Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations revoke the Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Regulations 1973, and the Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1975 which imposed requirements relating to the safety of certain gas and electric fires and oil heaters. The Regulations which are revoked required the relevant gas and oil heaters to have a fire guard which satisfied requirements of the British Standard BS 1945: 1971 as amended in 1972.
The main changes made by these Regulations are:–
they do not apply to electrical appliances. (These are now regulated by the Low Voltage Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1989.)
heating appliances may have a fireguard which complies with a standard published in another member State of the European Economic Community compliance with which provides an equivalent level of safety to that provided by compliance with the tests and requirements specified by the relevant clauses of BS 1945: 1971 as amended (regulation 6(1)).
gas fires which are designed for installation in a fireplace recess or flue box are not required to have a fireguard provided that they are supplied with instructions for installation in terms such that when those instructions are followed the conditions set out in the Schedule are met (regulation 6(4)).
the exclusion in the 1973 and 1975 Regulations for heating appliances which are not suitable for heating residential premises has been amended primarily to make it clear that appliances for use in premises intended for temporary accommodation (other than tents) are not excluded from the Regulations (regulations 3(e) and 6(2)).
Copies of the British Standard Specification for Fireguards for Heating Appliances (Gas, Electric and Oil-Burning) BS 1945: 1971 and amendments thereto may be obtained from any of the sales outlets operated by the British Standards Institution (BSI) or by post from the BSI at Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, MK14 6LE.