Building Regulations

Written evidence submitted by the Energy Networks Association

 

Energy Networks Association (ENA) welcome the opportunity to respond to the Communities and Local Government Committee’s inquiry into the operation of the Building Regulations applying to electrical and gas installation and repairs in dwellings. ENA represents the interests of its member companies who operate the national and regional networks for energy to transport gas and electricity into UK and Ireland homes and businesses.

 

This response is made on behalf of ENA’s Gas Distribution Networks (GDN) members who comprise of Scotia Gas Networks, Northern Gas Networks, National Grid Distribution and Wales & West Utilities.

Our members believe that the existing Building Regulations (Part J) should be revised to require audible carbon monoxide alarms be fitted in all new build homes, not just those with a solid fuel appliance, as currently suggested.

Given that such alarms cost less than £20, revisiting these regulations through the Select Committee inquiry and the Loftstedt Review represents a real opportunity to improve the safety of households across the UK and save lives for a relatively low cost.

ENA also believes preventing carbon monoxide poisoning should be key priority for the Government. Recently the Department of Health published figures that suggested as many as 4,000 people every year present themselves at A&E departments and are diagnosed with CO poisoning (and sent home after treatment), whilst a further 200 are admitted to hospital, and at least 50 die every year. However it is believed that the actual number of injuries and fatalities are much higher.

More recently the All Party Parliamentary Gas Safety Group (APPGSG) published the report Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, which considered these matters further. Our members are supportive of this report and its proposals, including the requirement for any domestic, residential property, where there is an appliance that uses any fossil fuel (gas, solid fuel, oil) an audible carbon monoxide alarm should be fitted. Indeed our members agree with the point made by the APPGSG report that safety considerations should outweigh any commitment to deregulation because of the risks of both fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.

With the introduction of DECC’s Green Deal, the UK is about to commence a significant programme of environmental and efficiency improvements of the UK’s housing stock. ENA believe that the Government should have regard to any unintended consequence of these improvements, for example by improving a house’s insulation, thereby making it more airtight, there is increased risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in the event of a fossil fuel burning appliance breaking down. As such the fitting of audible carbon monoxide alarms should be a key component of any Green Deal work which includes the installation of any new appliances that burns fossil fuels.

I trust that you will give our submissions due consideration and we would be happy to discuss further on behalf of our members.

Energy Networks Association

January 2012