Energy and Climate Change CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by the All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group (SMR45)

About the All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group

The All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group (APPCOG) provides a forum for Parliamentarians, gas industry representatives and other key stakeholders to discuss carbon monoxide poisoning in relation to all fuels. It is chaired by Barry Sheerman MP, Jason McCartney MP, and Baroness Finlay of Llandaff.

In 2011, it launched an inquiry, “Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning”,1 chaired by Baroness Finlay. This report estimated that as many as 4000 people each year2 are diagnosed with low-level carbon monoxide exposure, with a further 200 admittances to hospital with serious injuries, and 50 fatalities every year.3 It calculated the approximate cost to society, and found that preventing carbon monoxide poisoning could save the UK £178 million a year, as well as avoid immeasurable human tragedy and suffering.4

The report put forward seventeen key recommendations to tackle carbon monoxide poisoning through improved detection, increased awareness, and better regulation of safety standards. The APPCOG works to achieve these recommendations, and related aims which have emerged from working with its key stakeholders.

Introduction

The Energy and Climate Change Committee has asked for submissions commenting on the Smart Meter rollout. Given the focus of the APPCOG on preventing carbon monoxide poisoning, this response focuses on only those terms of reference which have the scope to increase carbon monoxide safety. Therefore, this document will respond to following issues:

What are the potential obstacles to rolling out smart meters for the piped gas supply in the UK and how should these be addressed?

What are the potential benefits of smart meters for piped gas consumers?

Summary of APPCOG Recommendations

Smart Meter rollout could provide the opportunity to protect suppliers and householders from carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as raise awareness of its dangers.

Engineers installing Smart Meters should be protected against CO. Additionally, 80% of households do not possess a CO alarm—if installers were equipped with CO detection equipment, they would not only be able to protect themselves, but also alert householders to the presence of CO who might have been unaware of it.

Smart Meter installers must inform the consumer about the dangers of carbon monoxide, the importance of getting heating and cooking appliances regularly checked and serviced, and owning an audible carbon monoxide alarm.

If a CO alarm is already present in the home, the Smart Meter installer should press its “test” button as part of the relighting procedure. If there is no CO alarm present, the Smart Meter installer should install one.

Smart Meter installers who suspect that gas appliances in the home they are visiting may be emitting CO into the ambient air should not relight those appliances, and must take relevant actions to ensure the residents are safe.

What are the potential obstacles to rolling out smart meters in the UK and how should these be addressed?

1. A recent study conducted by Liverpool John Moores University in 2011 measured CO levels in 109 homes over a number of weeks. It found that 24 homes had CO levels greater than 50 ppm (parts per million)—a level in which symptoms of poisoning, such as headaches, tiredness, and drowsiness can be experienced. A further 53 homes contained CO levels between 10 and 50 ppm.5

2. Extrapolating from these studies, it would be reasonable to assume that a significant percentage of homes visited by Smart Meter installers will contain the presence of carbon monoxide. Installers visiting homes will be unprotected from CO; additionally, after the Smart Meter installation is complete, installers must relight and check all gas-fired appliances.

3. Smart Meter installers should be protected against CO. Additionally, 80% of households do not possess a CO alarm—if installers were equipped with CO detection equipment, they would not only be able to protect themselves, but also alert householders to the presence of CO who might have been unaware of it.

4. Smart Meter installers must inform the consumer about the dangers of carbon monoxide, the importance of getting heating and cooking appliances checked and serviced annually and owning an audible carbon monoxide alarm. The Smart Metering Installation Code of Practice currently states that: “where appropriate, for gas Smart Metering Systems Installation Visits, the Installer informs the Customer about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) and the need to regularly have all gas appliances serviced and checked by a Gas Safe Registered engineer.”6 The APPCOG recommends that this be strengthened to make provision of information about carbon monoxide mandatory.

5. If a CO alarm is already present in the home, the Smart Meter installer should press its “test” button as part of the relighting procedure. If there is no CO alarm present, the Smart Meter installer should install one—at a trade price of around £12, this would not add an unacceptable cost to the roll-out.

6. The provision of a working CO alarm is a sensible precaution to protect the resident, and will also protect the installer and his employer from any claims of negligence, should there be a CO incident shortly after the meter installation.

7. Smart Meter installers who suspect that gas appliances in the home they are visiting may be emitting CO into the ambient air should not relight those appliances, and must take relevant actions to ensure the residents are safe. This might involve contacting the Gas Emergency Service Provider to report their concerns.

What are the potential benefits of smart meters for consumers?

8. Smart Meter rollout is an ideal opportunity to protect suppliers and householders, as well as raise awareness of carbon monoxide.

February 2013