Exposed heating pipes burn 11-month-old boy (From Western Telegraph)

Exposed heating pipes burn 11-month-old boy

A PEMBROKE Dock mother-of-two is fuming after her baby son burned himself on exposed heating pipes.

The pipes, part of a central heating system fitted under the Home Energy Efficient Scheme (HEES), were installed in Michelle James's Kavannagh Court home nine months ago.

"My mother originally burned her forehand on the pipes," Michelle said. "So I phoned the county council, who said they didn't have the funding to block the pipes in."

Three weeks ago the exposed piping injured Michelle's 11-month-old-son Scott, who lost his balance and fell against the pipes.

"If they'd told us the pipes could reach such extreme temperatures and could burn, we would have refused point blank to have them installed in the house," said Michelle, who has started a petition to have all homes installed with protective coverings.

Following the accident, a HEES inspection revealed the pipes reach a 'satisfactory' temperature of 71 degrees.

"I was told the pipes could go up to 81 or 82 degrees," Michelle said. "That may be satisfactory to them, but when my son is getting burned I don't think it is."

A HEES spokesman confirmed that under its specifications set by DEFRA the copper piping, which works similarly to radiators, is not boxed in.

"It's an awful incident," the spokesman added. "But if the pipes were considered dangerous they would not be fitted in that way.

"We did it to our remit and within our legal obligation.

An investigation is under way.