Ancient gas fire/BBU

[leelister6]

Have a customer with a New World Stowaway gas fire and BBU. BG fitted em a new combi and decomissioned the old fire and BBU. The customer now wants the fire reinstating. New World no longer does boilers and fires so can't get a straight answer from them whether it can be done. Tried Gas Safe's tech helpline and I might as well have phoned me Gran! The flue is sound and has passed the flue flow test (both through the BBU heat ex. and the fire spigot entry). The fire is in excellent condition (35 years old!) so just wanting some opinions on whether I should just go ahead and connect the gas supply to the fire, do all the relevant tests and Bob's your uncle. Should the burner tray be removed or should it be left in situ? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[jtsplumbing]

Hello mate what you have to do is remove gas and elec connections burners ect from BBU , disconnect any pipework from back boiler and leave open ends, BG have been drilling holes into BBU. CORGI did write a page on doing this.

 

[Puddle]

The back boiler and fire are all part of the same unit,you can not have part of the unit operational without the manufacturers approval,this you can not get,so the answer is no ,you should not re-instate fire by it's self as officially it is not a stand alone fire but part of an appliance that incorporates a fire and boiler unit,gas safe should have pointed this out but as you say know they just pass the buck

We used to do as jts says however now even Baxi have now saying it is ok to have their fires on their back boiler units operational by themselves with bbu decommissioned and isolated .

Think you should recommend the customer has a new more efficient fire fitted

imho

 

[jtsplumbing]

We did loads of these for plymouth council , who got method pass`d by corgi as long as BBU is still in place and connected to flue it was accepted, As for gas safe trying to get an answer from them, waste of time, try your local inspector he may have more information, BG are still doing this, so who is right and who is wrong ??

 

[gasmarc]

I would say no is the answer imho

 

[GrahamM]

Does not mater what Gas Safe or Corgi say. They are not the experts here.
Without manufacturers approval it is a no no.

 

[Gordon T]

As GrahamM states its not upto Gas Safe to give a yes or no. If the manufacturer says yes, get them to say so with a letter of approval. Do not dismiss this. If they say no, then its a definate NO, irrespective of which other body is telling you otherwise. Gas Safe dont overide any manufacturers ruling.

 

[wnjswozo]

was told years ago,and i dont think its changed you can use fire as long as bbu still in place,as fire slots into boiler flue hood,which in turn (or should be)is connected to flue liner.
i personnally would talk them into having bbu/gf took out and new fire fitted,lay it on about existing fire not having asd ,they,ll soon come round,you know it makes sense

 

[5544]

as stated earlier, you cannot just re commission the fire on its own, unless the manufacturer states it is possible. the back boiler and fire are considered one unit, and the instalation and testing is done with that in mind. if you cannot get a clear answer from the manufacturer, forget it and tell them to get a stand alone fire.

 

[Mike Jackson]

Check out TB091 on the Gas Safe Register site. Tells you everything you need to know.

 

[Mbear]

Don't see anything wrong with it myself aslong as....

The flue is passing its f/f and is in perfect condition.
Ventilation is satisfactory.
U have the mi available to commission fire.
The back boiler is still in-situ, gas/elects/pipes disconnected.
All tightness tests and further gas leak checks are sound.

I don't see the problem with it at all. In theory (if both bbu&fire worked) a user could use the fire on its own and never use the boiler if they so wished, there would be no issue with that.

 

[gasmarc]

you could argue the point that there is no FFD or plus the integrity of a flue that is what 35 years old :hammer:

 

[jtsplumbing]

If everything is working OK flue ect would you class fire as NTS, and fit CO alarm, may-be this is eldery customer who can-not afford a new fire, How meny gas fires are fitted in the uk with-out FFD , been in for years never had a problem.

 

[gasmarc]

I agree with what you are saying I am just being anorak and covering oneself

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

we all know manufacturers wont commit to this one,even BAXI say no but you can if you take responsibility,however the liners 35 year old it will be like a colander out of site ,just do your custard a favor yes i can do it but the liner needs replacing or a better option upgrade to a new fire