Woodburner regs

grahamc2003

Hi, I have an Aga Little Wenlock, fitted by myself a few years ago and working very well.

I have been under the impression that this woodburner was below the heat output requiring a purpose made vent (or whatever the air supply thing is called), which I thought was around 5kw (the aga being a lttle below, purposely to avoid the vent regs, or so I thought).

I'm now having cavity wall insulation, and I've been told I have to have a vent fitted since the little wenlock is above the heat output where a vent isn't necessary. (they won't do the cavity wall if they don't fit a vent at the same time).

So I'm confused - i don't particulary want a hole in my wall, and even less I don't want to pay £50 for one, particularly as the place is old and draughty anyhow (I know the regs aren't concerned with that).

So my questioin is, does anyone know whether any regs require a vent for my particular stove?

Thanks.

A._Badger

grahamc2003 wrote: »

Hi, I have an Aga Little Wenlock, fitted by myself a few years ago and working very well.

I have been under the impression that this woodburner was below the heat output requiring a purpose made vent (or whatever the air supply thing is called), which I thought was around 5kw (the aga being a lttle below, purposely to avoid the vent regs, or so I thought).

I'm now having cavity wall insulation, and I've been told I have to have a vent fitted since the little wenlock is above the heat output where a vent isn't necessary. (they won't do the cavity wall if they don't fit a vent at the same time).

So I'm confused - i don't particulary want a hole in my wall, and even less I don't want to pay £50 for one, particularly as the place is old and draughty anyhow (I know the regs aren't concerned with that).

So my questioin is, does anyone know whether any regs require a vent for my particular stove?

Thanks.

I think your cavity wall people are wrong. Unless it has changed recently, the (nonsensical) limit is 5kw. You should be able to confirm this by speaking with your local council - though you might not want to get too pally with them if you did your own fitting and didn't get their approval.

You can find out more here http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/stove_help_and_advice.html

Hope that's some help.

ilikecookies

I had this battle when we had our cavity wall done. We were told (and I did a bit of investigation to confirm) that a vent is needed if the output is 5 kw or above which was annoying as ours is 5kw!

Swipe

Couldn't you go to a different company, throw a sheet over it, or not let them in the room so they don't even know you have a stove? Or maybe tell them the chimney is blocked off and the stove is ornamental.

Canucklehead

Good afternoon: check here.

See also here.

HTH

Canucklehead

martinthebandit

We had our wood burner fitted last year and were told at the time by the company supplying and fitting it that. as its output was under 5kw we didn't need a vent.

So I think the cavity wall fitters are talking nonsense

grahamc2003

Thanks for the replies.

a badger, I think I'll keep clear of the council!

Swipe - I don't think you can hide anything at all - they seem to do things exactly by the book. The installers even have a smoke test on every fireplace (I've got 6) and if the smoke goes up them (i.e. if they aren't capped) then they'll put a hole in each room. It's just that the surveryor thought most were capped (except the one with the woodburner). (In fact, he also told me if it's Fri afternoon, the installers may say I need several at £50 just so I refuse to have it done so they can go home early!). I can't really get the link between ventialtion and cavity wall insulation anyhow, but regs is regs.

Canuckle, thanks, the manual states this, which I shall thrust at the installers (extract below) ...
The problem is, the spec plate dangling from the back of the stove state 'Nominal output 4.16 to 5.72kw' and the surveyor/salesman said he'd queried that with his inspector who won't approve (or whatever he does) the cavity insulation unless I agree to a big hole in the wall.

This appliance is rated less than 5kW. There is no
additional air requirement unless a flue draught stabiliser

is fitted then the air requirement.

Stuckupahill

Just a thought......but are you sure you want to get cavity wall insulation installed anyway?
It may well reduce fuel bills, but some people have reported problems of damp and had to pay much more to get it removed.
Have a read of this page http://www.askjeff.co.uk/cavity.html
Perhaps worth investigating internal or external insulation instead...
Andy

suki1964

We have a vent in out sitting room just above the skiting board and we dont get any draughts from it - well not any that would bother you

We have one like this that we can open and close

http://www.inbrass.co.uk/acatalog/Closeable_vents.html

grahamc2003

andygo999 wrote: »

Just a thought......but are you sure you want to get cavity wall insulation installed anyway?
It may well reduce fuel bills, but some people have reported problems of damp and had to pay much more to get it removed.
Have a read of this page http://www.askjeff.co.uk/cavity.html
Perhaps worth investigating internal or external insulation instead...
Andy

I'm not sure I want it at all!

I backed out at the very last minute about 15 years ago when our council were giving free cwi, for similar reasons as in the article. In addition, we have a slate damp proof course, and (horrible) rendering, and the though of having many inch (?) diameter holes drilled (probably through brick and not mortar) scared me off having it done at that time - I don't relish dealing with cracked slates. (At this moment, you've put me off having it done again!). I doubt we'd gain much even if there were no problems, simply because we don't have the house all that hot anyhow.

But, we'll be downsizing over the coming several years, and I think the house will be more saleable the more boxes ticked on the epc (is that view correct?). It also means I can install air to air heat pumps and qualify for the renewable heat incentive, for which I think the house has to be well insulated.

grahamc2003

suki1964 wrote: »

We have a vent in out sitting room just above the skiting board and we dont get any draughts from it - well not any that would bother you

We have one like this that we can open and close

http://www.inbrass.co.uk/acatalog/Closeable_vents.html

I was told such closable vents didn't meet the regs (effin regs, I'm sick of them!).

What they'd install are (cheap) white plastic vents with no closing possible, although the salesman did tell me most people block them up as soon as the installers have left!

It's madness really - regs after regs to make house airtight, then regs to put big holes in the wall to make them draughty again! I understand the theoretical reason, but in practice, I bet no house over 20 years old would have any problem getting sufficient air to any sized domestic woodburner.