NEWS Wood burning stove guidance launched after research
THE GUIDANCE from Historic England comes after a three year research project undertaken in partnership with the Fire Protection Association (FPA) and NFU Mutual. Historic England stated that
the research project found that thatched roof buildings fitted with wood burning stoves ‘are at greater risk of fire’ than those with open fires, with the research including full scale tests. These found that because of the higher temperatures and flue velocities ‘associated with’ wood burning stoves, thatch ‘could be set alight by large sparks and embers’ ejected from chimneys, while open fires are not as hot and produce smaller sparks and embers. It added that since the 1990s,
the number of fires in thatched roof buildings ‘has risen significantly’, with the past decade seeing over 500 thatch roofed buildings in England alone damaged or destroyed by fires. Most of these are listed buildings, with one of the greatest risks said to be when a wood burner is used in a chimney ‘in which a bird’s nest has been built’, while fires can also start via hot flue gases leaking into the thatch layer ‘through defects in the chimney stack’. Another finding was the
disproving of a ‘widely-held belief’ that thatch fires were ‘predominantly started by heat transfer from flue gases through solid chimney brickwork setting light to the surrounding thatch layer’.
Testing showed that the temperature of chimney brickwork at roof level is ‘much lower than previously assumed’, even if the wood burner is being operated at maximum output ‘over prolonged periods’.
As a consequence of the results,
Historic England has produced new guidance on measures that can reduce the risk of fires in such properties using wood burners. These include sweeping chimneys regularly to prevent tar and soot build up; checking distances between the top of chimney pots and thatch; fitting bird guards to prevent nesting in chimneys; fitting stove pipe temperature gauges; and installing flue liners. The organisation added that
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) set a target of reducing fires in thatched roof buildings by 25% in the next 12 months, and has worked with Historic England and the Institute of Historic Building Conservation to host a seminar on reducing such risks at its headquarters, with more planned. Alison Henry, head of building
conservation and research for Historic England, said: ‘We want to end the loss of valuable historic buildings and the associated misery for homeowners by reducing the risk of fire in thatched buildings fitted with a wood-burning stove. We know that many people love their wood-burners, but there is no doubt that they pose a risk to thatched
12 MARCH 2019
www.frmjournal.com
buildings and we recommend that they are not used. ‘If a wood-burner is used, implementing the measures described in our new guidance will reduce the risk of fire, but cannot eliminate it.’ From the insurance perspective, NFU Mutual insures ‘thousands’ of thatched homes, and stated that it found a ‘high proportion of thatch fire claims’ involved wood burning stoves. Anca Dutu, home insurance specialist at NFU Mutual, stated: ‘An iconic part of our rural heritage – the thatched cottage – is in danger of going up in smoke. ‘People would expect that an
enclosed stove would be less of a fire risk than an open grate but the results show the opposite when they are fitted, used or maintained incorrectly. Statistically thatched homes are no more likely to catch fire than those with conventional roofs; however, if a thatched roof does ignite, the resulting fires are rapid and devastating.’ Dr Jim Glockling, technical director
of the FPA, added: ‘As a thatched house owner myself, in light of this work, I have opted to remove our wood burning stove and adopt an alternative form of decorative and functional heating. It has not been a popular decision with my family, and for those to whom this approach seems too draconian, the guidance we have developed will go some way to reducing risks where used.’
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