Comments on: Check Ventilation

By: Boiler Systems

Boiler Systems — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:31:55 +0000

The first question that comes to mind is why does the company that you employ to perform the servicing regularly advise you that you will be cut off at the next service but they do not do this. Either their advice is factually true and they should stand by it, thereby cutting you off, or they are merely going through the motions and hence they ought to change their approach. Is there a risk to your employees and a contravention of the regulations or not? Also why do you use them if they cannot give you straight forward advice?

The regulations are in place to protect people, not to ensure the boiler works perfectly well for 30 years.

We suggest you speak direct to the service company involved and challenge them to spell out in simple terms
- does your installation comply with the regulations and is there any risk to people?
- What needs to be corrected immediately to being it inside the regulations?
- what you should do to eliminate any risk to your employees in the interim if it is safe to continue to operate the boiler

As an employer you have a duty of care to your employees and should ensure that they are in a safe environment. If your firm stance means that the boiler should be cut off then this will be a short term price worth paying if it avoids injury to an employee.

By: Mark Firth

Mark Firth — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:14:37 +0000

We have a 30-year old gas boiler on our business premises.
The company that service the boiler annually advised if we don’t attend to the ventilation in the boiler room (current regulations not met) we will be cut off at the next service.

This boiler has been in the same location and worked perfectly well with no issues for 30-years. Can we really be cut off if we don’t undertake the significant work to provide more ventilation?

By: Boiler Systems

Boiler Systems — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 07:36:31 +0000

If you are referring to a brick ventilation block they can be obtained from your local builders merchants.

A single brick block could be satisfactory if it is of the minimum size quoted. If you have been advised that 66 cm squared is required then that is the guiding principle. The staff at the builders merchants should be able to help you.

By: Adam Delia

Adam Delia — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 15:29:22 +0000

recently been visited by a gas engineer to start up my back boiler as just moved into new house. He explained that he could not work on it unless there was ventilation in the room. He explained that we need a ventilation block of at least 66cm squared. Can you tell me where i can get one from. Is a single brick block vent to small?

By: Boiler Systems

Boiler Systems — Fri, 25 May 2007 10:21:58 +0000

Boiler ventilation is an area where great caution needs to be exercised. It is very difficult to advise online without having seen the installation or knowing the boiler type.

Ventilation varies drastically from boiler to boiler depending upon output and flueing arrangements. In the circumstances we would advise you to contact the boiler manufacturer direct for their advice.

By: george brechin

george brechin — Wed, 23 May 2007 17:11:47 +0000

We have a combi boiler in a walk in cupboard which is vented through the gable of the house.The cupboard is 30″ wide 3ft deep 96″ high.It has a 78″ x 27″ louvre door which over years of decorating probably has narrower slats than the recomended regulations.We would like to change this door and are anxious to find out the minimum ventilation requirements on a different style door .I.E [ a flush panel door with vents cut out] Any information you may be able to supply regarding this would be greatly apprciated.

Regards George Brechin

By: Boiler Systems

Boiler Systems — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 09:23:46 +0000

Thanks – We hope that alerting people to the dangers can improve safety although gas boilers are very safe if maintained properly.

There are carbon dioxide monitors sold which will sound a loud alarm if they detect the gas – similar to smoke detectors.

By: George Robbins

George Robbins — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 18:20:49 +0000

Thank you for this article and pointing out some of the things that I can do myself. I know the pictures show a very extreme situation but they illustrate the potential pitfalls well.

Is there anything I can buy to alert me to excess carbon-dioxide in my room?