Need a fire collar

Middleage Fanclub

I have a solid fuel stove pipe running up through my converted attic. I want to add a fire collar at the floor (of the attic where the pipe comes up through the carpet) for obvious safety reasons. I don't know how to go about this (who to ask or what to buy to fit myself). All help most welcome.

Poor Uncle Tom

Seriously, the first of April is long gone....

893bet

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

Seriously, the first of April is long gone....

X 2

Can I ask who installed the twin insulated flue? Is it cut tight through the whole floor?? You need a ventilated fire stop or similar. Not sure of regulations but what you currently have is a tragedy in waiting.

893bet

Also it's not just at the top of the floor you need the collar but the whole way through the floor so that is a safe gap between the flue pipe and all surrounding material.

I hope that is twin insulated flue?

Calahonda52

A bit too much play there:mad:
http://www.environ.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad%2C37240%2Cen.pdf
or the attachment below

I hope the OP is taking the Michael here and that its just sitting on the carpet..

OP is the house now a 3 storey?

Then go look at Part B here
http://www.environ.ie/housing/building-standards/tgd-part-d-materials-and-workmanship/technical-guidance-documents

and

http://www.environ.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad%2C1657%2Cen.pdf

Johnnyhpipe

Wow.. Who installed that?!

Gumbo

God, I'd love to be inspecting that house!

Middleage Fanclub

So, ahem, glad I asked, not a joke and thanks for the attachments and expressions of gravity. I believe it is twin insulated. On the rare occasions that the stove has been lit the flue gets warm, never hot hot, if you get me. The flue rises through the first floor inside boxing and then appears in that storage (attic) room. Pull back the carpet there, and there's maybe a half inch space around it from the plywood floor.

So obviously no more fires until a fire collar is fitted which is now a job beyond my appetite. Any suggestions as to how I find a competent person to do so?

Gumbo

Middleage Fanclub wrote: »

So, ahem, glad I asked, not a joke and thanks for the attachments and expressions of gravity. I believe it is twin insulated. On the rare occasions that the stove has been lit the flue gets warm, never hot hot, if you get me. The flue rises through the first floor inside boxing and then appears in that storage (attic) room. Pull back the carpet there, and there's maybe a half inch space around it from the plywood floor.

So obviously no more fires until a fire collar is fitted which is now a job beyond my appetite. Any suggestions as to how I find a competent person to do so?

It's not a fire collar you need. You need to enclose the whole flue in a fire resisting enclosure, essentially like a chimney. You need to ensure adequate protection while passing through the roof structure and ensure the flue extends up 1m from the outside of the roof tiles.

You need a good builder familiar with installing stoves etc to get this work done ASAP!

Did you buy the house like this?
Did you pay a registered company to install the stove and flue?

893bet

Middleage Fanclub wrote: »

So, ahem, glad I asked, not a joke and thanks for the attachments and expressions of gravity. I believe it is twin insulated. On the rare occasions that the stove has been lit the flue gets warm, never hot hot, if you get me. The flue rises through the first floor inside boxing and then appears in that storage (attic) room. Pull back the carpet there, and there's maybe a half inch space around it from the plywood floor.

So obviously no more fires until a fire collar is fitted which is now a job beyond my appetite. Any suggestions as to how I find a competent person to do so?

Who fitted it? I believe the minimum distance to combustibles is 50mm.

http://www.directflues.co.uk/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/dw-tw-ventilated-fire-stop-plate-black.jpg

The carpet and floor needs to be taken up to see what it looks like through the floor.

Have you a picture from below?

Middleage Fanclub

House was bought (new) with flue in situ. No picture from below as the flue passes though the first floor enclosed within boxing. Taking up the attic floor would obviously reveal all that.

Structural remedy aside, do I have recourse here (builder or architect who signed off on the house)?

Gumbo

Middleage Fanclub wrote: »

House was bought (new) with flue in situ. No picture from below as the flue passes though the first floor enclosed within boxing. Taking up the attic floor would obviously reveal all that.

Structural remedy aside, do I have recourse here (builder or architect who signed off on the house)?

Yes I would think you have recorse here. I would get straight onto the builder and the architect that signed off the build and ask them how they forgot about the flue in the attic space.

It also needs a CO alarm in there and any other room that it passes through.

Edit : when did you buy? When was the houses built?

893bet

Personally I have them rip out all the boxing at the first floor level aswell to ensure its done right.

Is there a collar on the ground floor that can be removed?

Dardania

An old colleague of mine had his house burn down because of something similar. Basically, the cowboy (builder) enclosed the flue joint in the void, with predictable results over time.

It went to court(not in Ireland) - and he found that the flue system manual was helpful in establishing what should have been done (some intumescent material, don't put joint in void etc.) and also referenced the EN guidance to follow. He won the court case and original developer was hit with punitive costs on top of actual.

Johnnyhpipe

I'm assuming you bought this relatively recently?

I would contact the builder's architect directly first thing on Tuesday. The builder will no doubt try to fob you off. Express your fire safety concerns in no uncertain terms. Do you have compliance certs etc? Perhaps these are with your solicitor?

Please tell anyone living in the house that the fire is not to be lit until this has been sorted.

Gumbo

Also, ask your neighbours if the same layout is in theirs. And report to Local Building Control office.