The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC) pledges its support for Gas Safety Week (15–21 September), now in its fourth year. John Thompson, APHC CEO, is highlighting measures that could improve safety and reduce cases of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The fourth annual Gas Safety Week brings the whole industry together to put gas safety at the front of people's minds. Dangerous gas work can kill, so gas appliances must be safety checked at least once a year. Poorly serviced appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. In the last year alone, 343 people were injured and 10 people died as a result of gas-related incidents.
John Thompson, Chief Executive at APHC, said: “APHC is proposing some solutions to reduce incidents of faulty gas appliances and fatalities. A primary measure would be a mandatory annual MOT-style check-up to make sure appliances are properly maintained, with potential faults detected before they become a silent killer.
“Secondly, it should be a mandatory requirement to have a CO detector installed when replacing a boiler in England and Wales. This requirement is already in place for solid fuels, and we recommend extending it to all fuel types. These measures should also apply to all types of combustion appliance to reduce dangers to consumers across the board.
“APHC, along with other leading industry colleagues and led by Plumb Center, is lobbying for CO detectors to become mandatory wherever a carbon-burning appliance is installed. You can join the petition at www.no-to-co.co.uk. Only around 15% of UK homes have CO alarms, yet every year over 4,000 people are admitted to hospital with CO poisoning.”
Installers can get involved with Gas Safety Week and help spread the message by reminding customers that to stay gas safe they should:
- Always use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas work in your home.
- Get your gas appliances safety checked at least once a year and serviced in line with the manufacturer's instructions.
- Check the front and back of your engineer's Gas Safe Register ID card to make sure they are qualified for the specific type of gas work you need.
- Install an audible carbon monoxide alarm to alert you if dangerous levels are present in your home.
- Look for warning signs that appliances aren't working correctly, such as lazy yellow or orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks on or around the appliance, and too much condensation in the room.
People can also sign up to a free reminder service at www.StayGasSafe.co.uk, where an interactive UK map shows how many and what type of unsafe gas appliances have been found near them.