On 28th May 2008 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported that there have been at least seven gas safety incidents over the last three years involving condensing boilers. The reasons behind the events are currently being investigated, but at the time of writing CORGI and boiler manufacturers believe that incorrectly installed flue systems and incorrectly adjusted air/gas ratio valves are linked issues.
Industry is working together with the HSE to learn more about the causal factors and any potential linkage between the incidents.
HSE advises that the risk of a boiler being involved in any incident is very small in consideration of the estimated 5 million condensing boilers currently in operation.
If you work with the installation and maintenance of condensing gas appliances, CORGI strongly recommends your business has access to relevant testing equipment and is competent in its use.
For more information, please download the following CORGI Technical Bulletins:
For specific information or if you have a concern about a particular appliance, you should contact the manufacturer in the first instance. The following link to the HHIC member directory search function provides contact information on all key manufacturers:
http://www.sbgi.org.uk/SBGI/memberdirectory
For more information around combustion gas analysers, please contact CoGDEM or one of their members: CoGDEM is the Council of Gas Detection and Environmental Monitoring.
It aims to provide for the efficient organisation and development of the gas detection, gas analysis and environmental monitoring industry and to enhance the common interests of Members: http://www.cogdem.org.uk/
The current combustion gas analyser manufacturers who are members of CoGDEM are:
Information about how to find training and assessment centres is available to all CORGI members.
The CORGI Technical Helpline is able to offer general guidance on this issue, and can issue copies of the Technical Bulletins to you. They can be contacted on 0800 915 0499 or 01256 372400 Monday to Thursday 9am – 5.30pm and Friday 9am – 5pm.