New Rules Regarding Flues?

lulabell

Hi I wonder if anyone can help me?
My Dad has had his gas fire installed by British Gas many years ago and he also pays for them to service it each year.
However on the last service - (last week) they told him that there's new rulings out regarding flues and chimneys and his is "not up to standard".
From what I can work out, the flue now needs to be blocked off with just a pipe attatchment connected to the back of the fire.
They've told him this will be a big and expensive job.
I'm slightly worried about this as he is disabled and a widower, I wonder if they are trying to scare him into having the work done?
Or maybe they are right and there is a new ruling out?
I've tried to find out elsewhere but have had no luck and I know I can rely on you good folks out there to help me!!

Lulabell

BTW. He has an outset gas fire with back boiler behind which powers 8 rads.

Gaz_Hammer

Hi lulabell,
I don't quite understand from what you have written what is wrong.
However if the appliance has been serviced regularly before then I would suggest contacting the servicecare department first thing Monday and ask for the Area Field Manager or his assistant to contact you for a full explanation of what is actually wrong?
Emphasis the issue regarding your Fathers circumstances!

Hope you get it sorted
Gaz

clive_the_gas

I think they are referring to the annular area around the base of the stainless steel flue liner where it attaches to the back boiler.

Read the paperwork that has been left carefully.

It may say that the boiler is not fitted to current standards.
This does not mean that the update work has got to be carried out (sealing the annular area).

If there was any danger then the boiler would have been turned off, labelled & left out of action.

It is most likely to be only a recommendation to bring the boiler up to today's ever stricter standards.

Poppy9

We had a recommendation notice left for 8 years by BG when they carried out our annual service. We have a baxi back boiler (about 30 year old) in our dining room. Unfortunately there was no vent in the room. As the back wall, and only external wall, was full width glass patio doors we didn't want to put a vent in there. This year we replaced the patio doors with french doors and had two L shape walls built to accommodate the doors. This meant we could now have a vent installed. Builder was there when BG came for annual service. Sadly it still failed as the hole was big enough but not the vent cover