Gas Boiler Act postponed: new effective date is now 1 January 2023

Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations Kajsa Ollongren has decided to postpone the definitive effective date to 1 January 2023. Originally, the Gas Boiler Act has been in force since 1 October, 2020, but a transitional period still applies to installation companies. That transitional period has now been automatically extended by nine months. Curious what this means for your company? We would be happy to explain it to you.

Edit: the definitive effective date of the Gas Boiler Act has since been postponed again to 1 April 2023.

Why has the Gas Boiler Act been postponed?

According to Minister Ollongren, the original effective date of 1 April 2022 is no longer feasible. Under the Gas Boiler Act, installation companies that install gas boilers must obtain CO certification in accordance with the certification schemes of InstallQ, Kiwa, or the Dutch Hearth and Stove Industry Association (NHK). However, these schemes have not yet been approved because they do not yet fully meet the requirements of the legislation. For this reason, installation companies currently do not have the opportunity to get certified. According to Ollongren, these schemes should have been ready by now to meet the effective date of 1 April, 2022. It is expected that the schemes will be approved by the Dutch Accreditation Council (Raad voor Accreditatie) and the TLOKB (Admissions Organization for Quality Assurance in Construction) by the end of 2021, so that companies can get certified starting in early 2022.

What does the change mean for my installation company?

Although the final effective date of the Gas Boiler Act has been postponed, you will eventually still have to comply with the mandatory CO certification and legislation. After all, postponement is not cancellation. The only advantage is that you have a little more time, though it is advisable to start preparing well in advance. Ultimately, hundreds of installation companies need to be qualified, and that requires a great deal of effort. In addition to obtaining the required certifications, as an installation company, you must also ensure that your administration is in order in line with the new Gas Boiler Act. It is important to document technicians’ qualifications so the right technician is assigned to the right job. The Bluace team is happy to assist you with this. View more information here.

What is the new Gas Boiler Act?

The new Gas Boiler Act was drafted after it became apparent that too many accidents were occurring with modern central heating systems. The Gas Boiler Act aims to ensure that technicians work safely on gas installations, without releasing carbon monoxide or causing accidents. Installers must obtain the mandatory CO certification through a theory test and a practical exam, and demonstrate their competence with the Vakpaspoort. As of 1 January, 2023, it is prohibited for a non-certified installer to work on a gas boiler. All installation companies with the BRL 6000-25 certificate will eventually be included in the online register, making them easy to find.