British Columbia Safety Authority (BCSA) is calling on homeowners, businesses, building and strata managers in Smithers, Kitimat, Terrace and Prince Rupert who may have had gas work performed by "Best Heating", "Mercury Mechanical" or Masoud Bahrami to contact BCSA.
BCSA has identified numerous instances of unpermitted work by Bahrami resulting in potentially unsafe conditions related to gas appliances such as furnaces and hot water tanks. He does not possess a valid gas contractor's license and is not certified to perform any work related to gas appliances or equipment that is regulated by BCSA.
"We are asking the public to immediately contact us if you are aware of any work on gas appliances performed by "Best Heating", "Mercury Mechanical" or Masoud Bahrami," said Brad Wyatt, Provincial Gas Safety Manager with BCSA, in a release.
"Improper work on gas appliances can result in risks such as fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. BCSA needs to be aware of any non-compliant or unsafe conditions that may have been created so we can assess these risks."
BCSA cautions that other individuals who have no involvement in these events may also be named Masoud Bahrami or a similar name, and this notice is not a reflection of those individuals or businesses.
As a reminder, BCSA encourages home and business owners to only hire licenced and qualified contractors to perform regulated gas or electrical work. To help protect your safety and your investment, interview your contractor carefully and always ask them to show you valid permits for the work they are performing.
If you have any information regarding work performed by Masoud Bahrami, please call BCSA at 1-866-566-7233 (press 7) or email contact@safetyauthority.ca immediately.
The Better Business Bureau lists Masoud Bahrami as president of Best Heating Inc., with an address in Burnaby. It also lists the business as having been incorporated on Nov. 23, 2006.
The bclicensing.com website, which lists thousands of licensed professionals, lists a Masoud Bahrami of Mercury Mechanical as being licensed. The website says, "The information on this site is from official government records, in some cases supplemented by other data sources." It also warns people to verify the service providers are properly licensed -- a good warning for those looking for verification using search engines online.
About BC Safety Authority
BC Safety Authority is an independent, self-funded organization mandated to oversee the safe installation and operation of technical systems and equipment. In addition to issuing permits, licences and certificates, it works with industry to reduce safety risks through assessment, education and outreach, enforcement, and research.