Plumbers And Charity Call For Mandatory Use Of Flue Gas Analysers

CO-Gas Safety, the carbon monoxide charity, has teamed up with a London based plumbing business to call for the compulsory use of flue gas analysers by heating professionals when inspecting gas-heating appliances.

It is widely understood that to complete a gas safety inspection, it would not be possible to do so without the use of an electronic analyser. However, The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 does not stipulate the use of flue gas analysers.

The charity and the plumbing company have branded the current regulation as ‘madness’. Managing Director of Pimlico Plumbers, Charlie Mullins, stated: “The current regulation is madness and puts so many people at risk. It is total common sense to clarify the regulations and make this equipment mandatory. At the moment it’s like sending a soldier into a minefield without a mine detector.”

Mr Mullins business is paving the way forward and hopes to set an industry standard by supplying all of his Gas Safe registered engineers with flue gas analysers, which surpass the requirements of the 1998 Regulations.

President and Director of CO-Gas Safety, Stephanie Trotter, called for a change in the current legislation during the launch of the All-Party Parliamentary Gas Safety Group at the House of Lords, where Mr Mullins company was also present.

Mr Mullins said: “The reaction from the cross-party parliamentary group to our calls was positive, but I am not waiting around for any changes. By giving my engineers the analysers, we are adding to their safety and the safety of the people using the gas appliances they inspect. We are drawing a line in the sand to say this is how gas inspections should be carried out and hope the rest of the industry follows our lead.”

Ms Trotter also stated: “Since 1995, nearly six hundred people have died that we know about from carbon monoxide poisoning and we know we only see the tip of the iceberg. It is ridiculous that a gas safety check does not require the use of equipment to test appliances from this invisible killer.”