Latest news with #heating
Daily Mail
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mail
University student, 18, died of carbon monoxide poisoning from portable heater in aristocrat's cottage that should not have been used indoors, inquest hears
An 18-year-old university student died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a portable heater in an aristocrat's cottage that shouldn't have been used indoors, an inquest was told. Tom Hill was about to have a bath when he inhaled the highly poisonous gas leaking out of a portable heater at Glenmark Cottage, nestled in the Scottish Highlands, and collapsed shortly afterwards. The Stirling University student had been staying with his girlfriend Charlotte and her immediate family on October 28, 2015, where it was heard the device was situated in a bathroom, which had windows sealed by paint and was 'simply too small'. Winchester Coroner's Court was told an alarm sounded the night before Tom had died, which prompted Charlotte's father Mark Beard to switch off various devices in the kitchen, but it hadn't occurred to him to vacate the property. Mr Beard told the inquest that the LPG Heaters were 'ubiquitously used' at the property which was heated by a wood-burning stove and portable heaters, but had no electricity or mains gas. He said there were no clear instructions on the heater saying it shouldn't be used indoors, and described not checking the device despite being informed by his son that it was switched on as one of his 'life long regrets'. 'The night before Tom died, that alarm did activate,' he told the coroner's court: 'What I did was turn off all appliances in that kitchen that I thought may be sources of carbon monoxide. 'The kitchen was the place where there was the greatest number of those sources,' he added:'One of my life long regrets is that I didn't take his information about the bathroom heater as seriously as I should have done.' 'I didn't tell anyone to get out of the cottage, it didn't occur to met to get out of the cottage.' Mr Beard said he had visited the cottage, which was once owned by the Earl of Dalhousie and his heir Lord Ramsay, many times in his life, describing the location as an 'idyllic beauty' and a place to 'unwind'. Despite being owned by the Dalhousie estate, it was rented out by retired teacher Piers Le Cheminant. The night of the aquaculture student, who had a keen interest in wildlife and nature's, death, Charlotte's father recalled his daughter 'knocking' on the bathroom door and calling for him. 'When I heard the change in her tone of voice, it became more alarmed, that peaked my attention particular,' he said:'I rushed downstairs to see what was up and by the time I got there, so had my wife and son. 'Charlotte was quite distraught at not getting any response from Tom.' Mr Beard said he asked his teenage son to fetch a wooden axe which they used to forcibly open the 'solid' door to the bathroom. The engineer described an 'intense' atmosphere upon breaking into the room, which was 'hot and humid'. Describing it as a 'very visceral experience,' he added: 'It was extremely hot and the air was very humid - you could almost taste it.' Adding how there was a 'strong smell of unburnt gases', and how 'it smelt like the heater wasn't operating properly,' Mr Beard said the device was 'also making a loud buzzing which was very unusual.' Mr Beard said he lifted Tom out of the bathroom and carried him downstairs and outside into the 'fresh air'. An ambulance was called for the teenager but he passed away in the vehicle, which was travelling from Brechin to Dundee. 'Carbon monoxide is very much a silent killer and as much awareness when using potentially lethal devices that can be raised is so much better for everybody,' he said. Jerry Hill, Tom's father, told the inquest that his son was 'very interested in wildlife and nature' with a particular interest in understanding how different creatures interacted. 'He didn't live a very long life but in the short time he had, he really made the most of his time,' he said. 'He had his whole ahead of him,' Mr Hill said of his son, who he described as 'very passionate' about the practice of aquaculture. The grieving father believes more needs to be done on what to do when a carbon monoxide alarm sounds. 'It should be made really clear to people what to do in these circumstances,' he added,' 'I don't think people do know what to do when [alarms] go off.' Now, almost 10 years after his death, Jason Pegg - area coroner for Hampshire, Southampton, and Portsmouth - delivered an accidental death conclusion, but said he will raise a prevention of future deaths report into the use of such devices. Addressing Mr and Mrs Hill, the coroner said: 'You are clearly very proud parents of Tom, who in his 18 years, as you say, made the most of his life. 'It's desperately sad that Tom had future plans with his aquaculture degree, he had a girlfriend, loving parents. 'At the time of his death, he was enjoying some time up in Scotland in a remote, idyllic cottage with his girlfriend and her family.' The coroner referred to the LPG heaters in the bathroom and said: 'It is quite clear that this type of heater, and the size of heater, shouldn't have been used in the bathroom which I'm told had the size of 11 cubic metres. 'The bathroom was simply too small for for that heater. 'In addition, there was no ventilation. The windows had been painted shut and could not be opened.' Mr Pegg also said there 'damage to the heater' which 'exacerbated' the combustion of the gas and the rate at which it was emitted. He concluded that Tom inhaled a 'fatal quantity' of this gas while he prepared for his bath. The coroner said he will issue a prevention of future deaths report relating to the warning on the heater. 'There is a warning within the box where you put the gas canister, but anyone, such as the Beard family, turning up to a rented cottage, they would not know that the heater should not be used in such close confines,' Mr Pegg told the inquest. 'In rented cottages, and tenant cottages, there are going to be heaters of this sort which are in rooms which are too small [and] this gives rise to future deaths. 'As you sadly know, carbon monoxide is very much a silent killer and as much awareness when using potentially lethal devices that can be raised is so much better for everybody.'
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Developer ‘flatly contradict' claims in row about overheating at €6m Ballsbridge penthouse, court hears
A development company at the centre of a dispute with a businesswoman over alleged overheating in her €6m Ballsbridge, Dublin, penthouse apartment 'flatly contradicts' her claims, the High Court heard. Aideen O'Byrne claims that due to a failure to maintain or repair the district heating system the temperatures in her Lansdowne Place apartment – thought to be the most expensive in Ireland at the time she bought it – have reached 'unbearable' highs of 33 degrees. Temperatures in lobby areas have been recorded to reach 29 degrees, she says. Ms O'Byrne was last week given an interim injunction preventing the developer from transferring its beneficial interest in the buildings and common areas to an owners' management company until problems are resolved. READ MORE The case is against the developer, Copper Bridge C 2015 ICAV, and O'Connor Sutton Cronin and Associates Ltd. That interim injunction application was made ex parte, with only the O'Byrne side represented. The case came back before Mr Justice Brian Cregan on Thursday when Hugh O'Keeffe SC, for Copper Bridge, said his client had a full defence to the merits of this case and had experts who 'flatly contradict' Ms Byrne's claims. 'We spent three years trying to address them without any progress', he said. He was seeking an early trial as his side wanted the matter determined as quickly as possible. Mr O'Keeffe said it was also their case in relation to the substance of the injunction preventing a transfer of interests that the transfer had already happened. It was in accordance with required standards upon the making of a statutory declaration of completion of the development under the Multi Unit Development (MUD) Act, the court heard. The legal interest had previously been transferred and the transfer in accordance with MUD takes place upon completion of the statutory declaration, he said. Gavin Mooney SC, for Ms O'Byrne, said it was curious that the statutory declaration took place on April 3 when his side had already been on inquiry into the matter. Mr Mooney said if he now has to seek to change his application to one of setting aside that transfer of beneficial interest 'then so be it'. He also said he was also seeking to join the Lansdowne Place Owners' Management Company (OMC) as a defendant in the proceedings. While the first application was only against the developer, after 'we did not get very far' his side approached the OMC to see if they would assist, he said. 'But it was not forthcoming and the OMC has now targeted us because we seem to have annoyed them,' he said. Siobhán Gaffney, for the OMC, said her clients first wanted to set out on affidavit their position in relation to Mr Mooney's application, but it was their case that the OMC was now 'being dragged into the proceedings' when it was only responsible for the common areas and the issue in relation to overheating was a structural and engineering matter. Deirdre Ní Fhloinn, for the co-defendant, said they supported the developer's request for an early trial. Mr Justice Cregan said that given the overheating also allegedly affected the common areas and that excess heat was alleged to be coming from pipes and fittings, he was satisfied to join the OMC to the case. Ms O'Byrne would have to amend her papers, he said. Mr Mooney asked he be allowed to do so after a forensic engineer's report was completed. The judge, who continued the terms of the interim injunction, gave directions for exchange of papers and adjourned the matter to next month.
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Developer's evidence 'flatly contradicts' claims at the centre of penthouse overheating row
A development company at the centre of a dispute with a businesswoman over alleged overheating in her €6 million Ballsbridge, Dublin, penthouse apartment "flatly contradicts" her claims, the High Court heard. Aideen O'Byrne claims that, due to a failure to maintain or repair the district heating system, temperatures in her Lansdowne Place apartment, thought to be the most expensive in Ireland at the time she bought it, have reached "unbearable" highs of 33 degrees. Temperatures in lobby areas have been recorded to reach 29 degrees, she says. Advertisement Ms O'Byrne was last week given an interim injunction preventing the developer from transferring its beneficial interest in the buildings and common areas to an owners management company until problems are resolved. The case is against the developer, Copper Bridge C 2015 ICAV, and O'Connor Sutton Cronin and Associates Ltd. That application was made ex parte, or with only the O' Byrne side represented. The case returned before Mr Justice Brian Cregan on Thursday, when Hugh O'Keeffe SC, for Copper Bridge, said his client has a full defence to the merits of this case and experts who "flatly contradict" the claims of Ms Byrne. "We spent three years trying to address them without any progress," he said. He was seeking an early trial as his side wanted the matter determined as quickly as possible. Advertisement Counsel said it was also their case in relation to the substance of the injunction preventing a transfer of interests that the transfer had already happened in accordance with required standards upon the making of a statutory declaration of completion of the development under the Multi-Unit Development (MUD) Act. The legal interest had previously been transferred, and the transfer in accordance with MUD takes place upon completion of the statutory declaration, he said. Gavin Mooney SC, for Ms O'Byrne, said it was curious that the statutory declaration took place on April 3rd when his side had already been on inquiry into the matter. Counsel said if he now has to seek to change his application to one of setting aside that transfer of beneficial interest, "then so be it". Advertisement Mr Mooney also said he was also seeking to join the Lansdowne Place Owners' Management Company (OMC) as a defendant in the proceedings. While the first application was only against the developer, after "we did not get very far", his side approached the OMC to see if they would assist, he said. "But it was not forthcoming, and the OMC has now targeted us because we seem to have annoyed them," he said. Siobhán Gaffney BL, for the OMC, said her clients first wanted to set out on affidavit their position in relation to Mr Mooney's application, but it was their case that the OMC was now "being dragged into the proceedings" when it is only responsible for the common areas, and the issue in relation to overheating was a structural and engineering matter. Advertisement Ireland Garda denies 22 counts of perverting course of jus... Read More Deirdre NíFhloinn BL, for the co-defendant, said they supported the developer's request for an early trial. Mr Justice Cregan said that given that the overheating also allegedly affects the common areas and that excess heat is alleged to be coming from pipes and fittings, he was satisfied to join the OMC to the case. Ms O'Byrne would have to amend her papers, he said. Mr Mooney asked that he be allowed to do so after a forensic engineer's report is completed shortly. The judge, who continued the terms of the interim injunction, gave directions for exchange of papers and adjourned the matter to late next month.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
City under pressure to retrofit four buildings losing connection to district steam heating
The City of London has less than a year and a half to replace that heating/cooling systems in four downtown buildings. According to a report to the Infrastructure and Corporate Services Committee (ICSC), Enwave Energy Corporation, previously London District Energy, has notified city hall of their intent to cease operating most of the medium-pressure steam line in the downtown core by October 31, 2026. In additional to privately owned buildings in the affected area, the steam line services City Hall, the Central Branch of the London Public Library, Centennial Hall, and Museum London. 'The City will need to transition the heating system from a centralized supply of steam to an in-building heating source for affected facilities,' reads the report. Currently, Enwave is investigating if installing temporary boilers would create redundancy and reliability during the notice period until October 2026. 052325_steam line enwave London city hall newcombe Boundaries of steam line to be decommissioned by Enwave (Source: City of London) There is interest from Enwave to install a temporary boiler system along Wellington Street adjacent to the City Hall property, but there are concerns about the noise impacts on the area. A second location near the western terminus of the steam line along Queens Avenue is also under consideration by Enwave. Meanwhile, city staff are considering the feasibility of options to provide heat and humidification to the four buildings. 'Based on our experience, it is likely the total cost to address this issue will exceed $5 million for all affected buildings,' the report warns. 052325_steam line enwave London city hall newcombe London city hall (Daryl Newcombe/CTV News London) Council will have to determine a source of funding to cover the cost of retrofitting the buildings. 'Investigations into feasible options to provide heat and humidification will need to be completed and engineered designs completed before costs or potential impacts to affected facilities can be determined,' the report concludes. 052325_steam line enwave London city hall newcombe Centennial Hall (Daryl Newcombe/CTV News London)
The Guardian
26-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Fears 300,000 British electricity meters will not work after tech switch-off
The adverts featuring Lorraine Kelly paint a worrying picture of people left without heating or hot water or, perhaps worse in mid-summer, their radiators on full blast. Either outcome could be possible when the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS), which controls an old type of electricity meter found in almost 400,000 homes across Great Britain, is switched off from 30 June. In the ads, the Scottish TV presenter urges people to contact their supplier, with the tagline adding: 'Don't delay. The RTS switch-off is on the way'. Although 1,000 of these old meters are being ripped out every day, the daily rate would need to top 5,000 to stand a chance of reaching everyone in time. Campaigners fear that more than 300,000 homes could be left with a meter that does not work. One reader, Sarah*, who contacted the Guardian, has been trying for several months to get a new meter but was told by her supplier, ScottishPower, it did 'not have a solution' for her home set-up. Introduced in the 1980s, RTS was designed for people who also use electricity for their heating and hot water. It uses the long wave radio frequency to switch meters between peak and off-peak rates. These old-fashioned heating systems can include panel heaters or immersion heaters in water tanks that charge overnight when electricity is cheaper. Users are clustered in rural Scotland, northern England and northern Wales, as well as cities including London, Leicester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. The technology is being retired because the equipment that produces the radio signal has reached the end of its operational life and can no longer be adequately maintained. The switch-off could mean households have no hot water or heating, or have it stuck on constantly, potentially running up huge bills, according to Simon Francis, the coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition. 'We need to ensure contingency measures are in place for those who do not make the deadline and require energy suppliers to ensure fair metering and billing practices,' Francis said. When Sarah bought her flat in Edinburgh she inherited a complicated RTS system that involved two meters on different tariffs – one for heating and hot water, and another for general use. 'Heating at any time is lower cost,' she said. 'This includes our heaters, hot water and electric shower, which are wired into a heat meter and specific circuit. The RTS system heats the hot water overnight. 'The email they [ScottishPower] have sent states that if there is no solution by the time of the switch-off, that my system will either be permanently on, or permanently off.' Another worry is that her tariff will no longer be available and the 'best match' will result in significantly higher bills. Experts said the RTS switch-off would not involve the actual flicking of a switch to cut the signal nationwide. While the advertised date is 30 June, the process will happen by area from 1 July through to 30 September. The latest figures showed that as of mid-April there were still 392,000 households with RTS meters. Energy UK, the trade association for the energy industry, said suppliers were focused on accelerating the rate of installations as the initial deadline loomed. 'It will undoubtedly be challenging to replace all these meters by 30 June,' said a spokesperson for Energy UK. 'It means getting access to every single property to carry out the installation, many of which are in remote areas, and ultimately it requires all customers to respond to contact from their supplier.' Ofgem, the energy regulator for Great Britain, is keeping a close eye on proceedings with suppliers required to submit fortnightly updates. It said that in recent weeks it had seen evidence of suppliers significantly 'stepping up their activity' and that solutions to improve smart meter connectivity in the north had been launched. 'We urge any customers who may have previously struggled to get their RTS meter replaced to please contact their supplier again to arrange an appointment,' a spokesperson said. 'Ofgem has also demanded action plans from every supplier, which we are scrutinising on an ongoing basis to ensure that robust contingencies are in place to protect any customers who remain on RTS meters after the phased switch-off process begins,' they added. Sarah finally secured a meter-switch appointment earlier this month only for it to be cancelled and a new date given in mid-August. ScottishPower said it had reached the halfway mark in its replacement programme and appointments were booked for more than 30% of the remaining customers with RTS meters. The switch-off presented 'some early technical challenges, including finding a suitable solution for those customers who couldn't initially be moved over to a smart meter', it said. 'We overcame these technical challenges a number of months ago and are able to offer a solution to all our customers through the installation of a smart meter. 'Customers with appointment dates past the 30 June switch-off are still within the RTS service timeframe.' * Names have been changed
