The British Standard BS 6173 (2001) has been amended to provide users of gas fired catering appliances (cookers, grills, ovens etc.) with protection against the effects of exposure to combustion gases given off when gas is used for cooking.

All new gas fired installations must now have a device fitted that prevents the gas from being turned on until the fume extraction system is extracting air.

The underlying principle here is that if the air extraction system is OFF, then the gas-fired cooking appliances cannot be used and therefore users cannot be put at risk.

Previously, users have been able to light the gases without first turning on the extraction system. Reasons why the user may not turn on the extraction system include "its cold in the kitchen", "it's too noisy", "it's draughty" or it may be malfunctioning and not working at all!  Whilst these may appear genuine initial reasons not to use an extraction system - try using that as an excuse when the health and safety executive investigates a problem.

Therefore, changes were deemed necessary due to the possibility that a user could suffer the ill-effects of a build up of these potentially dangerous fumes, which can cause headaches, nausea, fatigue and in extreme cases even worse effects.

The question posed by this change in regulations is "How do you prevent the user from inadvertantly breaking the regulations which have been introduced for his/her safety"?

BS 6173 (2001) addresses this problem by requiring that an "Interlock" be fitted to the Gas Supply System and the Air Extraction System.  This device is not an option : IT IS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT.

An interlock is a device which we fit to your catering equipment which will not allow the gas supply to flow until the extraction system is switched on and is functioning.  This device is now a mandatory inclusion on all newly fitted appliances - but why stop there?  Surely it is only prudent to fit this device to your existing catering equipment? Consider the consequeces if an incident occurs and you do not have this system installed - Consider how the Health and Safety Executive will react, or indeed any employees union, or your own insurance provider.

Contact Steven at John Scott Plumbers on 01896 752651 for further information or a cost-effective quote to install this equipment.