A safety alert has been issued in regards to a Potterton boiler by heating and hot water provider Baxi, in conjunction with Gas Safe, something which all gas fitters and trainees should be aware of.

The number 013, Potterton Powermax HE - Flue/Condensate Connector Erosion alert relates to Potterton Powermax HE boilers that were manufactured between 2001 and 18 November 2005.

Those particular boilers were manufactured containing an aluminium flue/condensate connector over that time period, and Baxi’s research has found that, in very unlikely situations, carbon monoxide (CO) measuring above normal operational levels could possibly escape from this flue/condensate connector.

The risk is very small, according to the company, but it is recommending that all original aluminium Potterton Powermax HE flue/condensate connectors should be upgraded to black composite plastic versions, irrelevant of their age or condition. The connectors will be fitted to all affected boilers free of charge.

Any Gas Safe registered engineers are advised to stick to the inspection procedure and further actions detailed in Safety Alert 013 when carrying out work on Potterton Powermax HE boilers. The safety alert can be viewed in full on the Gas Safe website.

A Baxi spokesperson told Builder’s Merchant News: “Safety is of paramount importance to us, so we have taken precautionary action.

“We know that many of the original aluminium flue/condensate connectors on Powermax HE boilers have already been exchanged during annual servicing and maintenance, but we have issued a Safety Alert and have contacted all known customers that potentially still have a boiler with an aluminium component to offer them a free of charge upgrade. We would like to thank Gas Safe engineers for their anticipated assistance in this matter," the spokesperson added.