Installing a solid fuel stove
If you are considering purchasing and installing a wood burning stove you may need to make sure you are aware of some important facts to ensure safety and to ensure that you are protected.
No specialist knowledge or skills are needed to install a flue liner and stove, however any work that affects the existing chimney (including installing a stove or flue liner) must be signed off by the Council Building Control department, as it must be fitted according to the Building regulations. If you are reluctant to fit a stove yourself you can get a qualified HETAS engineer to fit it and they can sign off their work and give you a certificate to say that it is fitted to the standards expected by the Building regulations. It is important that a certificate is obtained as without it you may be putting your chimney or home at risk of fire. Often insurance companies will not pay out for any damage caused due to stoves if a certificate is not available. If the installation is not safe you may not only be putting your property at risk but yours and others health as well as not meeting the energy efficiency requirements of the stove.
If you own a listed building or you want to run a new twin wall flue system up the wall on the outside of your home you may to check with your local council to advise as to whether you would require planning permission, otherwise you do not normally require planning permission to install a wood burning stove.
Do I Need to line my Existing Chimney?
Most homes built before 1964 will have an open brick fireplace. Those built after this date tend to be lined with a clay or concrete material. For those that are lined and are in good repair will not require a liner, however those damaged or made of open brick will legally require a liner to reduce leakage and minimise the risk of fire, as well as drawing the air and sealing the top for peace of mind. Flexible flue liners are ideal for this as they tend to be quick and easy to install, improve the stoves performance as well as giving value for money.
What size of Flue do I need?
Here I the U.K. we only tend to use 5" or 6" flue outlets to the top or rear of the stove. Usually this is a black vitreous enamel pipe which is the first section of pipe to take you to the chimney. If the chimney requires a flue liner you can attach this to the pipe and feed the flue liner up through the chimney and secure with a pot hanger. The vitreous enamel pipe will feed on to a minimum of a 6" (150mm) flexible flue liner. If you are running the flue pipe without a chimney, for example, through the ceiling or up on the outside wall then you will have to invest in a 6" (150mm) twin wall flue system.
All DEFRA approved stoves have a 5" collar and can be attached to a 5" flexible flue liner or a ridged twin walled system.
How High Does the Flue Have To Go?
When using a twin wall flue system, if the flue exits the roof within 600mm horizontally from the ridge (the highest point) of the roof then the flue must extend a minimum of 600mm above the ridge.
If the flue exits further down the roof line the it must extend high enough to achieve 2.3m of horizontal clearance. If the air circulating the flue is prohibited due to roof lines or buildings' then there is risk of a down draught where the stove is unable to draw and its efficiency is compromised.
What size and Type of Hearth Do I Need?
Hearths come in all shapes and sizes but which ones are suitable for those planning on putting in a wood burning stove? The Upper surface of an hearth does not exceed 100 degrees but due to the amount of heat it holds stoves should always be placed on non-combustible surfaces, such as slate, stone, marble, glass, granite, concrete, or ceramic tiles. Build regulations state that this surface should be a minimum of 12mm in thickness.
For those wishing to install a larger stove then the hearth should be a construction hearth made of a strong solid non- combustible material, for example concrete of a 125mm thickness. Combustible material should not be placed beneath the constructional hearth unless there is airspace of at least 50mm or the combustible material is at least 250mm below the top of the stove.
For freestanding appliances (those that have no chimney or fireplace) the hearth should be a minimum of 850mm x850mm and a minimum of 150mm sides of the appliance to sides and near the rear edge and 225mm (if the stove is designed to be used with the door closed), from the front of the appliance to the hearth. You might find that if you have a larger stove the overall size of the hearth will be greater than 840mmx 840mm.
Do I Need Extra Ventilation in the Room?
When installing a stove it is important that you have enough air in your room to create a draw on the fire so complete combustion can take place. If you have a stove of 5kW or less then you do not need extra ventilation in the room. If the stove is above 6KW then a permanent airvent should be connected to the outside. The size of vent would normally be a minimum of 550mm2 per kW above 5kW. For example 7kW =550mm2 x2 =1100mm2 . A square opening of 33mmx33mm is usually sufficient.
Homes built after 2008 will need an air permeability test as many of these houses where built will good insulation in mind and therefore have very little draft. If the air is low then it may be essential that an air vent to the outside is built or an outside airkit is purchased for the stove, which enables outside air to be drawn into the stove.
Do I Need A Carbon Monoxide Monitor?
Did you know that solid fuel appliances are more dangerous than gas appliances for causing carbon monoxide poisoning? Carbon Monoxide monitors are now legal requirements for all rooms with a solid fuel appliance in them.
Carbon monoxide monitors (CO2) should be placed on a ceiling at least 300mm from any walls or located on a wall as high as possible, preferably above a door or window, but not within 150mm of a ceiling.
Or it can be placed 1m and 3m horizontally from the appliance.
Whatever your concerns or worries are regarding installing a wood burning stove, our friendly team here at Bowland Stoves are always on hand to offer help and advice.