new gas fire installation

[wards]

got called out tonight to a suspected leak on a gas fire installed yesterday(not mine)leak found on new pipework,sorted out leak on pipework and relit fire,i noticed that there was sooting on the coals and the back of the coal panel,did fga on it and the reading was 1574ppm,fga went ape,anyway i isolated fire and issued a warning notice,advised customer to contact the place they brought it from to sort this out,they had recommended the installer they use,i have not come across this before and would appreciate your thoughts and what action i should take.thanks in advance

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

you need to riddor it work like this is unacceptable,i take it it was not a ilfe but a outset?

 

[SafeGasInstall]

did they not have a CO alarm ???? as far as i remember espouser to this amount of CO is only few hours to live !!! shocking !!!
you are hero you safe there lives !!! did you RIDDOR it???

 

[wards]

focal point blenheim super,yes it was an inset,checked coal arrangement and they were fine,6.9kw so ventilation ok.

 

[villa_tom]

I would go down the RIDDOR route. Imagine what would of happened if he hadn't left a leak on the fire and the customer never smelt gas they probably wouldn't see tomorrow morning. I can't for the life of me think why someone would do a job like this. It really annoys me to be honest and I am getting wound up just thinking about it.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

how did you manage to fga a ILFE? or was the reading taken from the room?

 

[wards]

room above fire.placed over surround and let it start to test then fga went crazy.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

room above ????do you mean there was co in upstairs room ??? how did they past the smoke test then?????

 

[wards]

no i meant above the fire on the surround,doh,my mistake.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

did you do a smoke test ???or just made it safe ?it mast be the snow what has blocked the flue .......i think

 

[wards]

isolated and advised customer to contact the shop they bruogut it from,the installer who fitted it said they had a gas leak but he had sorted it,when they thought they could smell gas they contacted him and his reply was,well it was alright when i left you.

 

[wards]

brought it from,long day sorry.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

I do a TT with my analyser and get print out for customer and one for my folder !!! this is a legal way of proving that when i leave is ok!
so thereafter if customer start to play with things is down to them ! where was the leak ???
and how much drop was it !
but if you dont riddor it you are breaking the REGS!

 

[Reg Man]

Lets think about the situation. The gas leak: Was this caused by faulty workmanship or materials? Yes = RIDDOR, No = make safe, repair or disconnection. Never, ever, do flue gas analysis for products of combustion in the flue on LFE & DFE gas fires; ambient room reading yes. but the appliance and flue should have passed a flue flow and spillage test before. LFE & DFE fire's are designed to burn badly; thats where the solid fuel effect comes in. Conclusion is: LFE & DFE fire are designed to have yellow floppy flames and therefore poor combustion; so big importance is, the flue and ventilation are correct and operating safely. Position of coals on the matrx is vital, but it still won't burn cleanly.

 

[wards]

leak was due to installer,room test failed,signs of sooting but coals were positioned correctly,isolated to be safe as it may be a faulty fire but did no further tests in case it invalidated warranty.

 

[wards]

off to bed,thanks to all.

 

[Reg Man]

Report RIDDOR online. HSE web site. F2508G form. easy