Classroom Unflued Gas Heaters

The Hon. JOHN DELLA BOSCA: Yesterday I answered a question concerning unflued gas heaters. Further to that answer I undertook to provide to the House and to the Hon. Robyn Parker, who asked the question, specific advice regarding Blackheath Public School. As I noted yesterday, the Department of Education and Training has been progressively replacing its older blue flame unflued gas heaters with low NOx unflued gas heaters. The department has also been working with New South Wales Health to monitor the ongoing performance of the replacement low NOx heaters. I am advised that Blackheath Public School has had low-emission, low NOx unflued gas heaters installed and that these were monitored in 2007 and found to be compliant with the national environment protection measures, which are ambient air quality guidelines developed by the National Environment Protection and Heritage Council. These results are consistent with the ongoing monitoring of low NOx unflued gas heaters undertaken by the Department of Commerce.

Unflued gas heaters continue to provide effective and efficient heating in schools. They are maintained annually in accordance with the manufacturer's advice, and appropriate ventilation is provided, on some occasions using enhanced fixed ventilation. Blackheath Public School has been provided with additional insulation for thermal comfort and the Department of Commerce is presently scoping fixed ventilation works to ensure that appropriate ventilation without drafts is available when the heaters are in use. In order to further reassure the parents of the safety of staff and students at Blackheath Public School, the department will undertake additional air monitoring at the commencement of the heating season early in term 2two this year, at a time to be negotiated with the school principal.

Questions without notice concluded.

[The President left the chair at 1.04 p.m. The House resumed at 2.30 p.m.]