Model Engineers Boiler Test Code

[ChrisHParticipant @chrish]

In a previous life I was a boiler and pressure vessels surveyor and as such was deemed to be a 'competent person'. In those more practical days a 'competent person' was considered to be 'someone with the knowledge and experience to understand, know and anticipate the likely faults and defects and where to find them'. With the number of surveyors required them, when we had a large manufacturing industry, had the surveyors been required to be of 'incorporated engineer level' the industry would have been woefully short of surveyors. Progress is not necessarily a good thing!

Chris

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Have only ever seen one boiler let go, a stay really leaked within the firebox and put the fire out!

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I think it might be informative to read the article on the front page here: **LINK**

If this can be verified, perhaps it ought to be circulated more widely.

Is there a model engineer MP who might be willing to seek views from the likes of the HSE or to seek further information from the inusrance industry?

Neil

[michael howarth 1Participant @michaelhowarth1]

Neil…interesting snippet that, and a cynic might think that insuring model boilers could be a "nice little earner."

More worryingly though, if it is correct that the PSSR 2000 came into force on 1st January 2001 and in the absence of any transitional arrangement (and there has been no mention of any) then surely the written scheme of examination and subsequent examination and testing by incorporated engineers were legal requirements from that date.

Nevertheless, from that date the MELG has published a boiler test code (blue book?) which was not in accordance with the new law. Presumably, therefore, any boiler test carried out from that date was also not in accordance with the law. Insurance companies are represented on the MELG panel and were presumably in agreement with the unlawful test codes. The chairman of the MELG, Mr Tony Wood has brought to notice in this thread that any breach of the regulations may well void any insurance cover.

It therefore remains to be asked, whether those model engineers who in good faith had their boilers tested and subsequently paid for insurance since 2001 were in actual fact covered or was this a case of mis-selling?

Mick

[nigel jones 5Participant @nigeljones5]

This country is very good at making everything far more complicated and expensive than the rest of the world, and that has been our undoing! What seems like a good idea whilst sipping tea, sat round a comittee table seldom turns out that way in the real world. Let me give you a good example taken from the blue book – if one is to TIG a boiler in copper, the material has to have a mill cert. Did a model engineer ever try to do this? Ive tried everyone I can find in the UK and no one wants to know (they will do it if you are a commercial outfit) so another rule which joe engineer cant adhere to! And please dont quote legislation telling me they have to – because they simply wont do it. And having to be coded to TIG a boiler – have you ever seen the state of a weld from someone incompetent at TIG welding….it will never get near a boiler inspecter! The only people who can make a bad weld look good are good welders! Bad welders produce bad welds, and bad welds leak! One thing they did get right is the prohibition of non deoxygenated copper – it realy does form micro fractures on cooling and is not safe fot TIG work.

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

There is a well known model engine boiler maker who does indeed TIG weld copper boilers and they are CE marked as required.

[George RayParticipant @georgeray48079]

Has anyone else read the latest missive from the Southern Federation regarding the new boiler test code. Apparently the Written Schem of Examination must also be accompanied by a copy of the green book. However the code says that societies cannot charge for testing. So each Society has to Subsidise by covering the cost of the Green Book itself for every time a WSE is completed as well as the cost of certificates. This whole shambolic introduction does not reflect well on the hobby and its organisers.

[SteambuffParticipant @steambuff]

I don't think that is going to cause many problems ….. The last Blue Book I purchased was only 40p .. That is hardly going to break the bank, If they need to cover the cost they can ask the member to buy the Green Book or increase the subs and give every member a free copy.

Dave

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