Uncombusted Fuel Gas

Vulnerable age

Related hazards

No Particular Age Group

Explosions, Carbon Monoxide and Fuel

Combustion Products

HHSRS Operating Guidance:

February 2006

Multiple locations

Yes

No

Secondary hazards

Yes

No

Living room gas fire in normal position (left)

Living room gas fire pulled away from the fireplace

opening (right)

Dwelling: Two storey mid terraced house, circa 1915

Background: This dwelling is a two storey, mid terraced, house built around 1915. It comprises of a large "through"

living/dining room with a window at both ends, a kitchen, a utility room, and a toilet on the ground floor, and two

bedrooms, and a bathroom on the first floor. The dwelling has a gas central heating installation with radiators in all

habitable rooms, the bathroom, and the toilet. All windows have recently been replaced with double glazed units fitted

with trickle ventilators. The front and rear doors have also been replaced in the recent past. The electrical installation is

around 8 years old and in good condition. Externally, the property is in good condition. Within the living room at the front

of the ground floor there is an outset, closed fronted, open flue gas fire. This does not have a flue-liner fitted and is not

securely fixed within the fireplace opening, and so can be easily pulled forward (as shown in the photographs above)

which could cause damage to the supply pipe. The fire hasn't been serviced within the last 3 years. There are no CO or

gas detectors in the dwelling.

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

LIKELIHOOD

OUTCOMES

a

Gas supply

-

a

Gas detector provision

3

b

Gas installations

-

b

Defects to detectors

-

c

Gas appliances

3

d

Maintenance defects

2

Key

3

Seriously defective

e

Siting of appliances

-

2

Defective

1

Not satisfactory

-

Satisfactory/NA

West of England Local Authorities

09 - 01

November 2008

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS

H

I

J

RATING

Av: 51.3

53.1

Score:

347

G

RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT

IMPROVE

Likelihood to

1 in 5,600

Outcomes to

0.5

0.0

46.6 52.9

%

Justification

To bring the likelihood to that of the national average, the fire should be serviced by a competent person and properly

secured. The provision of gas detectors would be sensible, and fitting a flue liner will avoid other problems.

Av: 0

A

B

C

D

E

F

Average likelihood and health outcomes for persons of all ages, 1997-1999.

NEW RATING

Av: Nos

Score:

3

H

I

J

G

West of England Local Authorities

09 - 01

November 2008

HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES

Low

High

1 in

56

LIKELIHOOD

Av: Pre 1920 House: 48,807

< 4200 2400 1300 750 420 240 130

75

42

24

13

7.5

4

2.5

1.5 >

Justification

The potential for uncombusted gas to escape relates mainly to the lack of secure fixing and damage to the supply pipe.

There is a significant increase in the likelihood of a harm occurring as the result of these deficiencies. This likelihood is

exacerbated by the lack of any servicing of the fire, and a lack of gas detection in the room warning occupiers of a

problem. There is a real possibility of a gas escape from the pipe work if it is twisted and joints damaged when the fire is

moved. However the fire will not be in regular use as their is a central heating system. The lack of flue liner is a

deficiency that could contribute to another hazard.

OUTCOMES

Class I

Class II

%

Av: Pre 1920 House: 0.3

0.5

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 0.0

0

0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 48.4

46.4

0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

< 0.05

Class III

< 0.05

Class IV

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Justification

There is nothing that justifies changing the harm outcomes from the average

Av: Pre 1920 House: 0

A

B

C

D

E

F