Drop in Carbon Monoxide poisoning fatalities is due to the introduction of nationwide measures

(20/11/2009)

The Corgi Trust, in the 12th annual benchmarking report, reveals that fatalities caused by Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning linked to domestic appliances such as boilers, cookers, room heaters and warm air heaters in Great Britain have dropped by more than 50% over the last decade from a high of 24 to 9.

The report, compiled from information supplied via Downstream Incident Data Report (DIDR) forms completed and submitted by investigators at British Gas and CORGI Services on behalf of the Gas Industry and in consultation with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), reviews incidents relating to mains natural gas and piped LPG. It suggests that the drop in fatalities is due to the introduction of nationwide measures. These include the gas safety responsibilities placed on landlords and the introduction of minimum efficiency limits on new boilers encouraging the update to room sealed appliances since 1998.

“The overall drop in fatalities is really positive news and illustrates how government regulation, awareness campaigns and the introduction of safer appliances in the home have made a difference over the past 12 years,” commented Nigel Dumbrell, Manager of The Corgi Trust. “Every life lost to CO is avoidable however and as gas isn’t the only fuel to pose a CO danger, it’s important that a co-ordinated approach is adopted between the gas industry, those representing other domestic fuel sectors such as solid fuel and oil, and the HSE to fully scope and understand the situation,” he added.

The 12th annual CO incident report confirms that nine deaths in seven separate incidents and 67 non-fatal casualties in 33 incidents were reported from 1st April 2007 to 30th June 2008.

“Compared to 06/07, there has been an increase in incidents, fatalities and casualties, however, it is unclear whether this is due to under reported numbers in the last couple of years or an actual change,” Dumbrell explains. “We will continue to monitor the situation closely.”

Of the 40 incidents recorded:

Number of Incidents Appliance type Number of Fatalities
25 Boiler 5
1 Warm air heater 0
4 Room/space heater 2
1 Cooker 1
1 Cooker/boiler 1
8 Not stated

Analysing the boiler related incidents, the report identifies those boilers 16 years old or more have 1.6 times the risk of being involved in a CO incident than newer boilers. "This increase in risk might be down to the fact that older boilers are more likely to be open flued appliances rather than the age of the appliance alone,” commented Dumbrell. “We understand the additional safety risk that open flued appliances pose and are campaigning for a scrappage scheme to replace these models with newer safer models,” he concluded.

The 07/08 report also identifies that privately rented households were 2.6 times more at risk than other households and that pre-1946 built homes were 1.5 times more at risk than post-1945 dwellings[. In addition, incidents involving safer condensing boilers appear for the first time in the report, however, this is largely a reflection of the rapid increase in the condensing boiler market and seem to relate to poor installation practice rather than appliance design. Two of the four reported incidents involving condensing boilers, were caused by serious flaws in the installation of the flue system.

Regionally, there has been a small cluster of incidents reported in the Cardiff area, which may be due to some extent to an increased awareness of CO after a double fatality was reported in the area, in July 2007.

Other common areas of concern raised by the report are:
· Flue/terminal positioning, for which best practice is defined in BS 5440: Part 1: 2008. Outbuildings, passageways and exposed porches are specific problem areas featured here.
· Servicing is not always comprehensive, if it is carried out at all.
· The seal between flues and appliances.
· Third party effects on flue systems due to building alterations or additions.

Annual servicing of gas appliances is the best way to prevent CO incidents,” advises Dumbrell. “However, the report also highlights work that can affect correctly installed flue systems such as building alterations and extensions, so this area of concern needs reinforcing with builders and planning authorities as well as the general public.”

The report also includes data referring to two piped LPG incidents; one involving a single fatality and one involving five casualties and no deaths.

Related categories:  Boilers - Gas   Detectors and alarms   Flues   Gas and electrical fires   Legislation and regulations   LPG heating