CO-Gas Safety and Pimlico Plumbers call for mandatory use of gas analysers
By Rob Hull on August 24, 2010
Carbon Monoxide safety charity CO-Gas Safety has called for The Gas Safety Regulations to be changed to make it compulsory for all inspections of gas appliances, like gas boiler services, to be carried out using specialist gas analysers. And London-based Pimlico Plumbers has backed the calls, branding the current regulations as ‘madness’.
Pimlico is attempting to set an example to the rest of the industry by allocating each of its Gas Safe Registered engineers with the analysers, widely believed to be a requirement to effectively complete a gas inspection.
Managing Director of Pimlico Plumbers Charlie Mullins said: “The current regulation is madness and puts so many people at risk.
“It is total commonsense 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.”
The call for a change in the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 was launched by Stephanie Trotter, the President and Director of CO-Gas Safety. Trotter called for action at the launch of the All-Party Parliamentary Gas Safety Group at the House of Lords, which received positive feedback according to the Pimlico MD.
“The reaction from the cross-party parliamentary group to our calls was positive, but I am not waiting round for any changes”, added Mullins.
“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.”
Trotter said it was ‘ridiculous’ that the analysers were not mandatory, saying: “Since 1995, nearly 600 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 and deadly killer.”
Published by Rob Hull on August 24th, 2010
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Gas Safe is the new regulatory body for gas work. Check your engineer is Gas Safe Registered before proceeding with any work.
