Boiler tests comercial or club

Clubs usually test for free as it is a service for members of the club just as other members will clean the track, make tea, and whatever. It is part of participating in club activities.
However club inspectors really really hate it when someone just rolls up having just joined solely to get a ticket. After all they are spending and hour or two of their time so why should they help out when others aren't pulling their weight and participating in the running of the club.
A certificate does not suddenly become invalid when one leaves the club as it is a record of an operation carried out to certain standards. However insurance is another think. The club insurance will typically cover certain steaming activities enabling you to avoid additional costs but beware that it is not going to cover non club related uses.

A commercial inspector will apply commercial regulations and probably want to inspect the design details, though might be understanding of a commercially produced product. However they are gong to charge commercial rates for professional time and insurance, travel etc. Think building surveyor - probably similar.

Bazlye is pretty spot on however it's on wheels so insurance needs to be taken out by the owner for boiler cover and RTA insurance the club normally covers the public liability . a number of my fellow club members use a commercial boiler inspector rather than the club boiler inspectors the main benefit being longer period between test and I'm told pay around £120 for a steam test and £200 for a hydraulic and steam test.At the end of the day both club and comercial certs get you the same insurance Club certs last until expiry date even if you leave the club OK I take your point about having no car but I would recommend joining a club get to know fellow enthusiasts have knowledge on tap and before no time you will find members who will be happy to give you a lift

Hope this helps

H

Joining a club also opens up a huge volume of free information and fault finding knowledge. We have people without cars and they get welcomed into our club and get ferried around to all sorts of places.

£20 for membership, free boiler tests and help when it fails-------------------------bargain

There seems to be a misconception creeping into this thread with regard to the validity of certificates issued by clubs.

Certificates issued by clubs only remain valid for as long as the owner of the model remains a member of the 7 1/4" Gauge Society or is a member of a club affiliated to the Southern Fed or Northern Assoc.

Each model should have a Written Scheme of Examination part of which is the 'Green' book - The Examination & Testing of Miniature Steam Boilers (Revised Edition 2012), which should be included in the paperwork of the boiler.

This book clearly states paragraph 12.8:

................. If a boiler changes hands a certificate issued under this Test Code remains valid providing the new owner of the boiler complies with Boiler Test Code 2012 paragraph 2.1 ..........

Paragraph 2.1 states:

This Boiler Test Code is for the examination, testing and certificating of steam boilers owned and/or operated, for hobby purposes only, by membersof the 7 1/4"Gauge Society, by members of Clibs and Societies affiliated to the Southern Federation of Model Engineering Societies and by members of Clubs and Societies affiliated to the Northern Association of Model Engineers.

In my book this means if you join a club just to get a boiler certificate and you subsequently leave the club without joining another then your certificate becomes invalid.

Without doubt this brings to question people selling models with  'valid' certificates, particularly those involved in 'trade'.

Mike Rometer

Edited By mike rometer on 23/02/2016 12:23:14

Don't know what club you are a member of .. but mine is just over £60 per year (We do not do public running), but still excellent value.

Dave

My club is £25 pa !

My club (Mid Sussex) is £20 a year. We get a workshop and boiler testing for this. Colin