The fact that heating engineers do not have to be approved to service solid fuel boilers, such as those burning wood, or coal, will come as a shock to many people.

Anyone attempting to service a gas boiler has to have completed an official Corgi course and be legally competent to take on the work.

Not so for solid fuel boilers and this has caused a member of parliament to call for changes.

The situation was highlighted after the carbon monoxide poisoning of two Nottingham pensioners, who were struck down despite their boiler having just been serviced. Paperwork left by the engineer proved that he did not have the training to deal with a boiler which burnt a solid fuel, in this case anthracite.

Vernon Coaker, MP for Gedling, has called for changes in the rules for servicing such boilers. He said that he would take the matter up with the relevant ministry to ensure that such tragedies could be avoided in the future.

He is being joined in his lobbying by CO-Gas Safety, a campaign group which also wants tighter industry regulation across the whole boiler industry. CO-Gas Safety points out that there are a number of different ministries responsible for looking into carbon monoxide poisoning and its implications for users and the heating industry alike.

The pensioners, a husband and wife in their late seventies, were struck down by the carbon monoxide fumes leaking from their boiler and were admitted to hospital, being later discharged.

Since the incident, the couple’s home now has gas central heating.

Guest Article by Neil Camp