What to Do If You have Lost Your Boiler Installation Certificate

Keeping important documents in safe custody is highly important. Documents such as property and car ownership, insurance deeds, building regulations compliance certificates, and many others need to be safely stored for future reference. A Boiler Installation Certificate is another vital document that must be preserved to prove that the boiler was installed by a qualified gas safety engineer, under the safety standards.

Ideally, all such certificates and documents should have been stored safely, and there is hardly any possibility of having lost any of those. However, the chance of misplacing or losing an important document, such as a Boiler Installation Certificate, cannot be ruled out. It might happen while reorganizing your valuables; you may have lost it accidentally. Another possibility is that you may have stored it somewhere, but don’t remember where. Whatever the reason, a lost boiler installation certificate must be retrieved for reference and proof that the boiler was installed by safety protocols and the prevailing UK Building Regulations. 

This blog will guide you through various steps to get a replacement boiler installation certificate.

Importance of Boiler Installation Certificate

Having a Boiler Installation Certificate, a Benchmark Certificate for Boiler Installation, or a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate is a critically important matter in the UK. Before exploring possible ways to obtain a replacement for the lost Boiler Installation Certificate, let’s first understand why this certificate is so important:

1. It is a legal requirement in the UK to have a valid Boiler Installation Certificate under the provisions of the Building Regulations. 
2. It is a confirmation that the installation of the boiler complies with the relevant safety standards. 
3. It confirms that Building Regulations governing the energy efficiency standards were strictly followed while installing the boiler.
4. It is a confirmation that a registered Gas Safe engineer installed the gas boiler. 
5. It also confirms that a qualified professional installed the Oil or Electric Boiler. 
6. This certificate may be required when selling your property. 
7. It may also be necessary to claim warranties for your boilers.
8. This certificate is often required by insurance companies when processing your insurance claims.
9. The Gas Safe registered engineer may require it for any subsequent repairs and maintenance. 

In Case You Have Lost Your Boiler Installation Certificate

If you have lost your Boiler Installation Certificate, you should first search for it internally. Search your storage area, document folders, and other possible locations within your home. If at all, you are sure that you have somehow lost it, you need not worry or panic. There are several ways to obtain a replacement certificate. You need to proceed steadily, as follows:

• Contact the Engineer Who Installed Your Boiler

The first and best option is to contact the engineer who initially installed your boiler. It is always recommended to preserve the contact details of any engineer or contractor who is engaged for such work in your home. It is even more critical for the installation of home appliances, as you may need their assistance at any time in maintenance, servicing, or replacement over the years. 

The engineer who had installed your boiler must have kept a record of all such installations. If so, he is the one who can produce a duplicate copy of the certificate issued initially at the time of installation of the boiler.

However, if you cannot readily find their contact details, you may find their contact number by searching the invoices or bills issued by them at the time of installation or subsequent maintenance. Once found, you need to call him and request a duplicate copy of the boiler installation certificate. Ideally, he should provide it without any cost.

• Contact Gas Safe Register – Applicable Only to Gas Boilers

The next possible solution is to contact the Gas Safe Register if your boiler is gas-fired. A Gas Safe Registered Engineer should have installed a gas boiler. These engineers are bound to keep a record of any such installations or subsequent maintenance and servicing. The Gas Safe Register maintains a record of all boiler installations if the engineer has notified them.

In this case, you have two options. Firstly, you can directly contact the Gas Safe Registered Engineer who installed the boiler in your home. He is supposed to have a complete record of this installation and would be in a position to provide you with a replacement certificate. 

The second, or more convenient, way is to visit the official website of Gas Safe Register. You can use the option "Find an Engineer" to search for the Engineer who initially installed your boiler. However, you would need at least the basic credentials of that engineer to locate him. Alternately, you may also try to find your last Gas Safety Certificate (CP12), which may also serve the purpose of a Boiler Installation Certificate, in some cases.

However, if you can locate the person who installed your boiler, they can assist you by providing a replacement certificate.

• Apply for a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate

Another option is to apply for a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate. This option is only available if the installation of a boiler was certified under the Building Regulations. If it was done accordingly, you can apply for a replacement Building Regulations Compliance Certificate, which satisfies the requirement of a Boiler Installation Certificate. 

This option can be used in case you fail to get a replacement certificate through the Gas Safe Register. It may cost you a nominal fee. 

• Check with the Seller or Manufacturer of Your Boiler

Sometimes, the manufacturers and the warranty providers may also have the relevant record of the installation of your boiler. You may approach them to find out if they have the record of installation. If so, they can help get a replacement certificate for you. You will need to provide the serial number of your boiler, which will enable them to search the relevant record.

• Last Resort – Arrange a New Inspection

Suppose all the above options are tried, and you still are unable to get a replacement boiler installation certificate. In that case, the last option is to arrange a completely new inspection of your boiler. A registered Gas Safe engineer can conduct this. Hire his services to inspect the installation of your boiler, to confirm that the same was done strictly as per the standard procedure, while complying with the relevant regulations. On successful inspection, the engineer will provide you with a fresh boiler installation certificate. If it is an oil or electric boiler, you may need to hire the services of a Registered Engineer.

In both cases, you will have to pay the prescribed fee to the engineer to get your desired Boiler Installation Certificate. 

Future Precautions 

To avoid any such issues in the future, ensure the safekeeping of your boiler installation certificate along with other essential documents. You may adopt the following measures to preserve your valuable documents:

• Make digital copies of all such documents, including the Boiler Installation Certificate, and store them electronically in your mobile, laptop, or tablet. This can be done by scanning the documents or just by taking a digital photo of the certificates. 
• Preserve physical copies in a document folder and place the folder under lock and key, at a safe location within your home.
• Make photocopies of such important documents and store them separately at some other location within your home. This is handy even if the originals are lost somehow.

Conclusion

Safekeeping of essential documents, including the Boiler Installation Certificate, is crucial. Being a responsible person, it is expected that you keep your essential papers safely, within your reach at all times. However, there is every possibility of losing some of these papers for any reason. If you find yourself in this situation, there is no need to panic or worry, especially if you have lost your boiler installation certificate. You have multiple options available to obtain a replacement certificate.

A replacement certificate can be arranged by either contacting the engineer who initially installed your boiler or by contacting the Gas Safe Register, if it was a gas boiler. Alternately, you may also apply for a replacement Building Regulations Compliance Certificate if the installation was certified under the Building Regulations. As a last resort, you can arrange a fresh inspection of your boiler by a gas safe registered engineer, who can confirm that the installation is compliant with the Building Regulations. 

For future safety, you need to manage to preserve your important documents, including the boiler installation certificate. This can be done by saving digital copies on your mobile phone or laptop. You can also make additional photocopies of the certificate and store them separately at a safe location.