The by-products of combustion or can be harmful to humans so need to be expelled. About 16 years ago, boilers with built in fans allowed the use of long horizontal tubes for the flue ducts / air supplies. The benefit is these boilers can be 15 metres from the closest exterior wall. The flue duct will be neatly concealed above the plastered ceilings with no gas flue inspection hatch. Properties affected are generally luxury flats and apartments.
The problem with concealed flues:
If a concealed flue has not installed incorrectly and leaks (or develops a leak from, say corrosion), this is generally not be discovered by gas service technicians because occupiers are reluctant to allow inspection holes to be cut in ceilings to check for flue integrity.
Although the vast majority of flues installed above ceilings and behind boxings are correctly installed with no leaks, some are not, and leak flue gases leaking into the living space around the flue.
The issue arises when a boiler is faulty and emits carbon MONOXIDE which is odourless and breathing more than a small amount over time will be fatal. A number of carbon monoxide poisoning incidents have occurred as a direct result of leaking gas flues.
Below is a list of boilers most commonly installed with concealed flues:
Range Powermax
Potterton Powermax
Gledhill Gulfstream
Ideal iStor
Keeping you safe:
Service engineers are required under The Gas Safety (Inst. and Use) Regulations 1998 to ensure the gas flue is performing properly. Unfortunately, where the flue is hidden within the building such as behind walls this cannot be done unless a flue inspection hatch is installed.
To prevent more deaths as a result of flues leaking carbon monoxide the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced that all homeowners must have a gas flue inspection hatch fitted to permit a proper visual inspection of concealed flues by 1st January 2013.
Failure to provide visual access along the whole length of the gas flue beyond this date will result in the issuing of a written warning as well an “At Risk”, turn it OFF Warning Label.
After 1st January 2013 gas technicians will more than likely decline to service or repair any gas appliance with a concealed flue with no inspection hatches fitted.
In the interim:
So what about between now and January 1st 2013, while we all rush to get our access hatches fitted, do I hear you all ask?
All Jupiterblue Gas Flue Inspection hatches are fire rated to a minimum of 1 hour and are tested to B.S.476: Part 22:1987.