HSE Safety Alert: Explosion Risk From Redundant Domestic Back Boilers, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 12 May 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a safety alert aimed at homeowners, tenants, landlords and heating professionals following five incidents in the last five years where redundant solid fuel back boilers exploded. A number of these incidents led to injury and sadly in one case a fatality.

The risk can arise when a disused boiler has been left at the back of a fireplace and a coal or wood fire is lit in front of it. This can mean the boiler heats up causing the boiler casing to explode. If you have a redundant back boiler you should not light an open fire in front of it.

Information in the alert should help you identify whether you have this potential risk in your property / housing stock and what steps you should take. If you are unsure if you have a back boiler behind your fireplace you should seek further advice from your landlord or a competent professional such as a plumber or heating engineer.

For practical and technical advice you can contact the Solid Fuel Association helpline on 0845 6014406 www.solidfuel.co.uk or HETAS, the body recognised for official testing and approval of domestic solid fuel burning appliances at www.hetas.co.uk.

The alert is on the HSE website here.

Notes

1. Over the last 5 years HSE is aware of several incidents regarding exploding back boilers. On 11 November 2007 a woman died after an incident in Twyning, Gloucestershire. An HSE investigation is currently ongoing and no further details can be given at this time

HSE is aware of four other incidents. These occurred in Lincolnshire, South Wales and two in Nottinghamshire.

2. HSE is sending a letter to local authorities to ensure they are aware of the alert. At the same time they are being reminded of the Safety Alert on scalding risks from domestic hot water systems in July 2007 .

http://www.hse.gov.uk