Housing Trust to test CO gas detectors

Liverpool Housing Trust has introduced annual testing of CO detectors.

As part of its annual service checks it has instructed its sub-contract gas engineers to test all CO detectors.

Part of the Vicinity Group, Liverpool Housing Trust has been providing affordable social housing on Merseyside since 1965 and owns around 10,000 homes.

Dave Mason, gas servicing team leader at LHT said: “We take gas safety very seriously and install CO detectors to a number of our higher risk properties.

“We are aware of some reliability issues once the alarms reach a certain age and therefore as an added safeguard we are now instructing all gas engineers to annually check the detectors.”

Although CO detectors have been widely on sale in the UK since 1992 they have been the ongoing subject of industry and government based reports raising doubts about their reliability.

Les Philpott of the Health and Safety Executive said: “Sadly, each year people die unnecessarily from CO poisoning.  Actions which will further ensure the safety of householders from this silent killer are welcomed.”

The Trust will use Detectagas to test CO detectors. This comprises a hood that fits over the device and an aerosol that introduces a measured dose of test gas to test the sensors.

John Stones, managing director of Birkenhead-based Detectagas said: “This housing association has recognised its health and safety obligations to tenants and introduced another important safeguard against the dangers of CO poisoning.

“We hope that many more housing associations, as well as private landlords, will adopt this responsible approach.”