In 1968 Ronan Point, a 22 storey apartment block in Canning Town, London, was devastated by a massive gas blast that claimed five lives and injured many more. The explosion was attributed to unsafe gas work in one apartment. This tragedy led to a new determination to prevent similar incidents and to protect the public from unsafe gas work. The solution was the formation of CORGI (then standing for “Confederation for the Registration of Gas Installers”) in 1970, given the task of ensuring that gas work is carried out safely.
Read on to find out how to make your premises gas safe.
Why is ventilation important?
Gas appliances need a continuous supply of fresh clean air for safe and efficient operation. In its simplest form, gas appliance are of one of three types – either open-flued, room-sealed or flueless.
- Room-sealed appliance take their air for combustion via the flue system and as their name implies, have their combustion process sealed from the room in which they are installed. The flue system, which typically terminates on an outside wall (they can also terminate in a vertical position i.e. on a roof) is of a concentric pipe system with the inner most pipe expelling products of combustion to the external atmosphere, whilst the outer pipe supplies combustion air into the appliance.
- Open-flued appliances take their air for combustion from the room/space in which they are installed and, as a secondary process uses combustion air to assist the performance of the flue system.
- Flueless appliances, such as gas cookers and some gas fires/wall heaters take their air for combustion from the room/space they are installed in – same as an open-flued appliance – but, importantly, they also expell their products of combustion back into the room/space in which they are installed.
If ventilation is restricted, and/or if a gas appliance is faulty, and/or has not been adequately maintained as the manufacturer of the appliance instructs, it can lead to incomplete combustion occuring, which as well as being inefficient leads to the production of carbon monoxide.
What is carbon monoxide? Why is it dangerous?
Carbon monoxide is a molecule that consists of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom (its chemical formula is CO). If an appliance is unable to burn its fuel efficiently because of a fault, inadequate ventilation, and/or lack of regular maintenance/servicing, it may produce carbon monoxide which is a highly poisonous gas.
While carbon monoxide is colourless, testless and odourless gas, it can be accompanied by other emissions that may produce a distinctive smell, although this is not always the case.
The effects of carbon monoxide poisoning are varied (depending on the individual and the amount of carbon monoxide being inhaled), but they typicall exhibit flu like symptoms within their victims – often leading to misdiagnosies by individuals and to some extent, the medical profession.
Some symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are:
- headaches
- nausea
- flushed (red) skin
- dizziness
- a false sense of well-being
- tiredness or a desire to sleep
- stomache pains
- chest pains
- vomiting
Prolonged exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide, or entering an atmosphere which is heavily contaiminated can lead to collapse, unconsciousness, or even death!
The reason why carbon monoxide presents such a danger to humans and animals alike is that our blood, which transports oxygen around our bodies to feed our tissues and cells has a great affinity to carbon monoxide and will therefore combine with carbon monoxide in preference to Oxygen. Carbon monoxide is then transported around the body, starving it of oxygen, whilst posioning it with the deadly gas.
If you suspect that you are suffering from carbon monoxide posioning, leave your property and seek immediate medical attention. If it is safe to do so, turn off your gas appliances (easiest way is to turn off your Emergency Control Valve located at the gas meter position – the handle should be horizontal to the pipe and not inline with the pipe, see illustration below), and ventilate the property by opening doors and windows.
Emergency Control Valve
How can I protect my family from carbon monoxide?
Gas appliances which are installed correctly, by competent gas professionals and which are serviced and maintained as required by the appliance manufacturer, will work perfectly safely.
Therefore, your first line of defence is regular servicing of gas appliances in accordance with the appliance manufacturer’s instructions – for most domestic gas appliances this will be annually.
Additional protection, which provides added piece of mind, is the installation of a carbon monoxide alarms conforming to BS EN 50291 and displaying a BSi Kitemark to every room containing a gas appliance.
Please note that CORGI does not recommend the use of colour change ‘spot’ detectors as these give no audible alarm as to the presence of carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide alarms are available as single units or combined with other safety alarms, such as smoke alarms and are either battery or mains powered.
Are there any danger signals that I should look out for?
- Where installed, activation of a carbon monoxide alarm.
- Staining around appliances and decorations
- Pilot lights blowing out
- Increased condensation
- Yellow/orange, floppy flames rather than crisp blue flames ( some gas fires are designed to burn with lose yellow flames, as this adds to the effect of a ‘real’ fire).
- Feeling unwell, or reports from family members and guests of feeling unwell.
What should I do if I think an appliance is emitting carbon monoxide?
Switch off the appliance (where safe to do so), leave the property opening doors and windows as you go, and contact the Gas Emergency Service Provider on tel 0800 111 999.
Do not use the appliance until it has been examined by a competent and registered gas installer.
If a person has or suspects that they have been exposed to carbon monoxide, they should seek urgent medical advice.
For further information and support on carbon monoxide and its effects, see the Carbon Monoxide Consumer Awareness Alliance (COCAA) at www.becarbonmonoxideaware.com
Who is responsible for ensuring that servicing and maintenance of a domestic gas appliance is undertaken?
In short everyone, the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Reguations places the responsibility for safety of the installation on the ‘responsible’ person for the installation. So for a typical domestic dwelling, it will be the home owner. For rented accommodation it will be the landlord and/or managing agent (tenants need to assist landlords in terms of allowing access for planned servicing and maintenance visits).
The Regulations also place a duty on the ‘responsible’ person to employe suitably competent and registered gas installers to undertake ‘work’ on gas appliances. Details of competent gas installers can be obtained from Gas Safe Register at www.gassaferegister.co.uk or alternatively, by phoning 0800 408 5500
What maintenance does a gas appliance require to keep it safe?
A competent and registered gas installer will inspect the appliance for any obvious signs of distress or defects, typically they will also enquire with the responsible person as to any problems experienced.
An installer will check and test safety controls inline with the manufacturers instructions, as well as ensure ventilation provisions are correct and effective (not blocked off), flueing is correct and operating satisfactorily, clean and check heat exchanger and flue ways, clean and check combustion chamber and burner assemblies (including pilot assemblies), check setting pressures and combustion performance, etc.
A competent and registered gas installer will inspect the appliance for any obvious signs of distress or defects, typically they will also enquire with the responsible person as to any problems experienced.
An installer will check and test safety controls inline with the manufacturers instructions, as well as ensure ventilation provisions are correct and effective (not blocked off), flueing is correct and operating satisfactorily, clean and check heat exchanger and flue ways, clean and check combustion chamber and burner assemblies (including pilot assemblies), check setting pressures and combustion performance, etc.
How can I detect a poorly operating or unsafe gas appliance?
Signs that an appliance is not working correctly, or that the flue is blocked, include:
- a yellow flame, rather than a blue flame
(Note: some "flame effect" heaters, however, are designed to burn safely with a yellow flame, with minimum Carbon Monoxide emissions) - soot deposits in and around the appliance
- an unpleasant, distinctive smell, similar to that of a car exhaust
Symptoms like dizziness and headaches should always be taken seriously while a gas appliance is in operation. A competent person must fix the problem. Contact an appliance service agent or a craftsman gasfitter.
Are there places where I must not use a gas appliance?
There are locations whereby certain gas appliance cannot be installed or used, or there are limitations on maximum size to be installed in a given space.
Instances of locations are:
- bathrooms - only room-sealed appliances are allowed to be installed, and then they must also comply with additional requirements for electrical installations
- bedrooms and bed-sitting rooms - room-sealed is preferred, but open-flued appliances can be used as long as their maximum heat input does not exceed 14kW (gross) and the appliance incoproartes a device which will shut down the appliance should a dangerous quantity of the products of combustion build up in the room concerned
- basements – gas appliances fuelled by Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and which have automatic means of ignition are prohibited from such locations as the gas is heavier than air and will therefore ‘pool’ at floor level presenting an explosion risk should a leak occur.
Instances of size limitations are flueless appliances such as some gas fires being located in rooms of a certain volume as well as requiring additional ventilation provisions.
Details of competent gas installers can be obtained from Gas Safe Register at www.gassaferegister.co.uk or alternatively, by phoning 0800 408 5500.
Can my flue be installed facing the house next door?
The answer is not straightforward and it does depend on how far the house is from a neighbouring boundary. Building Regulations and British Standard (BS) 5440-1: 2008 provide minimum clearances for flues from boundaries and re-entry points of dwellings.
If the flue system facing a neighbour’s property was sufficiently far enough away and complied with the Regulations and standards mentioned, then the flue maybe acceptable. However, there is more to consider than pure measurements.
Both Regulations and Standards require flues to be installed so as not to cause a nuisance. The nuisance factor is very subjective and is exacerbated by weather conditions and the greater use of more energy efficient appliances, in terms of ‘plumage’ generated – an effect similar to a kettle when it’s boiling.
So even if the flue is correct for distance and location, may still cause a nuisance factor for a neighbour!
Best advice then would be to locate flues so as not to face a neighbour and thus avoid a nuisance issue altogether.
What work am I allowed to do, as an unlicensed person?
Home owners can do gasfitting work only if working under the immediate supervision of a craftsman gasfitter and the work is certified by the same gasfitter.
How often do I need to get my gas installations checked to ensure they stay safe?
Every appliance manufacturer will detail their own servicing requirements within their instructions and these should be followed. However, as a general rule most gas appliance should be checked/serviced every 12 months to ensure continued safety.
However, some appliances may need checking/servicing at less than 12 monthly intervals depending on the environment in which the appliance is installed. An example of such a case, would be an open-flued, floor standing boiler installed in a utility room, where family pets sleep in front of the boiler. Their hairs, particulalry long haired pets will be drawn into the boiler and the combustion process will be affected over time.
Should you have any concerns over the safety of your appliance or you notice problems, then you shouldn’t wait for the next planned service visit, but call your local Gas Safe Register installer to check your appliance is still safe to use!
What should I do If I can smell gas inside my house?
- You must turn off the gas supply immediately at the Emergency Control Valve located at your gas meter, or for LPG supplies, your storage vessel/bottles.
- Extinguish all sources of ignition i.e. blow out flames on candles and the like, BUT DO NOT operate any switches, such as light switches (either on or off) as these can be a source of ignition.
- Do not smoke
- Open doors and windows to ventilate the property
- Report the smell of gas to the National Emergency Service Provider (ESP) on Tel 0800 111 999, who will arrange for an operative to call to make safe (this is a free service, but only to make safe). Should repairs be required, which have nothing to do with the gas supplier, then the ESP operative will instruct you to contact your local Gas Safe Register installer.
How do I turn off my gas supply, and how do I have it turned back on?
If you are on mains gas, an Emergency Control Valve will be located next to your gas meter. The valve should have a handle, which when ‘ON’ is inline with the gas supply pipe. To turn off the gas, move the handle through 90° so that the handle cuts across the supply pipe – see Emergency Control Valve illustration above.
If you note that your handle is missing, contact the National Emergency Service Provider on Tel 0800 111 999 and they will fit one for you.
For LPG vessel supplies, an Ememergency Control Valve will be located at the vessel off-take and additionally, a second Emergency Control Valve will be located before the supply enters the property – turn off one or both as required.
If you use LPG bottles, an Emergency Control Valve should be located next to the bottles and before the supply enters the property. For small LPG systems, whereby a single bottle is used, an Emergency Control Valve may not be fitted. In this case, the regulator off the bottle can serve as the emergency control and will have a lever for ‘ON’/‘OFF’ operation.
Do I need an annual Landlord's gas safety check for a fire/cooker under 1 year old (under guarantee)?
Landlords are required by law to have their gas appliances and their flues checked for safety on an annual basis. However, if a new gas appliance has been installed, that appliance doesn’t require to be covered by a Landlord’s Gas Safety Check for the first 12 months of its life – the gas installer will have conducted safety checks/tests when they installed the appliance.
The appliance can be checked at any time within that first year, but subsequent visits should be annually.
What if an appliance fails the safety check?
The Landlord Gas Safety check record will contain details of any defect identified and any remedial action taken – in affect, the record serves to give a ‘snapshot’ in time of the condition of the gas installation.
If a safety defect is identified, the gas installer will advise both the tenant of the fault and the landlord so that appropriate action can be taken.
You or your landlord (if in rented accommodation) must ensure that any safety defect is rectified (by a Gas Safe Register gas installer) before the appliance/installation is used again. It is an offence under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations to use, or allow the use, of a gas appliance you know to be unsafe
Under no circumstances should you reconnect or use an appliance that you have been told is unsafe, until the fault has been rectified by a competent and registered gas installer.
Are there any signs or tips that will help me stay safe?
- Never use a gas appliance if you think it does not work correctly.
- Turn off immediately any appliance that has yellow or orange flames, soot or stains around the appliance, pilot light which continually blows out and contact the National Emergency Service Provider on tel 0800 111 999.
- If you feel unwell or family members report feeling strange, turn off your gas appliances, move your family out of the area and contact the National Emergency Service Provider on Tel 0800 111 999
- Never cover an appliance or place items of clothing near to an appliance to get them dry.
- Never block or obstruct any fixed ventilation grills or air bricks.
- Never alter your home without first ensuring that works do not affect the safety of your gas appliances – examples of activities which can affect safety of gas appliances are replacing windows, altering the structure of the property, cavity insulation, etc.
- Never paint the casing of your appliance without first consulting with a registered gas installer
- Never block, cover or otherwise interfere with gas appliance flues.
- If in doubt, contact your local Gas Safe Register installer for advice.
For more information visit trustcorgi.com
