Benchmark Commissioning and Servicing Record goes digital
HHIC is letting heating engineers know that it’s time to move from the traditional paper Benchmark Commissioning Checklist and Service Record to the new digital Benchmark platform.
The digital Benchmark Commissioning Record provides heating engineers with a straightforward way to complete and maintain installation, commissioning and servicing records, while giving householders an accessible record of their heating system.
It is a requirement under the Building Regulations in England and Wales that the heating appliance must be installed and commissioned to the manufacturer’s instructions and the Benchmark commissioning checklist completed in full, either via the Benchmark App or web portal.
The Benchmark Checklist has been a familiar part of a domestic heating engineer’s routine, providing a record that the heating appliance has been installed, commissioned and serviced in line with manufacturers’ instructions, Building Regulations and relevant British Standards.
The heating appliance must also be registered for warranty with the manufacturer within one month of the installation. You can do this when you’re completing the Benchmark checklist.
Note: The warranty belongs to the end user, and they should be made aware of this. If the installer does not register the appliance for the warranty, it’s the customer’s responsibility to register with the manufacturer, within the allotted time period.
The heating appliance must be serviced at least annually in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations. The service details should be recorded in the servicing section on the Benchmark App or web portal. Failure to comply with the servicing instructions and requirements risks invalidating the appliance’s warranty.
Commercial appliances now included
Commercial appliances are now included on Benchmark, to demonstrate that the appliance has been installed and commissioned in line with the manufacturer’s instructions. It also provides a record for contractors and building owners that it has been serviced and maintained correctly.
ICOM director Steve McConnell said: “For commercial heating, where system performance, reliability and ongoing maintenance are critical, keeping accurate commissioning and servicing records is essential. Benchmark provides a record for all stakeholders and demonstrates professionalism and competence.”
Digital record
The move to digital is designed to give installers and contractors the right tools to make recording installation, commissioning and servicing information easier and less time-consuming. It provides a clear record they can share with customers, demonstrating that they are doing everything they can to support them properly.
Future changes to standards and additions to the Benchmark checklist will only be incorporated into the digital version, so it’s important to make sure that commissioning and servicing records are completed in full using Benchmark Online or in the app.
The paper-based version of the Benchmark Commissioning Checklist and Service Record is no longer maintained.
Water treatment now recorded
Water treatment test results are also included in the digital Benchmark Commissioning Record.
Installers can record water quality data directly through the Benchmark platform, including inhibitor checks at commissioning and at each annual service.
Correct inhibitor concentration has a major impact on system efficiency, reliability and longevity, while poor water quality can adversely affect manufacturer warranties should issues arise.
Recording this information digitally makes it easier for installers to demonstrate which water treatment processes have been carried out and which products have been used. It also provides useful information for engineers returning to service the system, to identify the inhibitor used, choose the correct on-site test kit and top up concentrations where required.
The move is also intended to raise awareness among consumers of the importance of water treatment and the role it plays in maintaining the performance and longevity of their heating system.
Benchmark Online provides a structured, consistent way to record key system data over the entire life of the installation.
More information about Benchmark Online can be found at www.benchmark.org.uk
You can find the apps by searching for Benchmark for Installers on iOS and Google Play.