Gas Fire Ventilation

[Kev]

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

[noelogara]

Kev wrote: is is natural ventilation around the

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.

[manatbandq]

How do you want to affect the coal?

MBQ

[Guy King]

The message from [e-mail] contains these words:

That's a miner consideration.

[Edgar Iredale]

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

[Kev]

Edgar Iredale wrote: The fitter, a HETAS

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

Kevin

[Ed Sirett]

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

[Gav]

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!