Nest CO Alarm - HETAS Approved?

[oilydan]

Hi HETAS certified Engineers....

I am just about to get my chimney lined and HETAS guys quoting are trying to sell me their CO alarms.

I have 2 wired and 1 battery Nest Protect alarms, the battery unit is in the correct position as per HETAS requirements.

The Nest Protect is not a sealed unit but I cannot see anywhere in the HETAS requirements, Building Regulations 2010 J3, or the BS EN standards that mentions that it has to be sealed?

Nest conforms to:

EN-50291:2001 - Electrical apparatus for the detection of carbon monoxide in domestic premises.

BS EN-50271:2010, Electrical apparatus for the detection and measurement of combustible gases, toxic gases or oxygen.

BS EN-50292 Electrical apparatus for the detection of carbon monoxide in domestic premises.

So is the Nest OK or do I have to buy their inferior unit?

[Simpo Two]

How about: 'I already have CO alarms, bugger off'?

[minghis]

Simpo Two said:

How about: 'I already have CO alarms, bugger off'?

Yep, and even if you have to have a separate one they're only £15 or thereabouts.

I believe what is happening here is that the HETAS installers are covering themselves by making sure they do what they have to and that is to leave the installation fully signed off which INCLUDES the fitting of a suitably positioned CO alarm. They are figuring that if in the future someone has a problem it may come back on them if they didn't leave one, even if you had your own already.

For the sake of a few quid more, might be best to let them supply one. You could always remove it afterwards and keep it as a portable one to take with you on holiday or when staying away from home.

[oilydan]

Simpo Two said:

How about: 'I already have CO alarms, bugger off'?

The response would be: "If I don't fit a sealed unit I cannot supply a HETAS certificate and this means the liner installation does not meet building regs and therefore insurance is invalid and it will be difficult to sell your home later"

I'm just a bit miffed that they 'say' the HETAS regs and building regs require X Y Z but cannot actually show me where it says that these requirements are there. Yet I'm still held to ransom over it.

Tried getting another quote too; seems like all these guys went to the same seminar that taught them this rubbish.

[Simpo Two]

What exactly is a 'sealed' CO detector?

Or as Minghis said, buy it then sell it on eBay.

If they can't find the bit in the HETAS regs that demand a 'sealed' unit I can't see how they can insist on it!

Tards.

Edited by Simpo Two on Friday 23 January 17:26

[minghis]

Simpo Two said:

What exactly is a 'sealed' CO detector?

Or as Minghis said, buy it then sell it on eBay.

The latest trend is that batteries are non replaceable in these things, and they have a set life expectancy of usually 7 years.

Designed to ensure that you don't take the battery out, and also you have a nice new one every 7 years that isn't full of dog hair and spiders.

[Simpo Two]

minghis said:

and also you have a nice new one every 7 years so they keep selling them at £30 a pop...

EFA

[oilydan]

That's the thing though; HETAS says to follow the 2010 building regs, part J3, and that tell you that the CO monitor must conform to BS EN-50292.

Now, that BS (or any of them) will cost you about 300 quid to download if you are not in the trade. Or if you know where to look...you can get a copy

That only specifies that the “…batteries are capable of operating the apparatus…for a period of 12 months”. It does not say it needs to be sealed.

I'm a little worried that, professional, certified engineers do not know the regulations that they are supposed to be adhering to, and what else they are missing or getting wrong in the installation of my flue pipe...

I'm 3500 miles away so cannot argue the toss with them when they are doing the work.

[Simpo Two]

Good work that man. So it's basically a scam. How about standing your ground (with copy of above info) and threatening to report them to HETAS unless they roll over? If they get into trouble with HETAS they could lose trade.

[fadeaway]

minghis said:

Simpo Two said:

What exactly is a 'sealed' CO detector?

Or as Minghis said, buy it then sell it on eBay.

The latest trend is that batteries are non replaceable in these things, and they have a set life expectancy of usually 7 years.

Designed to ensure that you don't take the battery out, and also you have a nice new one every 7 years that isn't full of dog hair and spiders.

Nest protect also has a 7 year life span, so that doesn't make a difference

[moles]

The sensor has a limited lifespan thats why it has 7 years on it, its nothing to do with not being able to get to the batteries to make you buy a new one.

[moles]

The sensor has a limited lifespan thats why it has 7 years on it, its nothing to do with not being able to get to the batteries to make you buy a new one.