MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1987
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IT WILL BE NECESSARY AS AN INTERIM MEASURE TO USE THE FLUELS ». HEATER TO PROVIDE HOT WATER FOR A SHOWER IN SOME BUILDINGS JUST COMPLETED OR NEARING COMPLETION AS THESE MAY NOT HAVE PROVISION FOR FITTING THE ROOM SEALED TYPE. THE FLUELESS HEATERS WILL BE FITTED ONLY IN SELECTED WELL VENTILATED PLACES AND NEVER IN ROOMS WHERE THERE IS A SHOWER OR BATH.
EFFORTS ARE ALSO BEING MADE BY THE GAS INDUSTRY TO UPGRADE EXISTING OPEN FLUED AND FLUELESS HEATERS, BY REPLACING THEM WITH BALANCED FLUED UNITS OR FAN FLUED HEATERS.
THE NEW POLICY ON GAS WATER HEATER INSTALLATION WAS INTRODUCED FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND GAS INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES OF A LIAISON GROUP SET UP TO CONSIDER THE IMPLICATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE GAS CONSULTANTS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT AN OVERALL STUDY OF THE SAFETY AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF TOWNGAS AND LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS OPERATIONS IN HONG KONG,
THE SPOKESMAN SAID WORK WAS PROCEEDING NOW ON THE DRAFTING OF LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE SUITABLE PROVISION TO BE MADE IN EACH NEWLY-BUILT FLAT FOR A ROOM SEALED GAS WATER HEATER FOR A BATH OR SHOWER TO BE FITTED. HE DISCLOSED THAT THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING HAD ALREADY DECIDED THAT ALL FUTURE GOVERNMENT BUILT HOUSING, AND AS FAR AS POSSIBLE THOSE BEING BUILT AT PRESENT, WOULD MEET THIS REQUIREMENT.
A PRACTICE NOTE HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TO ALL AUTHORISED PERSONS AND REGISTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS URGING THEM TO TAKE THE APPROPRIATE ACTION NOW IN ADVANCE OF THE LEGISLATION. THE NOTE ADVISES THAT TO ENABLE A ROOM SEALED HEATER TO BE FITTED IT IS NECESSARY AT THE DESIGN STAGE OF A BUILDING TO ALLOW FOR A PREFORMED HOLE, TO TAKE THE HEATER FLUE, TO BE PROVIDED AT A SUITABLE POSITION IN AN OUTSIDE WALL.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE CO-OPERATION OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS WAS ALSO BEING SOUGHT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT THE SAFETY MEASURE.
COMMENTING FURTHER ON THE PROGRESS OF FOLLOW-UP ACTION ON THE CONSULTANTS' RECOMMENDATIONS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID HEADWAY WAS BEING MADE IN A NUMBER OF AREAS.
+SEVERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND SECRETARIAT BRANCHES HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN REGULAR DISCUSSIONS AS WELL AS CONSULTATIONS WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR SINCE THE CONSULTANTS' REPORT WAS PUBLISHED 10 WEEKS AGO. THE DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS AT AN EARLY STAGE AND, GIVEN THAT THE REPORT DEALS WITH THE FULL RANGE OF GAS OPERATIONS, MUCH WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE ON WHAT IS A HIGHLY TECHNICAL AND COMPLEX MATTER, HE EXPLAINED.
GOVERNMENT STAFF AND THE TWO GAS ENGINEERS SECONDED FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM TO ADVISE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE PAID NUMEROUS SITE VISITS TO INSPECT INSTALLATIONS AND APPLIANCES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND IN PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION, BULK STORES, MANUFACTURING PLANTS, DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS AND TRAINING FACILITIES, AMONG OTHER THINGS.
AN EXERCISE