DANGER OF THE WEEK AWARD
Bad Relatives Who Think They’re Gas Fitters
Regulations broken: The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 : PART B Gas Fittings – General Provisions(Qualification and supervision, Materials and workmanship, General safety precautions, Protection against damage, Existing gas fittings)/PART D Installation Pipework (Safe use of pipes, Enclosed pipes, Testing and purging of pipes)/PART E Gas Appliances (Gas appliances – safety precautions, Testing of appliances)

We received a call this week and asked for a price to replace a gas fire with a ‘like-for-like’ unit. Our response is always the same. We must always view the existing current gas fire and the unit intended to take it’s place before making further comment. When we viewed the existing fire the next day our immediate response was to disconnect it due to safety issues. The gas fire was spilling. In lay terms that means that the products of combustion are ‘spilling’ into the room. To further aggravate the issue the fire surround was covered with some sort of stick on vinyl product which had over the years also melted! continue

DANGER OF THE WEEK AWARD

Bad Carpet Fitters

I was getting to think that nothing much surprises me anymore when it comes to illegal, unsafe and dangerous situations that we uncover on a daily basis. I thought I had seen it all until earlier this week. So when I was called in to service some gas fires at a small accountancy firm I was surprised to find the gas fire shown below in the state it was in. I am used to unqualified builders and kitchen fitters creating unsafe situations but a carpet fitter! This carpet fitter should really stick to carpet fitting. No REALLY mate! Stop screwing with things you don’t understand! continue

DANGER OF THE WEEK AWARD

Bad Tenants

While carrying out a yearly Gas Safety Check (CP12) we came across this gas fire in the front lounge. When we checked the fire last year it was solidly mounted on a ‘crazy paving’ style hearth.  Although a bit dated it did the job that was intended which was to present a non-flammable surface between the fire and the floor covering. This year when we arrived to check the appliances we found the following. continue

Location: Ashton-under-Lyne, Cheshire

Date: Apr 2009

Description: This gas fire had seen better days but was not really safe to use due to lack of maintenance. We spied the fire when we were on site to look after a boiler issue. As with all gas fires a yearly service is required to clean up the dust and debris that collects in or on the gas jets or opening that allow the gas to flow through to the coals. As seen here this fire had not been serviced for some time and the side panels had fallen out allowing the flames to burn the paint work off the side of the firebox. The fire was still being used.

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DANGER OF THE WEEK AWARD

Bad DIY Gas and Flue

Due to the weather this week and a few cancellations I have decided to jump into the archive of weekly pictures that have not won our coveted Cowboy Of The Week Award and show you this gem.  My joiner rang me late last year and asked if I would look at replacing a wooden fire surround for his client.  I went down to take a look and found this basket mounted in an opening which was built by her ex-husband many years ago. When I tried to inspect the flue I couldn’t see anything but a blackened metal plate sitting directly above the fire basket just behind the lintel. As I fished around I discovered that the metal plate sat upon four hexagon nuts supposedly allowing a draft to pull through but no grit to fall onto the fire basket! continue

Date: May 2008

Description: The old gas fire had a slight gas leak that could not be repaired due to lack of available parts. The client found the new fire they wanted and after tessting the old flue we installed it. The installation was straight foward and only took about an hour.

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Date: March 2008

Description: Our client had already purchased the new fire and asked us to see if they could install it into the existing chimney. Fortunately the location previously had a back boiler and was in good shape with the proper gas pipe work already in place. The flue and terminal also looked good so we proceeded. The fire really made a difference to the room and looks fantastic. continue