BESA, which runs the UK’s main F-Gas certification body REFCOM, says products containing flammable refrigerant gases were being bought by DIYers and unqualified installers.

While selling these products online is not illegal, BESA is urging all retailers to take responsibility by only selling to properly qualified and registered installers.

The Association’s head of technical Graeme Fox said: “Dodgy operators, who undercut properly certified engineers, get their products online – so the best way to control them is to cut off their supplies at source.”

Amateur
“Selling air conditioning products containing propane to all and sundry online is an accident waiting to happen,” said Mr Fox. “In many amateur installations, connecting nuts are not properly tightened and air in the pipes is not removed because the installer lacks the tools and knowledge to carry out work safely,” he explained.

“The refrigerant used in this product is similar to the gas used to fire up barbeques. If it leaks, it will create a potentially explosive atmosphere and put lives at risk. It is just like taking a bottle of camping gas into your living room and opening a valve.”   

BESA urged online sellers to take responsibility instead of leaving it to the authorities to try and track down dangerous installations once the public was already in danger.

“What they are doing is not illegal, but it is clearly dangerous,” argued Mr Fox. “It is only a matter of time before these online retailers are legally prevented from doing this because the process to improve the F-Gas regulations will start later this year.”

Mr Fox pointed to Dame Judith Hackitt’s post-Grenfell inquiry into fire and building safety, where she advised the construction industry not to wait for legislation to be passed before implementing the necessary changes.