When looking to diversify into new areas of work, one sector which is often overlooked by gas businesses is the installation and maintenance of commercial laundry equipment. Gas fired laundry equipment can be found in many types of premises including:
• laundrettes used by members of the public
• nursing and retirement homes
• student accommodation
• youth hostels
• hotels and b&bs
• hospitals.
The most common types of gas appliances found in laundries are driers, other types of equipment; including rotary ironers and combined washer dryers; may also be installed, running on either Natural Gas (NG) or Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Competence requirements
To be able to undertake gas work on NG laundry appliances and equipment engineers must hold a valid ACS certificate of competence for CCLNG1 (Core assessment) and CLE1 (appliance assessment).
Where the equipment is supplied by LPG the NG – LPG changeover assessment, CoNGLP1 (PD) must also be held. Should a domestic gas engineer wish to extend their scope to include commercial laundry, there is a changeover route, CoCCLNG1, which removes any duplicated assessment criteria already completed during domestic ACS assessments.
Assessment overview
CCLNG1has been designed according to the requirements of a number of British Standards, including BS8446:2005: Specification for the installation & maintenance of open flued, non-domestic gas-fired laundry appliances, and will assess the gas engineer’s core gas competencies relevant to commercial laundry installations including:
• Gas safety (installation & use) regulations
• Installation of pipework & fittings (up to 35mm 1¼”)
• Tightness testing (IGE/UP/1B)
• Dealing with Unsafe Situations
• Emergency Isolation Valves and controls
• Products and Characteristics of Combustion
• Checking and setting regulators
• Operation and checking of appliance gas safety devices and controls
• Make up air and exhaust ducts
CLE1 will require the engineer to carry out a number of practical tasks including:
• Installing the appliance
• Commissioning the appliance
• Identifying incorrect appliance installation
• Identifying and rectifying faulty gas safety controls
• Servicing and maintaining the appliance
Due to the assessment design, CCLNG1 and CLE1 are normally undertaken on the same occasion, which makes for a cost-effective and straight-forward assessment. Laundry assessments are available as an initial assessment for those undertaking ACS for the first time and as a re-assessment.
As with all ACS assessments, training is not a pre – requisite to, however if you do not have any experience of the commercial laundry sector, you would be well advised to speak to your local training provider to discuss your requirements.
Assessment Duration
For an experienced and well prepared gas engineer CCLNG1 & CLE1 assessments can normally be completed within 2 – 3 days. Where an engineer is holding CCN1 and is undertaking the changeover assessment route CoCCLNG1 & CLE1 the assessments can be completed within 1 day.
For further details on commercial Laundry assessments and any training needs contact your local Logic Certification approved assessment centre www.logiccertification.com
25% of changeover courses (commercial, commercial catering, LPG and Part P) when booked in conjunction with CCN1, click here.
