A gas fired water heater is an important part of the hot water system in many commercial buildings. When that water heater is in regular use, gas safety needs to be treated as part of the wider maintenance programme rather than something only considered when a fault occurs.
Alliance CFM provides commercial gas services for businesses across Berkshire and surrounding areas, including gas fired water heater checks, servicing and remedial work.
What Needs to Be Checked?
A gas safety check needs to consider more than whether the water heater is producing hot water.
The condition and operation of the gas fired water heater, installation pipework, ventilation and flue all matter. Our engineers look for signs of deterioration, assess the safe functioning of the installation and carry out the appropriate performance and safety checks for the system.
The precise checks will depend on the water heater, its installation and the applicable requirements.
The Flue is a Critical Part of the Installation
A gas fired water heater produces combustion products that need to be safely discharged.
That makes the flue an important part of the overall gas installation. A problem with the flue, ventilation or combustion process can affect the safe operation of the water heater and in certain circumstances, create a risk of carbon monoxide exposure.
For this reason, gas safety work should not treat the water heater as an isolated component. The water heater and the systems that allow it to operate safely need to be considered together.
A Safety Check Is Not the Same as a Service
Gas safety checks and servicing have different purposes.
A safety check is concerned with whether the relevant gas fired water heater and installation are safe to use. Servicing is maintenance carried out in line with the manufacturer’s instructions and the requirements of the water heater.
A commercial property may therefore need both an appropriate safety check regime and planned servicing. Keeping the two separate helps ensure that a safety check is not treated as a substitute for proper maintenance.
What Happens If a Problem Is Identified?
If a safety related defect is found, the appropriate action depends on its nature.
Our engineers at Alliance CFM will explain the issue and advise what needs to happen next. Where a water heater or associated gas installation is found to be unsafe, it should not be used until the necessary remedial work has been completed.
This is particularly important in commercial premises where a gas fired water heater may form part of a larger hot water installation and could be relied upon throughout the working day.
Gas Fired Water Heaters in Commercial Buildings
Commercial water heating installations can vary significantly.
A property may have a single gas fired water heater or several water heaters working together to meet its hot water demand. The size of the installation, water heater type, flue arrangement, ventilation and associated pipework all affect the maintenance and safety requirements.
That is why the appropriate approach needs to be based on the water heaters and installation actually in place rather than applying the same checklist to every commercial property.
Arrange a Commercial Gas Safety Check
If your business relies on a gas fired water heater, Alliance CFM can help assess the installation and provide the appropriate gas safety, servicing or remedial support. Call 0118 230 1268 or email contact@alliancecfm.co.uk to discuss your commercial gas fired water heater.
