start taking place again.

All centres should of course be following government advice on social distancing, good hygiene and self-isolating if staff or trainees show symptoms of coronavirus.

How long have gas engineers got?

Where ACS qualifications have expired, installers have six months from the expiry date to achieve re-assessment. Beyond this point, candidates may be suspended from the Gas Safe Register and will have to take their ACS assessment to re-join.

In special circumstances where someone is unable to complete re-assessment within this timeframe – if they are high risk and shielding, for example – they must provide supporting evidence.

All training centres have been asked to give priority to engineers with expired qualifications. Gas installers must be encouraged to keep their ACS up to date, and avoid using the six-month extension wherever possible.

It is worth noting, that when capacity at centres hopefully increases, this six-month extension may be reduced or scrapped altogether.

Tell your customers!

To ensure gas safety and increase footfall through your centre, it’s important that you keep your Gas Safe Registered customers informed. Encourage those whose ACS is about the expire to book on for re-assessment and reassure them that you’re taking appropriate precautions to keep your centre safe.

Keep up to date with any changes to the Gas Safe Register’s position at www.gasssaferegister.co.uk.

We will keep LCL Awards centres up to speed with any changes.

For more information about our Gas qualifications, including ACS, click here.