Safety measures to take against Carbon Monoxide

ENSURE that rooms in your home containing heating appliances are properly ventilated - NEVER BLOCK VENTS

• Make sure all chimneys are regularly swept and kept clear

• Use appliances only for the PURPOSE for which they were designed, e.g. do not use a cooker to heat a room

• NEVER use any appliance if you suspect it might be faulty

• If undertaking ALTERATIONS to your home which may affect the safety or efficiency of your heating installation (e.g. adding an extension, converting a garage, removing internal walls, changing a living room into a bedroom, double glazing / weather sealed doors) follow this safety advice:

• Do not block or build around any existing air vents or flues

• If creating a new living space, ensure it has ventilation in accordance with Building Regulations

• If adding additional radiators ensure that your boiler can cope with the additional capacity

• If you are altering or adding appliances to a natural gas or LPG installation, ensure that work is carried out to IS813:2002 Domestic Gas Installations

• Get professional advice on ventilation and flueing before embarking on alterations to your house. Contact your fuel supplier substitute for regular inspection and maintenance of appliances, vents, flues and chimneys. Check that the Carbon Monoxide alarm complies with the EN 50291 standard. Natural Gas Choose roomsealed appliances.

With room-sealed appliances fresh air intake for combustion comes from outside of the house and emissions are then discharged outside also. As such, the air in the room where the appliance is fitted is not used or affected by the appliance.

Therefore room-sealed appliances (balanced flue or fanned draught types) are recommended for new and replacement boilers and water heaters. Do you have an unsafe water heater? Flueless gas water heaters are considered dangerous because they consume the air inside the room.

This causes the products of combustion - including toxic Carbon Monoxide - to discharge directly into the room where the heater is fitted. If used for extended periods, the levels of Carbon Monoxide can build up to dangerous levels if there is a lack of ventilation.

Open flue-type water heaters located in bathrooms are also considered unsafe. If you think you may have an unsafe gas waterheater contact Bord Gáis Networks now on 1850 79 79 79 for a free safety check.

An RGI is an installer who has at least a GID (Gas Installer Domestic) qualification or equivalent in gas safety which makes him/her competent to carry out gas works. He/She will also have a valid insurance and will have paid the annual subscription fee which entitles him/her to be on the register of RGIs and carry an ID Card with a valid date.

Note: Registered Gas Installers (RGI) are separate entities to RGII i.e. businesses or sole traders and RGII have no control over there methods and practices except in relation to Gas Safety. RGII would at all times recommend customers to contact a least three RGI to compare cost, quality and service issues before entering into any contract.

By using an RGI you have the peace of mind that you are dealing with a trained installer who has the required expertise in gas safety to ensure your gas installation is safe. Each RGI carries an ID Card which is renewed annually. The ID on the card is a number from R0001 to R3000 and the photo is one of the installer. Ensure the card is in date.

If in doubt, contact us at 01-4997998