Old Back Boiler- New regulations - British Gas condem

James_N

We have a perfectly functionable Backboiler gas fire combination in our terraced house. Until recently we had a BG maintainance contract on the boiler fire and controls. In the past years the engineer has slapped a warning notice on the fire / back boiler warning that it was unsafe to use, whilst saying to us privately it was perfectly OK and the ventilation was adaquate (but not to the new regs) - these are the new regulations that came into force. The whole thing was fitted by BG BTW.

I understand that THIS June the new regs kicked in and that the next enginners visit will DISCONNECT the equipment and that I won't be able to reconnect it unless I eiher have a new (unreliable and very expensive) balanced flue combi boiler fitted, or make so many new ventilation holes that we might as well be living in a cave. Is this true? Will they totally disconnect it and can I prevent this?

If this IS true, and given that fitting a new balanced flue boiler is impractical in our house (no - I MEAN totally impractical, before someone starts to explain otherwise, due to layout and the proximity of boundaries) is it a viable option to switch to an electrical boiler for the rads and HW?

Or can i keep the old sytem running and pay a local bloke privately to maintain it? Will anyone who is any good do that now these new regs are in place.

Oh - and can someone explaiin the economies of "Saving Money / saving carbon" when fitting a new system, given that we scrap a working perfectly system, and make a new one in a big factory. Then the boiler as I understand needs careful nursing for the rest of its life since it's efficient but totally unreliable.

rheme

Hope this link helps

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/main.jhtml?xml=/property/2007/02/20/plevel18.xml

Incisor

Get BG to confirm in writing and then get independent advice from a CORGI installer.

AFAICS, Building Regs changes are NOT retrospective.

greenbee

I had a similar situation with my old boiler (standard one, not a back boiler), where for years it was fine as 'not to current standards', and then one year another rule came in, and the number of items 'not to current standards' meant that the Corgi-registered engineer had to declare it unsafe and couldn't relight it... and I couldn't make it conform to standard without pretty much taking it out and putting it back in again!

Canucklehead

Good morning: Further info is available from CORGI here and here . I remember your last thread on this issue...no exemption then?

HTH

Canucklehead

James_N

Canucklehead wrote: »

Good morning: Further info is available from CORGI here and here . I remember your last thread on this issue...no exemption then?

HTH

Canucklehead

BG denied all this and then said that anyway they were only prepared to install combi.

James_N

Canucklehead wrote: »

Good morning: Further info is available from CORGI here and here . I remember your last thread on this issue...no exemption then?

HTH

Canucklehead

What's the BOTTOM LINE? If I let BG back into my home, will they DISCONNECT my appliances. Will it then be IMPOSSIBLE to reconnect the present equipment.
If I don't let BG back in - what if I just carry on using it with no servicing? They have the records - can they demand to see it even if no contract?

greenbee

Unless you are a landlord, I don't believe you have any legal obligation to have the boiler serviced. You can also go to an alternative supplier for advice on options for replacement (and you should be doing this anyway so you have quotes to compare). If the changes in regulations make servicing an issue, then make sure you at least get a good carbon monoxide detector to minimise the risk to you and your family.

Canucklehead

James_N wrote: »

What's the BOTTOM LINE? If I let BG back into my home, will they DISCONNECT my appliances. Will it then be IMPOSSIBLE to reconnect the present equipment.
If I don't let BG back in - what if I just carry on using it with no servicing? They have the records - can they demand to see it even if no contract?

Good evening: This document details procedure re: gas safety. I wouldn't recommend using the appliance unless the ventilation is upgraded and your BBU is serviced but the choice is solely yours.

You're welcome.;)

Canucklehead

James_N

Canucklehead wrote: »

Good evening: This document details procedure re: gas safety. I wouldn't recommend using the appliance unless the ventilation is upgraded and your BBU is serviced but the choice is solely yours.

You're welcome.;)

Canucklehead

It seems that the next call by Bg will deem the Backboiler "Unsafe" and that it will be turned off. If I turn it on again it will be an offence. Presumably BG won't want me to pay for their expensive contract any more either?

This seems to be safety gone mad: When BG installed this is was without extra ventilation. It was me who later installed vents but they are "not big enough" and vent to next door - this is why they are "inadaquate". Until June 2008 they were NCS - not to standard - but in June they magically became lethal overnight. All of this without one item failing or worsening from the original BG installation.

What should I do? (I do have a CO detector BTW). We seem to be in a BIg Brother situation.

Gordon_T_2

My advice would be to ask for an independent Corgi guy to come round and sort your ventilation problems out. It seems to me you may need a core vent fitting to the correct size. I have been and done this on numerous occasions lately. Most were BG customers!
On another point, why didn't BG sort out your ventilation? Do they have a point of not doing this type of work or are they hoping to get a sale of a new boiler from you?