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02071667835 Flue Hatches in Voids Experts UB18 Greenford UB9 Cowley UB8 Flue Replacement Perivale UB5 Yiewsley UB6 Stockley Park UB11

Gas boilers - Access Hatches for Flues in Voids Installation – Installers

Who gets effected?

Urgent action is required as changes come into effect on 1 January 2013 where flues (from room sealed fan assisted gas boilers) located inside a void must be fitted with inspection hatches for your gas engineer to be able to inspect it and pass as safe.

As this deadline is fast approaching, registered heating gas safe engineers will be forced to place boilers ‘At Risk’.   If you are a homeowner, Landlord, tenant, letting agent, housing association, management company, estate agent. If you have not acted on this it may leave you or your tenants with no heating or hot water!

Background: Typical flue within a ceiling void

The introduction of fan-flued gas appliances in the mid 1990s allowed gas central heating boilers to be installed away from external walls. This meant that builders could design new-build and refurbishment properties with boilers being installed on internal walls to make better use of the available space. The flues to these boilers were, in some cases, routed through voids in the ceiling space (and through stud walls) between properties above.

This practice became progressively more popular from 2000 onwards and the vast majority of affected systems are thought to be located in new build flats and apartments completed since 2000. It is however possible that other types of home may have similar central heating systems installed.

Gas engineers are legally required to check the flue after carrying out any work on the boiler. This will include a visual inspection. Similarly, when an engineer installs a boiler they need to ensure that it can be used without constituting a danger to anyone; this would include checking whether the flue is safe. The original installer and every subsequent servicing or maintenance engineer need to be able to check that:

• - The flue is continuous throughout its length;
• - All joints are correctly assembled and are appropriately sealed; and
• - The flue is adequately supported throughout its length.

An inspection hatch in a ceiling

The original industry technical guidance (aimed at registered gas engineers) advised that where the flue to the boiler was concealed within a void and could not be visually inspected it should be assessed as "not to current standards" (NCS) in accordance with the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure, This was dependent on there being no other risks being present which may have made the boiler unsafe.

Revised guidance takes effect on 1st January 2011. This is the result of the industry working group who undertook a review of the original guidance and concluded that the potential risk from such systems, should it not be possible to inspect the flue, requires an alternative approach to ensure that the necessary remedial action is taken.

Action required:

The revised technical guidance requires inspection hatches to be fitted in properties where the flue is concealed within voids and cannot be inspected. The homeowner (or landlord etc.) has until 31st December 2012 to arrange for inspection hatches to be installed. Any gas engineer working on affected systems after 1st January 2013 will advise the homeowner that the system is "at risk" (AR) in accordance with the GIUSP and, with the owner's permission will turn off the gas supply to the boiler so it cannot be used.

In the interim period, where no inspection hatches are fitted, the registered gas engineers will carry out a simple risk assessment which should ensure that the risk from exposure to CO is managed in the short-term. This risk assessment includes:

- Looking for signs of leakage along the flue route; and

- Carrying out a flue combustion analysis check (and obtaining a satisfactory result); and

- Checking for the presence of suitable audible carbon monoxide (CO) alarms (and installing such alarms where they are not already fitted).

If you are unsure whether a property has concealed gas flues and think you might be at risk:

- If you have your gas appliances checked annually by us, our Gas Safe registered engineer he/she will be able to advise whether this Notice applies to your property.

- If you do NOT have your boiler regularly serviced arrange for this to be done

  If a property has concealed flues in voids and no inspection hatches:

- If the property is less than 2 years old contact the original builder for assistance with the retrofitting of inspection hatches and repair of any flue defects.

- If the property is between 2 and 10 years old contact the home warranty provider as you may be covered by them if there      are defects in the flue.  

Warning ! Things that you are not to do yourselves!:

• Attempt to check the flue system yourself (unless you are a gas safe registered engineer) You are likely to do more harm to      the installation and place you and your family at greater risk.
• Try to install inspection hatches yourself. You may damage other key functions of the ceiling, such as fire and noise      proofing.

If you live in rented accommodation and think your property might be affected:

Bring this Notice to the attention of your landlord or managing agent. It is the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that inspection hatches are installed and that the boiler and flue are checked every year.

If you think you are suffering the symptoms of CO poisoning:

• Turn the appliance off immediately and contact the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
• If you think you or your family experience any of the symptoms of CO poisoning^[10]

We recommend you to have your flue & all gas appliances safety checked alongside yearly service for your own safety

What our gas safe registered engineers can do :

- We can provide you with landlords gas safety certificates

- Gas Safe registered engineer can service your boiler yearly

- We can fit Carbon Monoxide detectors where necessary

- We can also provide panels with an acoustic rating to 28db

- We can also fit larger access panels, these may allow an engineer to actually carry out repairs rather than the standard size which allow inspection only

A Gas safety Certificate is a record, also referred to as a certificate, that is required by law to be held for all rental accommodation in the UK where there are gas appliances present. The requirement is enshrined in the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. The law requires all gas appliances in a rented property to be checked annually, with a gas safety record being completed and a copy provided to tenants.

Gas safety records must  completed by engineers who must be registered with the Gas Safe Register scheme which took over form the previous CORGI scheme in 2009. We have reliable gas safe (ex corgi) registered engineers who can assist you on this whenever you need this done we are always here for you 24 hours a day 7 days a week and we cover all areas of Central London (City London), East Central & West Central London, City of London and  Westminster, West End London (West), Northwest London, East London, North London, Enfield, Southwest London, Southeast London, Enfield, Bromley & Kent, Croydon, Richmond & Twickenham, Uxbridge, Essex, Uxbridge, Dartford, St.Albans and all surrounding areas

Chimney Replacement Services - 24HR Commercial Chimney Installation

- Chimney lining                                                                                  - Chimney flue

- Chimney flue replacement                                                               - Fireplace flue replacement

- Flue replacement engineer                                                              - Chimney cleaning

- Chimney repair                                                                                - Replace chimney flue

- Fireplace damper                                                                             - Fireplace damper replacement

- Replacing chimney flue                                                                   - New Flue Installation engineer

Flue Lining – Flue safety Checks Engineer

- Chimney lining                                                                                  - Chimney flue, chimney flues

- Flue lining, twin wall flue                                                                 - Flue pipe repair

- Flue systems                                                                                   - Chimney lining cost

- Chimney sweep                                                                               - Chimney liner

- Wood burner flue, flue liner                                                             -Chimney sweep brushes

- Stainless steel flue                                                                           -Chimney sweep cost

- Stainless steel flue liner                                                                   - Flue liners, flue pipes

- Stainless steel flue pipe                                                                   - Twin wall flue pipe

- Chimney flue liners                                                                          - Chimney liners

- Chimney flue liner                                                                             - Wood burning stove

- Wood burning stoves                                                                       - Flue liner installation

- Wood burning stove installation                                                       - Stainless steel chimney

- Chimney sweeps, stove flue pipe                                                   - Chimney flue lining

- Chimney sweeping                                                                          -Chimney liner installation

- Boiler flue, chimney                                                                         -Chimney construction

- Chimney flue repair, chimney fire                                                    -Chimney installer engineer

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