We’re Supporting Gas Safety Week

IBMG and our plumbing branches across the network are proud to be supporting Gas Safety Week 2023 which is taking place this week (11th – 17th September).

Gas Safety Week is an annual safety week to raise awareness to our customers and colleagues alike, of gas safety and the importance of taking care of gas appliances. It is coordinated by Gas Safe Register, the official list of gas engineers who are legally allowed to work on gas.  

Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions, and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO is a highly poisonous gas that can kill quickly and without warning, as you cannot see it, taste it, or smell it.

Here are some tips to help keep yourselves, and others, safe:

• Check for warning signs that could indicate your (or others) gas appliances are not working correctly. Signs may include lazy yellow /orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, error messages or unexpected noises from your boiler or dark and sooty stains around your gas appliance.

• Check you know the six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse, and loss of consciousness.

• Install an audible carbon monoxide alarm. Alarms should bemarked EN50291 and display the British Standards Kitemark.

• Never DIY on gas appliances or block vents. Either of these actions could cause an appliance to become unsafe. If you are worried about an appliance, you need to contact your gas safe engineer directly or find/check a registered business at GasSafeRegister.co.uk.

• Have your annual gas safety check. Gas appliances should be safety checked once a year and serviced regularly by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Tenants should be aware that it’s their landlord’s responsibility to arrange this. A free email and/or text reminder can be set up at StayGasSafe.co.uk.

• Check your engineer is Gas Safe registered and qualified for the type of work you need doing. You can find this information on the Gas Safe Register website and the back of the Gas Safe ID card. Make sure you ask to see a Gas Safe ID before any work is done.

Our plumbing and heating brands are on hand to help give you advice to keep you safe, as well as stocking essentials for your home such as CO2 alarms. Discover our brands here.

Make sure you’re following D W Burns, Total Plumbing Supplies and RGB to get advice and tips, as well as special offers, throughout this year’s Gas Safety Week!