Targeting counterfeit flues, Baxi has developed a new integrated flue checker verification feature within its app that will expose fakes, protect installers’ professional integrity and maintain their customers’ trust.
According to Baxi and industry groups such as the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC), a growing number of counterfeit parts are entering the UK heating market. The concern is that installers who unknowingly fit a counterfeit part could find themselves exposed to liability and financial risk.
Counterfeit flues are illegal and potentially harmful. While they may look similar to genuine parts, they are frequently manufactured using inferior, non-compliant materials and without testing and accreditation. Fitting a counterfeit flue can also invalidate a boiler’s warranty, affecting both customers and installers.
Flues, by their design, exhaust products of combustion which contain carbon monoxide. They are a safety critical part and are produced and tested to a very tight tolerance. Flue components need to fit together functionally on the 100mm outer diameter as well as the 60mm inner diameter. Any breach of this seal can cause a safety issue to which non-genuine flues are essentially out of control and may not be safe.
Baxi’s new verification system gives everyone across the supply chain a quick, consistent solution to verify what they’re buying and fitting. The integrated solution connects each Baxi flue terminal, its packaging and its labels with a new “check your flue” feature in the Baxi Toolbelt app. Toolbelt is freely available for anyone to download – installers and merchants do not need to be a Baxi Works member to use it. It reads the unique QR code and checks the flue’s serial number against Baxi’s production records to confirm it’s genuine. The QR code and app feature are live.
Rob Pearse, Baxi’s residential business director, says:
“We have three goals with the launch of our Flue Checker. First, to protect homeowners from the risk posed by fake flues. The second is to enable installers to uphold the high standards of integrity and professionalism that customers expect from our industry. The third is to help eradicate counterfeits from our market.
“As manufacturers, we have a duty to ensure installers can make safe choices about the product they purchase. A flue isn’t just another part – fit, safety and integrity matter. And with the introduction of our Flue Checker, we are arming everyone in the supply chain with the tool they need to verify genuine parts. Look for the ‘Scan in Baxi Toolbelt App’ prompt from October.”
The danger posed by counterfeit parts and the breadth of the problem have led Baxi to raise the issue with industry bodies including the HHIC and Energy and Utilities Alliance to ensure fake flues are addressed across the heating sector.
In preparation for the changes, installers and merchants can download the Baxi Toolbelt app here: Toolbelt.
