Ventilation for open fire?

LindaLou72

We've recently had the back boiler and gas fire removed from our fireplace (we now have a combi boiler upstairs in the airing cupboard) and are looking at getting a Victorian-style wrought-iron open fire installed. It's a little luxury we've always wanted to have, even though we know it wouldn't be terribly fuel-efficient.

However, a chap from the fireplace shop came to assess the area today and said that we would have to get a couple of fist-sized permanently open vents installed in our living room wall, as it's regulation. I understand why this is necessary while combustion is taking place, but I can't see why the vents would need to remain open at other times (especially since I can't imagine we'd be using the fireplace more than a few times a month in the winter). We'd be getting a cold draught all the time, and I'm sure it wouldn't be having a good effect on our heating bills. We do have a vent above the living room door, leading to the hallway where there's a vent to outside, but I was told that wasn't enough.

I'm really not sure I want to do this now. Don't much fancy getting a stove either, as the appeal for us is the open fire. Does anyone know why these vents must be open all the time?

EssexExile

LindaLou72 wrote: »

Does anyone know why these vents must be open all the time?

Presumably so you don't gas yourself when you forget to open them before lighting the fire.

Having said that when we had cavity wall insulation put in they insisted on drilling great big holes in the walls of the rooms with fires. As the house hasn't killed anyone in the 65 years it's been here (as far as I know) I blocked them up when they'd gone. I couldn't possibly recommend you do the same.

Furts

I will assume that the man has given you correct advice for he has seen your room. Consequently the advice would be deemed wise.

Human beings are unpredictable creatures, and some are prone to laziness and forgetfulness. It cannot be assumed that an open and close ventilator would be diligently opened and closed on every occasion. Hence one has to default to a permanently open position for safety.

Certainly this is the case with many gas fires in rooms.

However, you could have the vents installed and then subsequently open and close them. Whilst this would be a breach of regulations nobody in authority will be monitoring this.

dominoman

As the above two said, nothing is stopping you closing them after they are installed. If you're in a leaky old house there will be plenty enough air to feed the fire without bringing external air in.

Another option is a floor vent, so long as the underfloor is ventilated (it should be). But they will only approve that if it's in a place that couldn't easily be covered.

If you get a handyman to install it and don't care about the HETAS signoff then you won't need to comply with all this. Building regs are there for good reasons though so you have to judge whether it is overkill in your house.

And I agree, nothing beats an open fire (and sod the efficiency)

LindaLou72

You know, I think you all may have won me over. I didn't know how commonplace it was for people to have this particular issue, or what they tend to do about it, and my thinking was indeed that whoever writes these building regulations was trying to cover their own backs in case someone died of carbon monoxide poisoning after forgetting to open a vent grille. Presumably it wouldn't be hard, after we have the vents installed, to put movable grilles on them ourselves?

And yes, I agree - nothing beats an open fire

southcoastrgi

If you were renting you would have to have a CO alarm in that room so I'd suggest you get one if you use that fire

Crinkmeister

Doesn't the need for a vent depend on the rating of the fire? I thought there was a 7kW threshold. Maybe your fire has a higher rating than 7kW - although I'd doubt it. However, assuming your fireplace shop man is Gas Safe registered, then he should know his stuff.

southcoastrgi

Crinkmeister wrote: »

Doesn't the need for a vent depend on the rating of the fire? I thought there was a 7kW threshold. Maybe your fire has a higher rating than 7kW - although I'd doubt it. However, assuming your fireplace shop man is Gas Safe registered, then he should know his stuff.

The OP said open fire that says solid fuel to me not gas ?

POPPYOSCAR

southcoastrgi wrote: »

The OP said open fire that says solid fuel to me not gas ?

Yes, this has confused me.


Why do people keep talking about gas?

Furts

LindaLou72 wrote: »

You know, I think you all may have won me over. I didn't know how commonplace it was for people to have this particular issue, or what they tend to do about it, and my thinking was indeed that whoever writes these building regulations was trying to cover their own backs in case someone died of carbon monoxide poisoning after forgetting to open a vent grille. Presumably it wouldn't be hard, after we have the vents installed, to put movable grilles on them ourselves?

And yes, I agree - nothing beats an open fire

A typical product, suitable for numerous locations is a white plastic vent made by MAP. There are fixed vents, and open and close vents- which is what you require. I have these - they are ideal. Aluminium ones used to be available too, but Google this and see what is available.

They are also cheap - around a few pounds each for the open and close plastic ones.

LindaLou72

Furts wrote: »

A typical product, suitable for numerous locations is a white plastic vent made by MAP. There are fixed vents, and open and close vents- which is what you require. I have these - they are ideal. Aluminium ones used to be available too, but Google this and see what is available.

They are also cheap - around a few pounds each for the open and close plastic ones.

Thank you - I will have a look at that. There's a bit of a problem in that if we let the company do the fitting, they will want to install vents that don't close, and then we'll have to adapt whatever they've put in. I wish we were better at DIY - it would make things easier!