Multi-Fuel stove

BB.

Hello :wave:

I would really appreciate if you take some time to share your expertise on this subject…

I've been doing some renovation work on my Edwardian one bed grand floor flat in a terraced two storey house. One of the projects was to replace old tiled 50ties style fireplace with a brick one without any structural changes to the chimney breast. However in a heat of the moment I decided to go for a wood burner. I purchased a multi-fuel one with a 5Kw heat output from Gr8fires.co.uk (Arizona Kansas) it had great reviews and arrived quickly. My boyfriend has a bit of idea about fireplaces and chimneys and helped me to install it. I have got brick chimney with class 1 flue and I had it swept and smoke test carried out just before the installation therefore we didn't think a liner was required. We just built a concrete register plate inside of the chimney and fitted 1m 5" flue that came with the stove. The hearth is made of old red brick.

It wasn't after few weeks later that I discovered that there are very specific regulations around solid fuel stove installation that need to be adhere to. This was a hair raising moment for me... To make the maters worse I live in Greater London which is a Smoke control area and apparently only DEFRA approved stoves can be used. Is this true?? Even if I want to burn smokeless fuel only I can’t use the stove I purchased?

I must say that I am slightly disappointed with the Stove supplier that it doesn’t clearly mention on their website about Building Regulation requirements, none of the reviews provided there mentions that either (all 5 starts btw a bit suspicious don’t you think??) and also don't recall receiving any guidance on installation / manual when the stove arrived!

Anyway, my options now are:
I. Use the stove as a decoration only and never use it (waste of money basically)
II. Get a carbon monoxide alarm fitted and use the stove as it (a bit risky)
III. Try to finish it myself according to standard and get Building Control Officer to visit and sign it off (very unlikely that it would ever get signed off whilst each visit will cost about £150)
IV. Get a HETAS approved installer to amend it and sign it off

The problems I face with the last option are:
1. Can I use the stove I purchased or do I need to buy DEFRA approved one (costs a lot) for Smoke controlled area?
2. Do I need a liner installed?
3. Would any HETAS approved installer be willing to take on a half finished job???

Please don’t criticize me too much for not doing the researched properly, I have learned my lesson now….:embarasse

I look forward to Your responses :huh:


BB

anotherginger

Don't even consider using it as it is, you're putting yours and the person who lives in the other flat in danger. Building regs aren't just there to annoy you!

You can use smokeless fuel instead of changing the stove to a DEFRA approved model - it says this in the brochure for your stove. You need to see the installation guide to make sure you have the required distances from walls, and also the required depth of hearth at the front. It's could be likely that you will need to line the chimney.

I think your only option is to go with Option IV. You've asked for no criticism but still seem to think Option II is a route you could go down...either you install it correctly or don't use it.

BB.

Thanks for your advice. Option II was suggested to me by someone, I just put it there for your comments but I won't be going with it.

muckybutt

Ooops !

Right then, first of all a Hetas fitter wont touch it with a barge pole, they will do a complete install if that's what you want to pay for but they very rarely sign off some one else's work for obvious reasons.

How do you know your chimney is a class 1 ? I take it you have had a professional sweep in that has told you this. If the chimney is indeed class1 lined then IMO provided it is in good order and does not leak - Will need pressure testing, then it should be good to go so wouldn't need a liner, if the chimney leaks then yes a liner would be needed.

Not being familiar with the stove you mentioned - can you insert a full sized chimney brush into the chimney via the stove for sweeping ? or have you made a sweeping / maintenance hatch in the register plate / chimney breast ? This I come across very often with diy installs, as part of the regs YOU HAVE TO MAKE ACCESS for maintenance and sweeping, if it cant be swept through the stove.

As for you stove - you can only burn DEFRA approved fuels, there's no burning waste wood or wood from the back garden, a list can be found here http://smokecontrol.defra.gov.uk/fuels.php?country=e

Your biggest stumbling block by far is not getting building regs approval, read Doc J http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_ADJ_2010.pdf making sure you comply with all the requirements and get the council to sign it off for you.