Gas Fire Condemned - Broken Decorative Coal

Wickedwitch67

Hi all, grateful for any advice on this one.

British Gas have condemned my Mum's gas fire because the strip of decorative coals that sits at the front of it are broken in two. They still fit perfectly and along with all the other decorative coals fit losely onto ceramic prongs. The BG engineer told my Mum it was a 'new rule due to carbon monoxide risk' but couldn't elaborate any further. She's had it serviced every year since it was installed with no problems.

Now obviously no one wants to take risks with carbon monoxide but does anyone know if this is right? I'm certainly no gas engineer but I'm a bit puzzled as to how such a thing could increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Thanks

hr9hr9

Hi


Yes the gas man was correct in doing this, it can affect the combustion of the fire.


I work as part of a gas repair and maintenance team.


HTH

ollski

When you say condemned do you mean left 'At Risk'?

Dumbe

Perhaps you could get a carbon monoxide detector ..

Not expensive and it would give you and your mum peace of mind and let you know if there is any problem

Wickedwitch67

Thanks everyone. Yes he definitely condemned it and put a great big red sticker on it which more or less said 'this appliance must not be used.' She hasn't used it since his visit - a few months back now which I only found out about yesterday - and I'm not sure if she would opt to even with a CM detector. I think I will ask our independent gas engineers to give her a visit to check it out.

Her trust in BG has been a bit dented since another BG engineer wanted to condemn her brand new cooker because it wasn't fixed to the wall with a BG bracket. It was however fixed to the wall with the manufacturer's bracket - which BG fitted!

G_M

Dumbe wrote: »

Perhaps you could get a carbon monoxide detector ..

Not expensive and it would give you and your mum peace of mind and let you know if there is any problem

Best to have one anyway.

eg £11 http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/en/carbon-monoxide-alarm-35503?utm_source=BING&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=co%20detector&utm_content=2974551055&utm_campaign=16204758222

or £8.66 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Carbon-Monoxide-Detector-Poisoning-Warning/dp/B00CZ7MZ9U/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1388244605&sr=8-7&keywords=co+detector

MeterMan

Wish people would stop using the word condemned to define the classification of a gas appliance.

Wickedwitch, Has the fire been classed as Immediately Dangerous, At Risk or Not to Current Standards?

I_have_spoken

The BG technician will be on ££ commission if a new fire is sold, think about it...

diywhynot

Handy and accurate reference here.

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

MeterMan wrote: »

Wish people would stop using the word condemned to define the classification of a gas appliance.

Wickedwitch, Has the fire been classed as Immediately Dangerous, At Risk or Not to Current Standards?

very good point

ollski

I_have_spoken wrote: »

The BG technician will be on ££ commission if a new fire is sold, think about it...

Who from?, bg haven't sold fires since back in the showroom days.


This would usually be classed as 'at risk' but if combustion was affected ie coal sittng on the burner or the flame pattern being adversely altered an engineer may decide to up the classification to the red label and 'immediately dangerous'.


Is it possible that the fire was condemned for failing a test rather than the coal?. you will have been left a safety notice....what does it say?