Gas Tumble Dryers are extensively used in commercial premises and can be more economical and efficient than electric dryers. However, if they are not well maintained and kept compliant they can cause fire putting your people and your premises at risk, and put you and your business at risk of penalties and prosecution.

The recent changes in Gas Regulations make compliance even more relevant than ever.

What Are The Risks?
• Fire – putting your people and premises at risk
• Compliance – non-compliance resulting in penalties and prosecution
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – from incomplete combustion
• Insurance – invalidating your insurances

Fire Risk
Fire is always a risk. Gas Tumble Dryers have a naked flame and combustible material (lint/fluff) in close proximity. Regular servicing and cleaning is essential to keep the gas dryer operating safely.

Compliance
An employer must by law provide a safe working environment for employees. Annual gas safety checks are legally required, and the Industry Standard BS8446: 2020 has been updated. All gas related work must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered company and engineer – and the Gas Safe engineer must be specifically registered for non-domestic laundry appliances.

Insurance
Failure to meet the legal requirements can lead to penalties and prosecution as well as likely invalidating your insurance policies.

What Are The Common Issues?
Common issues can include:
• Lint/fluff build up – regular cleaning including of the ducts is essential to avoid this fire risk.
• Annual gas safety check not completed by an approved engineer – the gas safety checks on a gas tumble dryer needs to be performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer specifically registered for non-domestic laundry appliances.
• Make up air – an adequate volume of air is required to ‘make up’ the air in the room that is removed by the dryer operating. Insufficient make up air is usually due to the opening being too small or it being covered up.
• Installations of gas dryers are not compliant with the updated standard BS8446: 2020, especially around the new 2 metre distance requirement between where the ducting terminates outside and any other ventilation like windows, doors and make up air.
• Flexible ducting – the guidance states this cannot be more than 500mm and cannot change direction.
• Accessible Gas Emergency Isolation valves – notices are required to show where these are and that they are.
• Restrain cable/chain – required to the rear of the machine to stop it moving and rupturing the gas pipework.
• Incorrect support brackets – gas pipework without ‘closed’ support brackets.
• Gas pipe identification – gas pipes not correctly identified as gas either by labelling or by colour.

JTM Service – Service Without Compromise
As a Gas Safe registered company who specialise in Commercial Laundry Equipment we can assist you to keep your people and premises safe and ensure you are compliant. We have a team of Gas Safe registered engineers who are specifically registered for your commercial tumble dryers.

For more information or to discuss further please contact us on 0113 257 2221 or email service@jtmservice.co.uk