Safety Aspects To Consider When Installing A Chesneys Stove

While exquisite interior design and functionality might be at the top of your list when purchasing a stove for the first time, there are always important safety aspects to consider. Alongside elevating the design of any room, your Chesneys stove will be an exceptionally safe and reliable addition to your family home – just so long as you take care while installing and using it. In this article, we’ll talk you through the safety considerations you need to bear in mind during the installation of your wood burning, gas or multi-fuel stove.

WHERE CAN A STOVE BE PLACED SAFELY?

When installing any new stove, the first decision you’ll need to make is: where will your new stove live? A key factor to consider will be whether you have an existing chimney to use it with. Connecting a new stove to an old chimney tends to be the simplest approach to placement, provided there’s one available. Most are sensibly placed at the heart of the living room or kitchen. However, it’s also common for ambitious households to get new chimney or flue systems fitted – so don’t be put off by any grand designs changes you have to make. Already have a flue? Discover whether installing a wood burning or multi-fuel stove is best.

When considering the layout of your interior, it’s also important to factor in safety. Keep in mind that both soft furnishings and combustibles must be kept a specific safe distance away from the stove, with the exact distances dependent on the burner in question. If in doubt, ask us to find out a stove’s safe distances before you choose a model.

WHO CAN INSTALL THE STOVE?

Installing stoves is an expert matter. By law, it needs either to be done on your behalf by a person who is registered with a Government Approved Competent Persons Scheme (CPS), or independently if you can get Local Authority Building Control approval. If the work is done by a CPS contractor, the contractor should give you a certificate confirming the work has been completed in accordance with all applicable Building Regulation requirements within 30 days of completion. For wood or multi-fuel stove installation, search by postcode for a HETAS registered installer. Alternatively, if you’re looking to install a gas stove, search for the gas appliance regulations in your area on the Gas Safe Register.

INSTALLING A FLUE SYSTEM

Another essential step before you fire up your stove is to get your chimney lined with a flue system by a professional chimney liner. This ensures the emissions caused by combusting your chosen fuel can be channelled safely away from the stove and out of the building. The flue will need to be a suitable fit for your stove, both in terms of diameter and flue draught (the amount of air it pulls, measured in Pascals). If your plan is to fit a new stove to an existing flue system, we’d strongly advise getting the flue swept and tested by a sweep before connecting the stove, to ensure it remains in working condition. The best way to do this would be to contact a NACS registered chimney sweep.

HOW TO ENSURE YOUR STOVE COMPLIES WITH BUILDING REGULATIONS

Stove installations in the UK must be carried out in-line with official building regulations. If you’re in the UK, the rules you need to know are outlined in Approved Document J – Combustion appliances and Fuel Storage systems (2010 edition incorporating 2010 and 2013 amendments). The rules outlined in the document include:

Air supply (J1): Combustion appliances shall be so installed that there is an adequate supply of air to them for combustion, to prevent overheating and for the efficient working of any flue.

Protection of building (J4): Combustion appliances and fireplaces shall be so installed […] as to reduce to a reasonable level the risk of people suffering burns or the building catching fire in consequence of their use.

You can download Approved Document J and read page 9 to learn more about your obligations.

If you live somewhere other than the UK, please consult your local building regulations to ensure your stove installation is compliant. Our customer service team will be happy to help you find the relevant documents.

USING YOUR STOVE SAFELY

Once your Chesneys stove is installed, you’ll be able to relax by the fire in your beautifully-designed interior. However, to ensure that you can fully unwind, there are still a few measures you should take to help put your safety worries to rest.

WE’RE ALWAYS HERE TO HELP

Once your stove is properly placed, installed and set up for safe use by all the family, you’ll be ready to put your feet up and bask in the rewarding glow of a roaring fire. If you’re in need of even more information on installing your Chesneys stove, our stove installation manual is a good place to start. Still can’t decide on the perfect stove for your interior? Take a look our full range of Chesneys stoves, or visit your nearest stockist for inspiration.

For more information on stoves, from design to selection tips, head over to our dedicated blog.