How it all began… When people learnt how to control fire The development of fire is a vast subject that spans thousands of years, beginning with Homo sapiens teaching Neanderthals (Figure 1) how to use a hand-drill technique to start a fire and ending with the most complex wood burners that offer controllable warmth to […]
Regulations
Building Regulations
Wood burning stove installations fall under legal Building Regulations and all installations must meet these requirements. All installations must be signed off either by your local council or by a HETAS registered engineer. This current edition of Approved Document J (Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems), has been updated and replaces the previous 2010 edition. […]
How to install a wood stove chimney through a wall or roof (Non-chimney installs)
Installing a wood stove without a traditional chimney requires careful planning and adherence to safety guidelines. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to setting up a twin wall flue system, which is a common alternative for homes without existing chimneys. By following these steps, you can ensure a safe and efficient installation that meets all […]
Chimney Installations
ABOVE: Lining a chimney using a multi fuel flexible liner for wood burning stoves. Reasons for lining a chimney when installing wood burning stoves For a wood burning stove to work correctly it must be connected to a sound chimney and correctly sized flue, therefore it is always recommended fitting a chimney liner when installing […]
Safe Distances to Combustible Materials
Due to the levels of heat emitted from flue pipes and stoves, it is essential these are installed at a safe distance from any combustible material which could catch on fire from heat transfer (typically wood, carpets and soft furnishings). Commonly referred to as ‘clearance or distance to combustibles’, this measurement varies from Single Wall […]
Defra & Smoke Control Areas
BRIEF BACKGROUND For centuries we have burned coal in our homes with little impact on the environment. With the birth of the industrial revolution came increased levels of coal burning by heavy industry which inevitably led to pollution on a scale never before seen in our towns and cities. Over time this led to poor […]
Air Supply And Ventilation
It is an essential requirement that your wood burning or multi-fuel stove has an adequate air supply to ensure that complete combustion of fuel occurs and your chimney functions as it should. The primary source of this air supply for a stove comes via a permanent air vent positioned within the room. This is in […]
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
We come into contact with low levels of carbon monoxide in our every day lives from vehicle exhaust fumes to cigarette smoke and paint fumes but these impact the environment much more than they impact us directly. As the owner of a solid fuel stove, what concerns us is the unavoidable production of carbon monoxide […]
Flue Diameters
The internal diameter of a flue system is one of the most crucial measurements that needs to be considered when planning your installation. Go too large and a draw may never get going or worse, it won’t fit down your chimney. Go too small and you restrict the flow of gases, cooling them down causing […]
Hearth Regulations
The Building Regulations concerning hearths can be an area of confusion with different thicknesses, materials and terms such as constructional and superimposed to consider. By breaking these regulations down to what is relevant to you, we hope this simple guide clears the mystery surrounding hearths. Firstly, what is the purpose of a hearth? A hearth […]
Flue Heights | Glowing Embers
As one of the main purposes of a flue system is to remove the products of combustion from your home, it stands to reason that your chimney must be of a certain length and height to safely distribute these fumes up into the sky and not into your neighbour’s upstairs window. Additionally, proper chimney capping […]
Technical Information
In this section we have simplified all of the Building Regulations and technical jargon surrounding stoves, flues, installation and all related products to hopefully make the information more understandable and relevant to you. Please click on the links below for further information…
How to fit stove pipe
Single wall vitreous enamelled stove pipe is needed for every installation of a wood burning stove. You need at least one length of stove pipe to connect directly to your log burner’s flue outlet. From this pipe, you can connect to either flexible flue liner if going directly through an existing chimner, or to twin […]
