Carbon monoxide and combi boilers

A question was raised before Christmas about whether it is necessary to have a carbon monoxide (CO) detector in a property where a combi boiler is installed. A landlord had been informed by a gas engineer that, as a combi boiler is a sealed system and should not allow CO to leak into a property, a CO detector would be redundant.

To get clarification on this issue, we contacted the Gas Safe Register, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Council of Gas Detection and Environmental Monitoring (CoGDEM), the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers, CO Awareness and CO Gas Safety. The consensus is that while a combi boiler should prevent CO leaking into a property, it does not guarantee against such leakage. There have been a number of seal failures identified on combi boilers over the last three years, some of which have resulted in fatal CO poisonings. A combi boiler would also offer no protection against CO leakage as a result of faulty appliances or a fault developing with the flues.

In light of this clarification, I confirm that the requirement for a CO detector as stated in the SASSH Property Accreditation Standards applies equally to properties where a combi boiler is installed as to properties where other systems are in place.

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