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| Don't let DIY be the death of you ! |
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| Date:
02/03/04 |
Author:
Press Office |
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DIY enthusiasts and homeowners, who are planning to spruce up their homes this Spring, are being warned to ‘Never DIY with gas’, by gas safety watchdog CORGI.
The message comes as part of CORGI’s national safety campaign, which launches this month (March), to discourage hapless DIY-ers from tampering with gas appliances in order to achieve that flawless finish.
By moving a gas appliance or removing its’ casing to paint behind it, people could be putting their life and the lives of their family in danger. It can lead to the appliance not functioning properly and leaking gas, or the emission of lethal Carbon Monoxide, which can kill within minutes and claims the lives of more than 30 people each year.
CORGI also stresses that gas appliances should never be painted. When the appliance heats up there can be an increased fire risk associated with the paint, and some types of paint can release toxins.
CORGI Chief Executive Mike Thompson said: “DIY fever has swept the nation during the past few years and it’s easy for people to get carried away with the job in hand and disturb gas appliances - this could prove fatal and is not under any circumstances a risk worth taking.”
Many DIY-ers, inspired by the numerous home improvement TV programmes, also like to conceal boilers for aesthetic purposes by boxing them in. “This kind of project should only be undertaken after checking the ventilation requirements for the individual appliance by seeking the advice of a CORGI registered installer,” says Mike.
It is a legal requirement for anyone working on gas to be registered with CORGI and householders should leave all gas work to the professionals. However, a number of fitters still operate outside the law and recent statistics show an alarming 93 per cent of work undertaken by cowboy installers - those not registered with CORGI as competent to undertake gas work - contains serious gas safety defects.
Householders should always use a CORGI registered installer and only let them through the door if they can show a CORGI ID card. To find an installer in your area log-on to www.corgi-gas-safety.com or tel: 0870 401 2300.
CORGI TOP FIVE GAS SAFETY TIPS :
-Never DIY with gas
-Only use CORGI registered gas installers - it’s the law and their competency has been thoroughly tested
-Before allowing anyone into your property to carry out gas work, ask to see their CORGI ID card
-Ensure gas appliances are checked annually
-Never block ventilation and ensure that flue terminals are kept clear at all times
CORGI has recently published a new safety guide called ‘Spring Clean your Boiler’. To view a copy, visit the CORGI website at www.corgi-gas-safety.com.
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