Just read the message below about Corgi regs and it got me thinking. I
have a gas fire venting into an aluminium flue and up through the
chimney. Installed more than 30 years ago. I now want to fit a coal
affect fire. I will probabley get a fitter to install it but will an
air vent be required for a fire or is is natural ventilation around the
house sufficient. There are several air vents elsewhere in the house,
just not in this room.
I assume that there must be a vent in the room as ventilation under and
around a door is not sufficient.

Kevin

Kev wrote:
is is natural ventilation around the
house sufficient.


This used to be sufficient on most old houses because of the draught
being sucked into the house from the gaps in the window sashes and
under the doors etc and exiting out the chimney always kept these old
houses ventilated but perhaps a little draughty.
Most modern houses however have sealed windows and doors and this
necessitates an air vent being made throught the wall.
The old draughts were a blessing in disguise for many and a limited
draught is always preferable to a sealed container.
Thats a good reason to have a small gap under the door as you have a
circulation of air if you have a chimney. If there is no chimney then
you need a gap in a window also.
There must be an entry and an exit for the air to circulate.
A neighbour of mine had three deaths in his family some years back
because he failed to realise this basic necessity. The gases from a
heater overcame them in sleep and the house was completely sealed of
draughts for comfort.

Kev wrote:
coal
affect fire.

How do you want to affect the coal?

MBQ

The message .com
from contains these words:

How do you want to affect the coal?

That's a miner consideration.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

Kev wrote:

Just read the message below about Corgi regs and it got me thinking. I
have a gas fire venting into an aluminium flue and up through the
chimney. Installed more than 30 years ago. I now want to fit a coal
affect fire. I will probabley get a fitter to install it but will an
air vent be required for a fire or is is natural ventilation around
the house sufficient. There are several air vents elsewhere in the
house, just not in this room.
I assume that there must be a vent in the room as ventilation under
and around a door is not sufficient.

Kevin

Last year we replaced our coal burning fireplace. The fitter, a HETAS
chap, said we needed a ventilator and fitted one in the floor to one
side of the fireplace. I wasn't altogether pleased because we've had
fires there for years with no problem and because the new fire is
significantly smaller than the old one. However in practice it turned
out very well as now we get almost no draughts in the room. Previously
the draught from the gap under the door was a "cut your feet off gale"
now it's almost unnoticeable. If the fire isn't lit the vent gives no
noticeable draught.

Edgar

Edgar Iredale wrote:
The fitter, a HETAS
chap, said we needed a ventilator and fitted one in the floor to one
side of the fireplace.

I guess that would do as it is a suspended floor with plenty of air
bricks for the below floor ventilation.

Kevin

On Thu, 17 Aug 2006 02:04:03 -0700, Kev wrote:

Just read the message below about Corgi regs and it got me thinking. I
have a gas fire venting into an aluminium flue and up through the
chimney. Installed more than 30 years ago. I now want to fit a coal
affect fire. I will probabley get a fitter to install it but will an
air vent be required for a fire or is is natural ventilation around the
house sufficient. There are several air vents elsewhere in the house,
just not in this room.
I assume that there must be a vent in the room as ventilation under and
around a door is not sufficient.

Most small modern coal effect fires are rated at under 7.0kW and as such
are not likely to require additional purpose provided ventilation. That is
unless the manufacturers say otherwise or the flue gases fail to go up and
out.

The alloy flue liner is now nominally life expired and certainly will
need to be replaced for a new fire to be fitted.

HTH

--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html
Gas Fitting Standards Docs he http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFittingStandards

Ed Sirett wrote:
On Thu, 17 Aug 2006 02:04:03 -0700, Kev wrote:

Just read the message below about Corgi regs and it got me thinking. I
have a gas fire venting into an aluminium flue and up through the
chimney. Installed more than 30 years ago. I now want to fit a coal
affect fire. I will probabley get a fitter to install it but will an
air vent be required for a fire or is is natural ventilation around the
house sufficient. There are several air vents elsewhere in the house,
just not in this room.
I assume that there must be a vent in the room as ventilation under and
around a door is not sufficient.

Most small modern coal effect fires are rated at under 7.0kW and as such
are not likely to require additional purpose provided ventilation. That is
unless the manufacturers say otherwise or the flue gases fail to go up and
out.

The alloy flue liner is now nominally life expired and certainly will
need to be replaced for a new fire to be fitted.

HTH

also to add to ed's post if the new fire is a Decorative Fuel
Effect(dfe) it will need a 100cm2 vent. best thing is to get an
installer to have a look see what is needed. it's hard to advise without
seeing the property and the intended fire. also the 'coal' effect fires
are not very efficient, i think around 40 to 60 % (ed?) and dfe's are
less. get a nice boiler and heating and an electric fire for 'display'
purposes!