NCO tickets: water and gas network construction

What it is

NCO is EUSR's registration for people who build and maintain the water and gas networks. You get it by completing an accepted qualification or apprenticeship, such as a Level 2 Diploma in Network Construction Operations, and sending EUSR the original certificate. It isn't a one-day course like SHEA.

There is a registration for each job. For water: Service Layer, Mains Layer, Repair and Maintenance, and Supervisor. For gas: Service Layer, Mains Layer, and Meter Disconnection. Some are split by pipe size or by whether the work is on private land (self-lay) or the highway (distribution), so check which one your operative's card actually shows.

What you need first

Each NCO registration needs current SHEA cards, and the water ones need National Water Hygiene too:

• Water (all four): a valid EUSR registration for both National Water Hygiene and SHEA Water.
• Gas Service Layer and Mains Layer: a valid EUSR registration for SHEA Gas.
• Gas Meter Disconnection: NCO Gas Service Layer or Mains Layer, and SHEA Gas.

How long it lasts

Water Service Layer, Mains Layer, Repair and Maintenance and Supervisor, and gas Service Layer and Mains Layer, are each valid for five years and renewable. Meter Disconnection has no period of its own: it is renewed at the same time as the gas Service Layer or Mains Layer it depends on, so use the expiry on the card.

Because the prerequisite SHEA cards run for three years (Water) or five (Gas), and National Water Hygiene has its own period, an NCO registration can be in date while a card it depends on has lapsed. Track each one separately.

The card

Most NCO registrations are shown on the back of a blue CSCS Skilled Worker card. NCO Water Supervisor is shown on a gold CSCS Supervisor card. EUSR says the categories someone is registered for are shown on the reverse, so read them there rather than assuming.

Gas meter disconnection

Meter Disconnection has an extra condition. EUSR says the individual's employer must hold Gas Safe business registration that includes Meter Disconnection, with at least one appropriately qualified person recorded on the Gas Safe Register. EUSR sets out routes for employers that don't have it yet. The details are on the scheme page.

Renewing

Renewal is by registration with EUSR before the five years end, and the Meter Disconnection renewal is done together with the Service Layer or Mains Layer. EUSR's scheme pages don't set out a grace period after expiry, so treat an expired registration as expired and ask EUSR what it will accept.

Checking a card is genuine

The EUSR register search on eusr.co.uk is free: enter any two of EUSR ID, surname and date of birth. Virtual and plastic cards can also be checked with the free Checarda app, or the CSCS Smart Check app on CSCS sites.

The expiry on the card is the card's own. Always check the registration dates on the register itself.