Are you aware of the new rules surrounding CO & Smoke alarms?

All landlords (social and private rented sector) are now legally required to replace or repair both carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke alarms if these are faulty. Landlord’s also need to ensure that a CO Alarm is installed in every room that features a combustion appliance – this includes a gas boiler, however, excludes gas cookers.

These rules have been extended and follow on from the new CO and Smoke alarm regulations made in 2015.

What are the key differences?

• As mentioned above, Landlords will be expected to replace and repair any alarms that are faulty or expired
• CO alarms are a must in any room featuring fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers)
• CO alarms are mandatory when installing heating appliances (excluding gas cookers) through building regulations

How can gas-elec help ensure your CO & smoke alarm compliance?

Gas-elec offers a range of services to check, replace and install CO & smoke alarms. These can be carried out in conjunction with any of our regular inspections or services or standalone visits.

Take a look below at the range of CO & Smoke Alarm services gas-elec can offer. If you have any questions regarding the extended rules or our Co & Smoke alarm services, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 0800 041 8614.

After a long awaited return of the ARLA conference, delayed due to the global pandemic, we are excited to announce that we will be attending and we look forward to meeting you all!

Visit stand F13 for a chance to win a 9th generation iPad

We offer a compliance management service to our clients, ensuring all your landlord properties meet the legal annual gas and electric safety requirements!

In addition to our compliance services, we also offer a wide range of services including boiler repairs, Legionella testing, Home Service Reports and more!

It’s National Gas Safety Week! Spread the word…

Gas-elec are experts in Gas Safety Inspections and complete over 100,000 inspections per year

Gas-elec is the UK’S favourite property services provider. We have specialised in providing Gas Safety Inspections to Landlords, Homeowners and Letting Agents for over 25 years.

We provide our customers with the best possible service and keep their homes safe and warm and offer a wealth of experience, supported by our national network of gas safe registered engineers. For the past 25 years, we have not only expanded our services, but we have evolved to also offer a complete compliance service for letting agents and property management businesses to ensure a fully compliant portfolio.

Join thousands of others to be part of Gas Safety Week

We are calling all Landlords, Homeowners and Letting Agencies to join this national safety campaign. Read below our tips on how to best keep your gas appliances working safely.

Book your Gas Safety Inspection with gas-elec

To ensure your gas appliances are safe, book your Gas Safety Inspection with us today. You can order this service here for only £65.00, or simply call our friendly customer services team on 0800 041 8614.

The ARLA

Propertymark Conference and Exhibition

Dubbed “The UK’s biggest and most prestigious lettings forum”… The ARLA Propertymark Conference and Exhibition

The ARLA Propertymark Conference and Exhibition is the perfect opportunity to network with the top letting agencies and industry professionals in the residential lettings sector.

Due to the pandemic of 2020, the final event date has not yet been announced and our stand number may be subject to change.

Despite this, we are very much excited to be attending the London ExCel centre for this event.

To all of our email marketing subscribers, we will be announcing the final details nearer to the time. To receive this information by email,  please do sign up for our newsletter by clicking Subscribe below. Covid Permitting

All new tenancies from July 1st 2020 in England will require a ‘Satisfactory’ Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).

As with an annual gas safety inspection, a copy of the electrical safety report produced following the inspection will have to be supplied to the property’s tenants.

Agents and landlords must ensure that any inspectors hired to issue an EICR hold the correct qualifications and are competent to carry out the inspection.

New Tenancies

For new tenancies (from July 1st) this will have to be carried out at the beginning of the tenancy and then every five years.

Existing Tenancies

For existing tenancies, the properties will have to be checked by April 1st 2021 and then every five years.

Electrical Safety

For more information call us on 0800 587 9999

The 18^th Edition Wiring Regulations and the use of SPD’s (Surge Protection Devices) for Protection of Transient Over voltages from Lighting Strikes and Supply Switching Origins.

Previously the requirements to provide surge protection devices or not was rather complex, requiring a classification code to be applied relating to the number of thunderstorm days at a location. This has all been removed and the 18th Edition now requires protection against transient over voltage (Lighting strike) to be provided where the consequences are:-

Single dwelling units however also require an assessment as to whether the total value of the installation and equipment therein justifies the inclusion of such protection, it should be noted that modern living in dwellings does encompass a large number of high value items such as Smart TV’s, Satellite receivers, Computer equipment, Wireless Broadband equipment, Boilers and controls, Games consoles, Washing machines, Fridge Freezers and other electrical appliances – not to mention the value of the entire electrical installation itself.

Some Home insurance may require an installation to adhere to the current edition of the wiring regulations thus an omission of an SPD could invalidate the insurance in the event of a lightning strike. It should be noted that not all premises would be required to have an SPD installed providing the risk assessment is carried out. Our services.

The 18^th Edition Wiring Regulations

+ Additional Protection against Fire

With the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations published in July 2018, the new regulations are enforceable from 1st January 2019.

All new install work undertaken from 1st January 2019, unless designed prior to this date, has to comply with BS 7671:2018.

EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) fixed wiring inspections done from 1st January 2019 will have to be completed to the new 18th edition wiring regulations standard, as set out in BS 7671:2018.

Electrical Fires

Electrical fires continue to be a recurring danger in the UK, with recent events shockingly highlighting the risks.

The 18th edition wiring regulations (BS7671) sets out requirements for electrical installations in the UK, including requirements for protection of persons, livestock & property against the risk from fires that may be generated & propagated in electrical installations.

From a wiring regulations point of view, the definition of danger includes risks to persons, livestock and property during use of electricity in electrical installations.

Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs) have an important role to play in protecting people and property against the risks of fire.

AFDDs are now included in the 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2018).

BS 7671: 2018 states that examples of premises where AFDD’s are recommended to be installed include:

Sources of Ignition:

The numbers are disturbing.

7,727 accidental fires were recorded in “electrical distribution” Apr16 – Mar17 in England alone. (source www.gov.uk/government/collections/fire-statistics)

Of these, 5,574 had wiring, cables and plugs recorded as the source of ignition. There were also 3,442 domestic appliance fires, with a total of 9,603 fires attributed to faulty appliances and leads.

The role of an AFDD:

AFDDs are purpose-designed to provide additional protection from fires caused by arc faults in 230V AC circuits.

AFDDs are electronic protection devices that analyse the waveform of an A.C. circuit to detect arc fault conditions. They are pre-programmed with data on ‘normal’ arcs (such as from manual or automatic switching and normal operation of electrical equipment e.g. a motor in a washing machine), which means that they can recognise potentially dangerous arc faults.

AFDDs detect arc faults by continuous monitoring of the circuit for a variety of conditions, including the duration of the arc, the irregularity and the waveform.

When they detect a fault, they disconnect the circuit from the supply to prevent the arc fault from leading to a fire.

What is an Arc Fault?

Arc faults are faults that occur either within or between conductors, for example, when cable insulation/insulation material of electrical equipment is damaged or a connection becomes loose.

These arcing conditions can cause overheating, leading to ignition of the cable insulation and surrounding materials.

Series arc faults are typically found in loose connections or frayed/damaged conductors.

They occur within the one conductor only (Live or Neutral), so there are no fault currents to earth or neutral.

Parallel arc faults are typically found with damaged or degraded insulation that allows current flow between conductors. The current flow in these conditions will always be less than that of the operating load current – which is why MCBs, RCDs and fuses are unable to detect these faults. The current flow and arcing temperatures can cause overheating and ignition of the cable insulation and surrounding materials.

For reference BS7671:2018 Regulations referring to the recommended use of AFDD’s are 131.1, 131.3.1, 131.3.2, 420.1, 421.1.1, 422.1.2, 421.1.7, 522.6.1, 522.6.2, 526.1, 532.1, 532.6, Appendix 6 schedule of inspections & schedule of test results. Not exhaustive, other requirements may also apply.

The 18th Edition Wiring Regulations and the use of SPD’s (Surge Protection Devices) for Protection of Transient Over voltages from Lighting Strikes and Supply Switching Origins.

Previously the requirements to provide surge protection devices or not was rather complex, requiring a classification code to be applied relating to the number of thunderstorm days at a location. This has all been removed and the 18th Edition now requires protection against transient over voltage (Lighting strike) to be provided where the consequences are:-

Single dwelling units however also require an assessment as to whether the total value of the installation and equipment therein justifies the inclusion of such protection, it should be noted that modern living in dwellings does encompass a large number of high value items such as Smart TV’s, Satellite receivers, Computer equipment, Wireless Broadband equipment, Boilers and controls, Games consoles, Washing machines, Fridge Freezers and other electrical appliances – not to mention the value of the entire electrical installation itself.

Some Home insurance may require an installation to adhere to the current edition of the wiring regulations thus an omission of an SPD could invalidate the insurance in the event of a lightning strike. It should be noted that not all premises would be required to have an SPD installed providing the risk assessment is carried out.