Dangerous diesel heaters impounded

[Elessar]

Except i do know what I’m talking about, you clearly don’t and have no idea about compliance (its a big part of my business so i do understand), people like you are the reason why we have to jump through so many hoops to do anything now.

Whatever you say. You enjoy your £1000 heater and I’ll enjoy my £100 heater and we’ll ignore each other.

 

[Boat2016]

Nonsense.
And no installation is CE marked.

You’re now showing your lack of knowledge yet again, it’s the heater that should be CE marked…not the installation.

 

[Portofino]

Is this the type of thing being discussed?

Fault with heater bought on eBay blamed for deaths of two men in York

 

[penberth3]

Is this the type of thing being discussed?

Fault with heater bought on eBay blamed for deaths of two men in York

Without checking, ISTR that was an incompetent DIY installation?

 

[penfold]

That was an Eberspacher installed in a dangerous manner.

 

[andy59]

You’re now showing your lack of knowledge yet again, it’s the heater that should be CE marked…not the installation.

So just to clarify, an eberspacher with a CE mark but a crappy installation won’t cause any harm at all ?‍

 

[Boat2016]

So just to clarify, an eberspacher with a CE mark but a crappy installation won’t cause any harm at all ?‍

Of course not, like any installation of a heating appliances it should be installed as shown in the manufacturers instructions.

The instructions are part of the package for it to get a CE mark, like i said before if it was just down to the instructions why do they not produce them correctly so the heaters comply ?

 

[bowler]

My chinese unit has a CE mark and cert. I was able to verify the cert through the official CE website.

 

[Boat2016]

My chinese unit has a CE mark and cert. I was able to verify the cert through the official CE website.

That’s good, shame the others can’t supply with the correct paperwork

 

[Keith 66]

It does not you are allowed to do it your self. An Englishman's home is his castle

It is true anyone can put a stove in their house. But if your house should burn down your insurance company will laugh at you if you didnt get a Hetas qualified bloke to sign it off.
As for the chinese heaters, I have had my fingers burnt enough times buying chinese tools that turned out to be not fit for purpose to be wary of anything.

 

[andy59]

You’re now showing your lack of knowledge yet again, it’s the heater that should be CE marked…not the installation.

Of course not, like any installation of a heating appliances it should be installed as shown in the manufacturers instructions.

The instructions are part of the package for it to get a CE mark, like i said before if it was just down to the instructions why do they not produce them correctly so the heaters comply ?

Ahh, so if the installation is done to a CE mark standard then the chinaspachers are ok ?

 

[oldgit]

You have just answered your question…if the importers are so confident about the quality why don’t they have them correctly certified ?
they would then be legal to sell in the uk.
I haven’t yet found a boat builder who will fit on as factory fit, why do you think that is ?

on a 1/2 million "starter boat" saving a few pennies is pointless on a £5 k its a bit different ?

 

[oldgit]

It is true anyone can put a stove in their house. But if your house should burn down your insurance company will laugh at you if you didnt get a Hetas qualified bloke to sign it off.
As for the chinese heaters, I have had my fingers burnt enough times buying chinese tools that turned out to be not fit for purpose to be wary of anything.

HETAS certificate or MOT,no problem . Merely a case who you know ?

 

[petem]

I imagine that most of the posters in support of these heaters probably think they are capable of fitting central heating at home and re-wiring their houses too and could probably do a reasonable amateur job. That's OK until you get someone who overestimates their ability.

As for ban on imported heater, I see that one of the concerns is that the name of the manufacturer isn't given in the paperwork. So how does anyone have any confidence that there's not a new manufacturer in China who is producing heaters of an even lower standard than the ones that have been commonplace?

 

[markc]

Is this the type of thing being discussed?

Fault with heater bought on eBay blamed for deaths of two men in York

I also agree with Pete above. I'm so surprised that so many of you are so gung-ho with this. If you read the article above it was clear that the chap who installed the heater was no idiot, he built the boat himself and I'm convinced that if he was on here he would also be gung-ho about his competence. Unfortunately he killed himself and his best friend and deprived their families of many happy times with them. But anyway, you lot carry on telling everyone how easy and risk free it is. Bravo!

 

[Portofino]

I imagine that most of the posters in support of these heaters probably think they are capable of fitting central heating at home and re-wiring their houses too and could probably do a reasonable amateur job. That's OK until you get someone who overestimates their ability.

As for ban on imported heater, I see that one of the concerns is that the name of the manufacturer isn't given in the paperwork. So how does anyone have any confidence that there's not a new manufacturer in China who is producing heaters of an even lower standard than the ones that have been commonplace?

Just adding to the first para ^ ……when you sell said property ( certainly in commercial from experience) two things .
1-From the buyers solicitor = A declaration about home DIY stuff.A pointed Q kinds asking something worded like “ Had all the alterations / repair been done by certified / qualified / trade approved engineers ? “ …….if not which bits haven’t .Or words to that effect .
2- Something similar reaped up respective surveys done on said property ,

So while at the time of the DIY bit of electrical , gas , plumbing , boiler or what ever , obviously as mentioned you are indeed ” free to what you like to your own home “ .But my point assuming you survive not gassing yourself , no one gets a zap etc it will shake out in the wash at the point of sale .

Boats .
Yes apart from inland waters ( wonder why that is btw ) there appears no overarching disincentive “to have a dabble “
I can see that eg cleaning your teak or painting it , phaffing wirh diesel fuel lines, yard work like AF etc .In fact DIY ness is positively encouraged .Not just for £ saving but for doing to your standard in your time frame etc .

How ever there has to be line drawn around safety of yourself and others innocent guests .
While altering say fuel lines eg fitting a updated diesel filtration in my book is ok .

But messing with diesel heaters irrespective of origin of manufacture or legibility of the instructions is a tiny step too far.
This because of the inherent CO poisoning risk .Yes I hear you all fit CO alarms , the hobby engineer power station worker didn’t thought.- from the earlier link I posted .

Suppose we all have our lines in the sand , red lines .This diesel heater potential exhaust leak + other quality issues + instal liability risk is step too far for me .

It might score a black mark at resale …..in terms of a forensic service history examination.
The buyer is imho perfectly entitled to request the instal cert , engineers invoice and sight the original instructions .

Bit like a property transaction.

I know a buyer cant force you but as i said these chinerspactchers DIY instals cast a potentially lethal shadow over a boat .

 

[Portofino]

A thought Just occurred to me although it’s apparent the users change the silencer / exhaust from vehicle to a more suitable marine , indeed even use a EU proprietary brand eg Erber .I was thinking wearing my experience of cheap Chinese gear ….how do you know the thread fitting or if flange + gasket ( I have zero experience of theses btw ) is exactly comparable/ compatible?

Thinking from a leak pov …..that’s the part the Chinese bit meets the EU standard approved bit .

It just with car pattern parts there’s nearly always something that’s not quite true , aligned , fits etc .But a little bit of drilling or a tickle with a angle grinder and the bracket can be made to fit .Talking say a window regulator.OEM £500 , Cheap Chinese £48 .
Fitted out of sight the very worse thing is it packs up in months instead of years .But boo hoo your electric window packs up .

 

[snowbird30ds]

The exhaust hose slips over a stub and would generally be sealed with exhaust paste that expands as it sets so gives a good seal.

 

[limecc]

The exhaust hose slips over a stub and would generally be sealed with exhaust paste that expands as it sets so gives a good seal.

Irrelevant if this were a regulated installation. It's illegal for Gas Safe or Hetas engineers to sign off someone else's work under a competent persons scheme. Especially with gas, if something went wrong or were discovered you could be in a lot of trouble. Leaving yourself wide open.

Since boat installations don't seem to be regulated, carry on..

 

[Fire99]

I’ve read of several instances where people died from carbon monoxide poisoning on boats.

clearly there is a concern otherwise trading standards would not seize the items or do you think there’s some conspiracy going on between the brand names and trading standards with brown envelopes being passed in pub car parks?

People freely admit elements of the kit are scrap as supplied.

I’m currently driving round Thailand where hundreds and thousands of motorcyclists seem to think it fine not to have working lights at night. Their argument, like many on here is they haven’t been hit so all is well. Common sense and logic would suggest that having working lights will lessen your chances of dying.

Fair point Henry.. But to balance that a bit, the issue for me is because I'm using it for marine use. If you were installing one in an RV etc and the silencer was mounted externally etc it'll work fine enough. It's just (for me) when you get into enclosed marine situations it moves the game. I'm not sure if they are advertised specifically for marine use or not so if they are then that may add fuel to your argument..