In accordance with the Manufacturer’s Instructions”

In accordance with the Manufacturer’s Instructions”

In accordance with the Manufacturer’s Instructions”

A familiar phrase and one that installers and service engineers of gas, oil, solid fuel and electric heating & cooking appliances recognise and should adhere to.

What are these instructions?

The Manufacturer’s instructions are exactly that, the instructions detailing the installation, commissioning, use and service/maintenance as specified by the company / organisation that has developed, produced and tested the product/equipment/machine, before it is released for sale.

Why are they important?

The Manufacturer’s instructions provide the technical information relating to (in our case here) the oil or gas fired heating or cooking appliance, but of course the instructions apply to every new (and should also be available for second hand items), piece of equipment, tool or machine available for purchase, that should also bear the CE mark.

The significance of these instructions.

In the United Kingdom, those who undertake works involving the installation, service and repair of gas, oil, solid fuel and electrical appliances, are required to comply with workplace legislation (Statutory requirements) which also cover the use of the Manufacturers Instructions.

What do the instructions provide?

The Manufacturers instructions provide installers and service engineers with the technical information to assist in the design of associated systems together with the choice of an appliance type and assist in implementing the necessary health & safety control measures.

In addition to the above, the instructions detail where appliances can be installed, how they must be installed, how they should be serviced & repaired, not forgetting of course how the user should operate them and what to do if a fault develops, to name but a few!

Service & Maintenance:

Following the installation of an appliance, there is a requirement to ensure regular service / maintenance is undertaken in accordance with the information provided withing the Manufacturers instructions.

Failure to follow the Manufacturers instructions and other legislative requirements, can have serious legal implications for employers, employees and the self-employed who undertake work upon gas, oil, solid fuel and electrical heating and cooking appliances, if things go wrong.

Validation of Appliance Warranty.

As is the case, the correct installation, servicing and repair of these appliances in accordance with the Manufacturers instructions is crucial, if appliance warranties are to be upheld. Failure to comply can and often does result in the customer losing their appliance warranty guarantee.

Try explaining that one to a customer who; has just been told by the Manufacturers agent, their 3 year old appliance cannot be covered under a warranty because of issues relating to either the installation and more often than not, the way it has been serviced.

Loss of Insurance Cover.

In most cases, a customers home insurance policy does not cover boiler breakdown, which often results from a lack of or poor servicing / maintenance.

Most Insurance companies do offer additional home cover or Boiler Breakdown cover as an optional extra, but beware!

1). Age of your heating appliance, will determine if Insurance cover can be provided, as many companies will not insure those which are over 15 yrs old.

2). Lack of or inadequate maintenance, will not only impact negatively upon the operation, efficiency and life of the boiler, but will just as likely affect your insurance protection.

If you cannot prove your boiler has been correctly maintained in accordance with the Manufacturers instructions, an Insurance company may refuse to cover you, in the event of a claim and you may also lose the Manufacturers warranty at the same time.

Annual inspection, service and where necessary repair(s) to your boiler are essential to help protect your appliance it Manufacturers warranty (where applicable) and your insurance cover.

A note from the HSE:

Training and competence

All people using equipment at work must be adequately trained to ensure health and safety in its use, supervision or management. Some work activities require detailed formal training but, for most everyday activities involving work equipment, adequate training can be delivered in-house using the manufacturer's instructions and the background knowledge / skills of more experienced workers and managers.

People should be competent for the work they undertake. Training, along with knowledge, experience and skill, helps develop such competence. However, competence may (in some cases) necessarily include medical fitness and physical / mental aptitude for the activity.

Variations to Manufacturers Instructions:

Gas Safe Register have provided some information on the matter of requesting for concessions to Manufacturers instructions.

GSR 02nd August 2023:

Gas engineers often need to balance their customers’ requirements when fitting an appliance against those of the manufacturer’s installation instructions. These can be compounded by factors such as the constraints of the property and intended appliance location.

It’s important to remember that the primary requirement is to ensure that the appliance is safe and complies with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations.

Gas engineers need to ensure that the specific installation requirements of the manufacturer are met, and they should undertake a survey of the intended location of the appliance and its instructions before starting work, to ensure that the installation will comply with the relevant regulations.

The process

If your intended installation cannot fully meet the requirements of the manufacturer’s installation instructions, you must request a formal concession from the appliance or equipment manufacturer to deviate from the instructions.

This will also apply for oil, solid fuel and electrical appliances.

End of report.