When completing plumbing tasks often a plumber will use a blowtorch to seal plumbing joints. Unfortunately this often involves the use of fire in confined spaces and there have been incidents where the use of a blowtorch has resulted in a fire within a property.

When using a blowtorch care must be taken and thought given to safety. Whilst this article must not be taken as a recommendation for you to carry out any activity with a blowtorch as a general guide the following principles apply. These are especially important when using a blowtorch in confined spaces and boxed in pipe ducting.

Remember the following checks.

• Keep a gas bottle away from sources of heat
• Don’t leave the blowtorch unattended
• Only rest the bottle on a stable surface.
• Exercise extreme care, particularly in the following
• Roof spaces
• Under floors
• Under work surfaces
• In pipe boxes
• Near ceilings
• Near flammable materials

A far safer approach is to consider alternative approaches such as.

• Use of compression fittings
• Solder the joints away from the area of risk.
• Use of a damp cloth and or coolgel.

If there is a foreseeable risk of fire always use a flexible fireproof mat.