No building regs for log burner

Help1234

Hello, my friend recently had a builder remove two windows in her conservatory, brick up the space and install a log burner.

He was not HETAS registered, has not provided her with any certification, he told her building regs are not required and she would get a certificate for the chimney sweep.

I’ve done some googling and this doesn’t seem right. If she doesn’t seek building regulation sign off how does this affect her? Is her home insurance void?

Gloomendoom

It almost certainly will need to be signed off by building control.

No need to panic, just contact the local council and arrange an inspection.

Aylesbury_Duck

Advise her not to use it until it's been properly inspected.

Furts

If a builder is giving out guidance which is blatant lies what else is likely to be dodgy? With these thoughts ponder the conservatory. These are exempt from Buildings Regulations but once the windows are removed and get blocked in it might be it is no longer a conservatory. So where does your friend stand here?

The log burner has to be certified so contact the Local Authority and get Regulations. The worry is what might be revealed when the Inspection occurs. There may be more issues than just the log burner.

Ectophile

I believe your builder may actually be right. Schedule 2 of the Building Regulations (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2214/schedule/2/made) exempts conservatories up to 30 square metres from the regulations.

To me, that means that Building Regulations part J doesn't apply, and you are quite free to poison yourself with carbon monoxide in your conservatory if you wish to do so.

But if you want proper legal advice, ask a lawyer.