TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 1982
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GAS SAFETY AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN DRAWN UP
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THE GOVERNMENT WITH THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY) A NEW PACKAGE OF GAS SAFETY MEASURES WHICH IT WILL BE INTRODUCING, FOLLOWING A DETAILED STUDY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON SAFETY STANDARDS CONTAINED IN THE GAS CONSULTANTS REPORT ISSUED FIVE MONTHS AGO.
IT HAS NOW DRAWN UP A GAS SAFETY AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN BASED ON THE EXPERT ADVICE OF ITS OWN GAS ENGINEERS AND AS A RESULT OF INTENSIVE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL DISCUSSION, AND CONSULTATION WITH THE LPG SUPPLIERS AND THE HONG KONG AND CHINA GAS COMPANY.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID ONE OF THE MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CONSULTANTS WAS THE SETTING UP OF A SPECIALIST OFFICE WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT TO DEAL WITH GAS SAFETY.
FOR THE PAST FIVE MONTHS, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEER, MR G.J. OSBORNE, HAS BEEN ASSISTED BY TWO EXPERT ENGINEERS FROM OVERSEAS WHILE A GAS ADVISER'S OFFICE WAS BEING SET UP.
THIS OFFICE IS NOW ESTABLISHED IN THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE AND WILL INTRODUCE AND IMPLEMENT THE GAS SAFETY PLAN, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE LPG SUPPLIERS AND THE GAS COMPANY.
+THE GAS ADVISER AND A CHIEF ENGINEER HAVE BEEN SELECTED AND WILL SHORTLY BE TAKING UP THE IR PERMANENT APPOINTMENTS, AND ADDITIONAL STAFF ARE BEING RECRUITED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE GAS ADVISER, MR KEN TUNNAH, FORMERLY DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING OF NORTHERN GAS, UK, HAS BEEN ONE OF THE EXPERT ADVISERS TO MR OSBORNE.
THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT, WHILE THERE WAS A NEED FOR INCREASED GOVERNMENT CONTROL TO ENSURE GAS SAFETY, A GREAT DEAL WAS ALREADY BEING ACHIEVED VOLUNTARILY WITH THE FULL CO-OPERATION OF ALL PARTS OF THE GAS INDUSTRY.
WATER HEATERS
A VOLUNTARY CODE COVERING THE INSTALLATION OF TOWNGAS AND LPG WATER HEATERS HAS ALREADY BEEN INTRODUCED AND THIS WILL EVENTUALLY BE BACKED BY LEGISLATION. THE CODE PROVIDES FOR THE FOLLOWING:
(A) FLUELESS HEATERS WILL NOT BE INSTALLED IN
BATHROOMS, AND WHEN INSTALLED OUTSIDE BATHROOMS THEY WILL ONLY BE USED FOR SINKS.
(B)
NO ORDINARY OPEN-FLUED WATER HEATERS WILL BE
INSTALLED, EVEN AS REPLACEMENTS.