• Gasfitter sentenced to community detention after installing faulty fireplace
• Is your gas heating appliance regularly maintained?
• Product recall alert: open-flued gas heaters 
• Electric blanket safety –  if in doubt, chuck it out! 
• Updated EV Charging Safety Guidelines now available
• Consultation on proposed Gas Act changes closes soon

Tauranga gasfitter Patrick Dykes has been sentenced to four months' community detention after a gas fireplace he incorrectly installed caught fire causing significant damage to the house. He was also ordered to pay reparations of $20,000.

This is a timely reminder for gasfitters, manufacturers and importers to ensure as far as reasonably practicable that gas appliances or fittings are in accordance with New Zealand regulations.

In August 2017, two months after the installation, there was a fire at the home which caused extensive damage. While no one was injured, the house was left uninhabitable.

As winter approaches, we're urging people to check their heating appliances and fireplaces to make sure they’re running safely.

Gas appliances should be serviced regularly – we recommend once a year for decorative gas fires or LPG cabinet heaters. Without maintenance work, blocked flues, grills, or dirty vents can produce carbon monoxide.

Stop using your appliance and call a licensed gasfitter if you notice an unpleasant odour, yellow flame instead of blue or flu-like symptoms while using a gas appliance.

Three types of open-flued gas fires have recently been recalled in New Zealand and Australia after failing testing for performance and safety under certain conditions. These heaters are Regency F38 and FG38 fireplaces and the Real Flame Pyrotech space heater.

Stop using these appliances if you own them and contact the supplier immediately.

This is a timely reminder about having adequate ventilation for open-flued gas appliances and other combustion appliances (e.g. wood burners). In our November newsletter, we gave advice that renovations, such as installation of air extraction systems or air-tight joinery (e.g. aluminium windows or double glazing), can compromise the effectiveness of ventilation of an open-flued gas appliance. If you have any concerns, we recommend you ask a gasfitter or the installer or manufacturer for advice.

Did you know that your electric blanket should be checked each season?

Inspect the cord, control switch and plug for any damage and look for any kinks, worn or exposed wires, or scorch marks. If there is any damage – chuck it out!

Hot spots indicate damages to the heating elements which could lead to a fire or electric shock. To check, lay the blanket flat and turn it on high for 15 minutes. Then turn it off and run your hand over the blanket to feel for hot spots. 

It’s tempting to lie down with your electric blanket on but we recommend that you don't. Switch it off before you lie in bed to avoid overheating, and never wrap yourself in an electric blanket to keep warm.

Don’t forget to replace your electric blanket every few years as old blankets do wear out and are more likely to become dangerous.

We've recently released the second edition of the Electric Vehicle Charging Safety Guidelines.

It’s a simplified version of the earlier 2016 edition and now contains up-to-date references to Standards.

This guide also reflects the latest developments in charging and vehicle technologies with a focus on domestic and public charging safety. It addresses the essential safety requirements consistent with New Zealand's electricity supply systems and infrastructure for suppliers, installers and users of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE).

Submissions on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) discussion document on potential amendments to the Gas Act 1992 close on 12 June.

The discussion document seeks to address specific issues to ensure the Gas Act is fit-for-purpose. It includes a section on emerging technologies and alternative fuels, which also covers hydrogen and biogas.