Gas Tag, shortlisted for a number of gas safety industry awards, provides the first time-stamped, geo-tagged and photo-verified accountability for all gas work carried out by an engineer.
The ground-breaking technology is already helping a number of landlords, housing associations and local authorities across the country to combat the scourge of illegal gas fitters and enforce gas safety regulations.
Gas Tag is the only technology that verifies the credentials of engineers via a direct link to the Gas Safe Register.
Each engineer is able to evidence their competency and their completed job gets uploaded to a centralised portal where the data can be monitored in real-time.
This provides landlords with a ‘NASA-style’ dashboard for gas safety compliance.
Since launching in July 2017 Gas Tag has won the backing of a number of MPs and industry figures, who believe the company’s technology can bring about a revolution in gas safety.
Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group Barry Sheerman MP said: “This is the most significant quantum leap in domestic gas safety compliance for 20 years.”
Gas Safe Register, the official gas registration organisation for the UK, found that around 1.1 million gas jobs are carried out every year by illegal gas fitters who are not properly qualified, putting householders at risk.
Phil Green, CEO of Buckinghamshire Housing Association, said: “Thanks to this new technology, we know that all gas work is carried out by Gas Safe Register engineers giving our residents even greater reassurance that the work has been carried out to the highest standard.”
Mayfair art dealer Gordon Samuel, whose daughter Katie drowned in the bath after being overcome by deadly gas fumes from a faulty boiler, said: “It is shocking that it is not compulsory for gas boilers to be serviced annually and that there are so many jobs being done by illegal fitters.
“When a car goes for an MOT it is subject to industry standard checks, yet a gas boiler can be issued with a safety certificate with little more than a quick visual check. Some engineers are even approving boilers without visiting a property while others backdate records.”
Gas Tag has already won contracts with several housing associations and local authorities across the UK. Private equity house Waterland has invested in the business valuing it at over £20 million.
Paul Durose, co-founder of Gas Tag, said: “Our app makes it easier for those with responsibility for the control of premises, including landlords, to understand what their duties are and how to comply with health and safety law.
“We are already looking beyond gas and adding further game-changing products aimed at safety compliance. Constant innovation and new product development is central to our long-term business strategy.”
Earlier this year Gas Tag launched a campaign in Parliament called Axe Safety Tax to have VAT abolished on safety products in the home such as smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and fire blankets.
The campaign has been supported by Robbie Fowler, Paddy McGuinness and Midge Ure as well as Shadow Minister for Housing Yvonne Fovargue and Baroness Finlay of Llandaff.
Last week, Gas Tag was shortlisted for seven awards including AGSM’s ‘Gas Safety Initiative of the Year’, ‘Innovative Product of the Year’ in IGEM Gas Industry Awards and ‘HVAC Initiative of the Year’ in this year’s Heating & Ventilation News Awards.