wood burner questions

[jives11]

Hi, I have read some postings related to this but not exactly the same. I have a 1930's house and the front room is a study. It has an original fireplace which has a flame effect gas fire in it. I assume it has the appropriate liner. In the room upstairs the corresponding fireplace has been blocked in, though there is an airbrick into the space.

I'd like to fit a wood burning stove but want to clarify a few things.

1) The existing gas fire will have a liner, but this is unsuitable for the higher temperatures of a wood burner

2) I'd need to get it removed.

3) Do I definitely need a stainless steel liner on my chimney for a wood burning stove ? Presumably once the fireplace burnt coal .

4) I understand from a local fireplace shop that it's quite legal for me to shut off and remove the existing fire assuming it has a double screw fitting (having shut off the gas first).

5) How much bigger does the hearth have to be than the stove ? I ask because my hearth is only 13" deep. I have my eye on a free standing stove which would sit on it, but that would leave little extra hearth space. This is apparently a new regulation according to the aforementioned fireplace shop.

6) Anyone recommend a good liner fitter in North Hampshire/Berks/ Surrey border area ? I'm looking at getting an old stove, so I'm not going to be buying the liner and stove in one single go.

Many thanks

[The Natural Philosopher]

Probably. Flue liners are different specs for just abouyt every fuel/fireplace.

I would recommend it.

Pass. Don't do gas,. What gas? not seen it in 30 years.;-) Must bne in them new fangled 'towns'

IIRC its about 8" all round of non combustible.

Pass.

[Keith2.0]

Very unlikely, there is no requirement for a liner for a gas fire.

[]

[jives11]

Hmmm, perhaps I confuse what is a liner with what is a flue, but I understood that for most recent fires (I'd guess mine is from the

1980's) a liner/flue was necessary to prevent gasses from leaking through the chimney masonry or other bricked up firepplaces and back into the house ?

[Bob Mannix]

All chimneys were "lined" (or should have been). If the original mortar lining was in reasonable condition and the fireplace passed a smoke test, it will have been deemed suitable for a gas fire. It will probably be suitable for a coal fire and maybe a log fire too if in good condition but logs are cooler and tarrier and may require a new liner, which is, generally, a stainless steel tube.

[PeterK]

Its in Building Regs part J(?). I thought 150mm at sides and back from combustible material/wall (i.e. nil clearance to brick) and the hearth must extend 150mm each side where the fire projects into the room. I can't remember the hearth projection at the front but at 300mm you would have to be very careful to avoid cosmetic burns to floor coverings when fueling.

Peterk

[jives11]

Thanks - I think I'm OK then. The kind of old stove I'm looking at is wide but not very deep, has no front doors and loads from the right hand side where I should have enough space.

behind will be tiled so clearance there can be pretty small, if I read you correctly

[Keith2.0]

What does this mortar lining look like? I've never seen anything other than bricks when I've peered up or down a chimney.

[Bob Mannix]

Just a thin layer of render on the face of the bricks. It generally is the source of all the anonymous lumps of mortar that fall down the chimney behind a gas fire! An previous house, built in the 1920's had a gas fire and then a real fire fitted by me and we decided the liner (or perhaps lining is a better term) was OK.

[PeterK]

See diagram at page 33 of the building regs at

. Note the use of the phrase "opening to the firebed" and not "front" therefore my interpretation is you need a hearth projecting 150mm in front of the stove but 225 OR 300mm at the fire door side.

PeterK