What RGI Stands For
RGI stands for Registered Gas Installer. It is the statutory registration held by plumbers, heating engineers and gas fitters who are qualified to work on natural gas and LPG systems in Ireland. The scheme is a legal requirement under the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006, and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is the regulator responsible for it.
Day-to-day the scheme is run by Safe Energy Ireland, the Gas Safety Supervisory Body appointed by the CRU, which took over from the previous operator in January 2023. Every registered installer is issued a unique registration number recorded on the public register at rgi.ie, which any homeowner can search for free. If the person you are considering hiring does not appear on that register, they are not legally authorised to carry out gas work in Ireland.
Gas work in Ireland is heavily regulated for good reason. A fault on a gas installation can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, fires, or explosions. RGI registration is the public's assurance that the person doing the work has been trained, tested and approved to do it safely.
What Work RGI Covers
RGI registration covers all work on natural gas and LPG systems, including:
- New gas connections and extensions to gas pipework
- Boiler installation and replacement
- Gas cooker, hob and range connections
- Gas fire and gas heater installation
- Gas appliance repairs and servicing
- Pressure testing of gas systems
- Commissioning of new gas installations
General plumbing work does not require RGI registration. But the moment gas pipework or a gas appliance is involved, the work must be carried out by a registered installer. See the full list of work that legally requires RGI.
How an Installer Becomes RGI Registered
Becoming RGI registered is not a formality. It requires formal training in gas safety standards, passing a practical competency assessment, and demonstrating knowledge of Irish gas regulations and technical standards.
Registration is issued and maintained by Safe Energy Ireland on behalf of the CRU. Registered installers must renew periodically to confirm they remain competent and up to date. A registration can be suspended or cancelled if a serious safety breach is identified.
RGI Versus RGII: What Is the Difference
There is no difference in practice, because they are not two schemes. RGI is the Registered Gas Installer scheme, the single statutory scheme for gas work in Ireland. RGII stood for Registered Gas Installers of Ireland, the organisation that operated that scheme until January 2023, when Safe Energy Ireland was appointed in its place.
The old name is still widely used in searches, on older paperwork and by installers who registered years ago, so you will come across it. What matters is the registration number itself, which you check on the same public register at rgi.ie either way.
RGII is not an oil scheme. Gas registration covers natural gas and LPG only. Oil-fired boiler work sits outside it, and installers doing oil work commonly hold OFTEC oil-firing certification instead, so ask specifically about oil if that is the job you need done.
Why It Matters for Homeowners
Hiring an unregistered gas installer is not just illegal, it puts your household at serious risk. Unregistered work is typically not covered by your home insurance policy. If something goes wrong, you may face a situation where your insurer declines a claim on the grounds that the work was carried out without proper certification.
When you sell your home, a solicitor may ask for evidence that gas work was carried out by a registered installer. A Certificate of Completion from an RGI installer is your record of compliance. More about gas safety certificates.
Verifying registration takes two minutes. It is one of the simplest steps you can take to protect yourself before any gas work begins.
Key takeaways
- RGI stands for Registered Gas Installer, the statutory registration required for gas work in Ireland under the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006, with the CRU as regulator.
- The scheme is run day to day by Safe Energy Ireland, which took over from RGII in January 2023, so RGI and RGII are the same scheme under two names.
- Every registered installer has a unique number on the free public register at rgi.ie, so you can verify anyone in about two minutes before they start.
- RGI covers natural gas and LPG only; oil-fired work sits outside it and installers commonly hold OFTEC certification instead.
- Unregistered gas work is illegal, may void your home insurance, and leaves you without a Certificate of Completion when you sell your home.
