Safety Alert Gas Boilers Flues in Voids

Gas Boilers - Flues in Voids

Advice for Homeowners

1 January 2011

In October 2008 The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a safety alert to raise awareness of a potential risk from a particular arrangement of flues for gas boilers that are located on internal walls and which may have a flue that runs through a void, such as a ceiling void.

If the flue has not been installed correctly or has fallen into disrepair, then this could affect the performance of the boiler. If the boiler is not working correctly this could then result in carbon monoxide entering the void through any faults in the flue and into the living space, placing occupants at risk.

HSE have recently issued a safety notice, which provides updated information to that contained in their safety alert. This coincides with updated guidance issued by the Gas Safe Register (GSR).

The main change in the GSR guidance is to require inspection hatches to be fitted retrospectively to properties where the flue is concealed within voids and cannot be inspected. There are interim arrangements which registered gas engineers will follow where they find this situation.

Both the safety notice and safety alert are available on the HSE website:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/safety.htm or

http://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/

These provide background to the issue of flues in voids.

Advice for consumers is also available on the Gas Safe Register website:

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/advice/flues_in_voids.aspx

If you are a builder or developer, more information is available here.

What you should do

As part of the normal maintenance of your home, gas central heating installations should be regularly checked by a competent heating engineer so that they remain safe. Engineers should be members of the GSR. If a check has been done within the last 12 months, the GSR member should have brought any problems to your attention. If necessary refer back to them if you have concerns or need further advice.

If the installation has not been checked in the last 12 months, you should arrange to have a check carried out by a GSR member. Details can be obtained from:

The Gas Safe Register http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk tel 0800 408 5500

If your property is rented and a landlord or managing agent arranges the checks, you should contact them for advice.

NHBC cover - properties up to 2 years old

In the first 2 years of your Buildmark cover, your builder is responsible to put right any defects or damage reported to them, which are caused by non-compliance with NHBC technical standards. Where inspection hatches have not been provided, their omission would be a defect and builders/developers will have responsibility under the Buildmark cover to install them.

If you have concerns or require advice on the installation, you should contact your builder in the first instance. If you do not have your builder's details, contact NHBC Customer Services on 0844 633 1000.

If you believe there may be a problem and the builder has not fully investigated, then contact NHBC Claims for advice on 0844 633 1000

NHBC cover - properties over 2 years old

In years 3-10, NHBC provides insurance cover for any defect in a flue or chimney resulting from non-compliance with NHBC standards, which causes a present or imminent danger to physical health and safety. This part of the Buildmark insurance does not cover the cost of retrospectively installing the inspection hatches if there is otherwise no evidence of any problem with the flue. However once the access is available, if any defect in the flue is identified, which is a present or imminent danger to the physical health and safety of the occupants, the cost of rectifying this will be met by NHBC.

In the first instance you should arrange for a visit to be carried out by a GSR member to check the installation. If their report indicates any problems with the flue that could result in a present or imminent danger to physical heath and safety, you should contact NHBC Claims on 0844 633 1000.

If you have any immediate safety concerns about any gas installation you should stop using the appliance and contact the National Gas Emergency Service:

England, Scotland and Wales: 0800 111 999
Northern Ireland: 0800 002 001
Isle of Man: 01624 644 444

If you are a builder or developer, more information is available here.