The dangers of potentially fatal counterfeit boiler and other parts entering the market will be discussed at this year’s Bathroom & Kitchen Business Conference in the West Midlands.

Thousands of counterfeit parts are readily available to buy online, disguised as certified products. They have been known to cause major damage, and even serious injury in some cases, but are being installed in homes across the UK. In many cases it is the unwitting installers who are liable for damages, with sentences ranging from fines to possible prison sentences.

Peter Adkins, a director at leading law firm Emms Gilmore Liberson (EGL) who has run the legal helpline for the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) for many years, will address the problems of identifying the illegal and non-compliant products online and the dangers they present.

Peter, Director of Regulatory Services at EGL, said: “It is a great privilege to be a guest speaker at this prestigious conference, alongside many other experts in their fields.

“Very often these parts are available to buy online. Many installers and consumers are not aware they are buying counterfeit and non-compliant goods, which can potentially cost lives.

“It is important that people are aware of the dangers they present, and how to identify them. It is unfair that installers are unwittingly buying these parts, thinking they have delivered a good service while being totally unaware they could face legal action and prosecution if the parts fail causing damage, injury and potential loss of life”