Issue Date:  -  Friday, 10 September 2004

Unflued gas appliances

The Director of Energy Safety, Albert Koenig, has today responded to comments made by the Health Department executive Michael Jackson in the West Australian concerning the future of unflued gas heaters.

Mr Koenig, who is the Western Australian statutory safety regulator for gas installations and gas appliances said there is no plan to phase out unflued gas heaters.

He said that whilst there is a need for his office and health officials to carefully assess the extent and effect of emissions from unflued gas heaters in WA, and that this issue had been validly raised by the Department of Health, it would be premature to prejudge the outcome. This type of appliance has been in use in Western Australia for many years without any known health problems being identified.

The sale and installation of unflued gas appliances in Western Australia is covered by a number of stringent requirements contained in regulations administered by the Director of Energy Safety.

Provided these requirements are complied with and the appliance is operated and serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions they should perform safely.

The requirements include: limiting the output of the heater to 25MJ/hr and the need for permanent fixed high and low level ventilation to dilute the products of combustion and promote a regular air change within the room.

These requirements are not as stringent or even required in some of the States where the testing was carried out.

 Furthermore, due to climatic differences it can be expected that most Western Australian locations using unflued gas heaters will have some limited advantageous room ventilation, unlike their counterparts in colder areas.

Mr Koenig said that a working group consisting of representatives from the Department of Health, Department of Environment, Department of Housing and Works and Energy Safety had been established to discuss possible future management options for unflued gas appliances. Until the group has concluded its discussions it would be premature to take any action that may impact on the sale, installation and use of unflued gas appliances.

Mr Koenig said that any possible future actions would be discussed in detail with gas safety regulators of other States and industry, to ensure consistency of approach wherever practicable.

Mr Koenig also said that meanwhile consumers should use gas heaters prudently and ensure heated rooms have some ventilation. They should also have their gas heaters regularly serviced, to ensure proper combustion of the gas consumed. More information on safe use is being placed on Energy Safety’s website at www.energysafety.wa.gov.au during the next 24 hours.