Important notice regarding installation

If you can smell gas call this number Transco Gas Leak  0800 111999 

The incorrect installation of a gas appliance can be lethal !!

As distributors we do not offer installation of gas appliances.

Installation should only be undertaken by a qualified fitter.

To ensure that your purchase is installed safely check that your fitter is CORGI Registered.

Look for the CORGI logo

(the Council for Registered Gas Installers)

Be smart - Be safe

The following information is provided as a guide only. It's purpose is to raise your awareness to gas safety. No liability will be accepted by this website for inaccuracy, error or advice contain herein. You are advised to seek legal or expert confirmation wherever necessary.

FACT: carbon monoxide from gas appliances kills on average 30 people a year

What you should know

• CO is widely known as the "silent killer"
• CO is highly poisonous
• CO is undetectable to human senses. You can't see, smell or taste its presence
• Exposure to even very low levels can cause brain damage or death

How is it produced?

• CO is produced by the incomplete combustion of gaseous, solid and liquid fuels
• CO arises from badly installed or poorly maintained gas appliances
• It is also produced if there is insufficient ventilation, i.e. if the chimneys and flues are blocked and if the appliance is not working properly

What signs can I look for?

• Yellow or brown staining around or on appliances
• Pilot lights which frequently blow out
• Increased condensation inside windows

Symptoms to look for:

• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Flu like symptoms such as nausea
• Chest pains
• Sudden giddiness when standing up
• Sickness, diarrhea and stomach pains
• Erratic behaviour

If you think your appliance is spilling CO or you feel you have the above symptoms

• Switch off the appliance
• Open doors and windows to ventilate the room - do not sleep in it
• Visit your GP urgently and inform them that you believe these symptoms may be related to CO. They will be able to tell by means of a blood test

Our Role

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a Government organisation concerned primarily with the health and safety of people at work. This includes people who may be harmed by the work activity which is done. We are also in some cases concerned with the way work affects the environment. As an organisation we develop the health and safety laws, codes and standards which cover safe working procedures right across industry. We also publish advice and guidance, carry out research and contribute to international developments in health and safety, especially within the European Union. We work closely with employers, trade unions and experts in many fields.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 place duties on gas consumers, installers, suppliers and landlords.

• By law most landlords are responsible for making sure that appliances and flues they provide for tenants' use are maintained in good order and checked for safety at least every twelve months. They must also keep a record of the safety checks and issue it to you, the tenant. If you live in, or are about to move into, rented accommodation, your landlord must provide you with a copy of the safety checks. If you own the appliance, you are responsible for its maintenance and safety checks.
• By law anyone carrying out work on gas appliances or fitting as part of their business must be competent and registered with CORGI. Always check the installer your landlord is using is a CORGI registered installer. They should carry a current registration certificate or a CORGI ID card.

• By law you must not use any gas appliance or fittings you know or suspect to be unsafe. Through CORGI, HSE has asked all registered installers to disconnect any gas appliance which is so dangerous as to be a threat to life if it is used. If your Landlord's installer asks your permission to disconnect such an appliance it will be in the interests of your own safety, and that of others, to agree. Before you use this appliance again, make sure it is repaired by a CORGI-registered gas installer.
• By law only a competent person can carry out work on gas appliances or fittings. Do-it-yourself work on gas appliances or fittings could be dangerous and is likely to be illegal.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 place duties on gas consumers, installers, suppliers and landlords.

• By law all gas installers which carry out work on gas appliances must be registered with CORGI (the Council for Registered Gas Installers). Always check your installer is registered by asking to see their CORGI identification card or current CORGI registration certificate or ring CORGI on 01256 372300.

• By law only a competent person can carry out work on gas appliances or fittings. Do-it-yourself work on gas appliances or fittings could be dangerous and is likely to be illegal.
• By law you must not use any gas appliance or fittings you know or suspect to be unsafe. Through CORGI, HSE has asked all registered installers to disconnect any gas appliance which is so dangerous as to be a threat to life if it is used. If your installer asks your permission to disconnect such an appliance it will be in the interests of your own safety, and that of others, to agree. Before you use this appliance again, make sure it is repaired by a CORGI-registered gas installer.

• By law, with the exception of the room sealed type, there are restrictions on the installation of gas appliances in sleeping accommodation. These restrictions apply only to appliances fitted after 1 January 1996. Non room-sealed appliances of less than 14 kilowatts may be fitted as long as they have a device which automatically turns the gas supply off before a dangerous level of toxic fumes builds up. However, non room-sealed appliances above this threshold are prohibited in such accommodation.
• By law, since 31 October 1998, it has been illegal to install instantaneous water heaters which are not room sealed or fitted with a safety device which automatically turns the gas supply off before a dangerous level of poisonous fumes build up.

What are my main duties as a landlord?

You are required to:

• Ensure gas fittings and flues are maintained in a safe condition.

• Ensure an annual safety check is carried out on each gas appliance/flue. Before any new lease starts, you must make sure that these checks have been carried out within one year before the start of the lease date, unless the appliances in the property have been installed for less than 12 months, in which case they should be checked within 12 months of their installation date.

• Have all installation, maintenance, and safety checks carried out by a CORGI registered gas installer.
• Keep a record of each safety check for 2 years.
• Issue a copy of the safety check record to each existing tenant within 28 days of the check being completed, or to any new tenant before they take up residence (in certain cases there is an option to display the record).

Other information

• By law all gas installers which carry out work on gas appliances must be registered with CORGI (the Council for Registered Gas Installers). Always check your installer is registered by asking to see their CORGI identification card or ring CORGI on 01256 372300.

• By law only a competent person can carry out work on gas appliances or fittings. Do-it-yourself work on gas appliances or fittings could be dangerous and is likely to be illegal.

• By law, with the exception of the room sealed type, there are restrictions on the installation of gas appliances in sleeping accommodation. These restrictions apply only to appliances fitted after 1 January 1996. Non room-sealed appliances of less than 14 kilowatts may be fitted as long as they have a device which automatically turns the gas supply off before a dangerous level of toxic fumes builds up. However, non room-sealed appliances above this threshold are prohibited in such accommodation.

• By law, since 31 October 1998, it has been illegal to install instantaneous water heaters which are not room sealed or fitted with a safety device which automatically turns the gas supply off before a dangerous level of poisonous fumes build up.

If you suspect the presence of CO, switch off the gas appliances in your home and call a CORGI registered installer. Visit your GP and request a blood test to measure the level of CO in your blood.

Health & Safety Executive can help:

The Health and Safety Executive are committed to raising awareness of the dangers of CO poisoning. Ring our freephone helpline. You will be connected to a trained advisor who can give you the advice which you need or put you in touch with somebody who will give you that advice. You too can help. We would like you to be vigilant.

You may also read an electronic version of our information leaflet  'Gas Appliances - get them checked keep them safe'.

If you suspect the presence of CO in your home

• Switch off the gas appliances in your home and call a CORGI registered installer.
• Visit your GP and request a blood test to measure the level of CO in your blood.
• Do not allow an unqualified person to install, maintain or carry out safety checks on any gas appliance in your home.

REMEMBER by law all gas installers which carry out work on gas appliances must be registered with CORGI (the Council for Registered Gas Installers). Always check your installer is registered by asking to see their CORGI identification card or ring CORGI on 01256 372300.

To find out more about CORGI

CORGI registration / queries 01256 372300

REMEMBER, by law:

• Only a competent person, someone with the right knowledge and technical experience can carry out work on gas appliances.
• Do-it-yourself installation or maintenance work on gas appliances can therefore be both dangerous and illegal.

REMEMBER, by law:

• You must not use any gas appliance you know or suspect is not safe.
• Through CORGI, HSE has asked all registered installers to disconnect any gas appliance which is so dangerous as to be a threat to life if it is used.
• If your installer asks your permission to disconnect such an appliance it will be in the interests of your own safety, and that of others, to agree.

• Ensure all gas appliances are switched off in the property and call a CORGI registered installer.
• Get your tenants to visit their GP's to request a blood test to measure the level of CO in their blood.

• To ensure an annual safety check is carried out on each gas appliance/flue in relevant premises. Before any new lease starts, you must make sure that these checks have been carried out, unless the appliances in the property have been installed for less than 12 months, in which case they should be checked within 12 months of their installation date.
• To keep a record of each check for 2 years (the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) gas safety record form (CP12) signed by a registered installer may be used for this purpose).
• You must issue a copy of the safety check record to each existing tenant within 28 days of the check being completed, or to any new tenant prior before occupation (in certain cases there is an option to display the record e.g. in lets of less than 28 days, such as holiday homes).
• You must ensure gas fittings and flues are maintained in a safe condition at all times. All safety check and maintenance work must be done by a CORGI registered gas installer.
• You should not assume that an annual service inspection meets the safety check requirements, or that a safety check will be sufficient to provide effective maintenance. The points to be covered in a safety check are specified in the Regulations. The advice of a CORGI registered gas installer should be sought where necessary in this respect.

• please call the HSE CO Gas safety advice line on 0800 300363.

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