Burning Shield: The Jason Schechterle Story

Product Information

Note that joints in twin wall are, according to regs, supposed to be able to be inspected and a suitable inspection hatch fitted (30cm x 30cm minimum). One way of achieving this is to make your closure register plate removable in some form (even if removing it is a pain at least you have complied). It’s worth following the rules and regulations when it comes to wood burning and multifuel stoves. If you have not used or owned a stove before you might not be aware quite how hot the stove and the flue pipe can get. In normal operation a flue pipe will be at 150 to 250 degrees centigrade but can go a lot higher. If deposits attached to the inside of a flue catch fire then a flue pipe can even glow red (worst case scenario and extremely rare). Building regulations must sensibly cover all eventualities (including a pipe glowing red hot) to protect property and life. The floor underneath a stove or in front of the glass can get much too hot to touch and a suitable hearth is imperative. Plasterboard walls are classed as combustible in Building Regulations and very often cause problems when striving to follow the rules AND YOU WILL LIKELY REQUIRE A HEAT SHIELD AS ALREADY DISCUSSED. If you do not use a heat shield, the stove’s performance will be reduced. Using a stove with a damaged wall, floor, and furniture will increase the chances of the stove malfunctioning. The stove will get damaged faster, thus reducing its heating capacity. What Is the Ideal Height for a Heat Shield? Heat shields for wood burning stoves and distance to combustibles Should I be worried about setting something on fire?

A company called Vlaze launched “aesthetically lovely” heat shields (see pic). VLAZE wall mounted heat shields are designed to be hung behind a wood burning stove creating a focal point that not only enhances the fireplace but allows the stove to be placed close to the wall behind. When installed the shield reduces the stoves distance to a combustible material by half and in the case of Charnwood appliances down to just 100mm.A heat shield enhances the stove’s performance by reflecting more heat into the room. The stove becomes more efficient if it has a heat shield installed. Your new wood-burning stove will be able to heat the space more effectively, so your wood fuel supply will last longer. What Will Happen If You Do Not Use Heat Shields? 1. Damage to the Wall This distance can be halved if you shield the combustible material. The shield must, of course, be non-combustible (do not use plasterboard as it is not A1 fire-rated and may gradually crumble). If you plan on installing a wood-burning stove in your home, you might have heard others encouraging you to install a heat shield as well. Is that a mandatory move? Why is it necessary? Let this article tell you more about the role of heat shields on wood-burning stoves. What Is a Wood Burning Stove Heat Shield?

Note that some stoves can be fitted with a heat shield direct onto the stove (provided by the stove manufacturers). The DG Ivar 5 stove has a distance to combustibles at the rear of 400mm but fit their heat shield directly to the rear of their stove and this is reduced to 150mm. The Ekol Applepie also has an optional purpose built enclosure.

The importance of wall protection when installing a freestanding stove

A company called Vlaze launched “aesthetically lovely” heat shields (see pic below). “VLAZE wall mounted heat shields are designed to be hung behind a wood burning stove creating a focal point that not only enhances the fireplace but allows the stove to be placed close to the wall behind. When installed the shield reduces the stoves distance to a combustible material by half and in the case of Charnwood appliances down to just 100mm”. Steel flue pipe (often called vitreous pipe) is the pipe that comes out of the top of the top or rear of the majority of stoves. Flue pipes GET EXTREMELY HOT and should be located as to avoid igniting combustible materials. See clause 2.15 and diagram 19 of ADJ ( Document J of the Building Regulations). What appears to be a complete mystery when it comes to Building regs, most installation guides and stove manuals is minimum VERTICAL distances to combustible materials (usually a wooden beam or lintel). As already mentioned it is possible to shield a combustible material e.g.a wooden beam from the heat from a heat source.

This means that your 5″ flue pipe should be 15″ away from combustibles and your 6″ flue pipe should be 18″ away from combustibles in any direction.

Buying guides

Grey areas? At the end of the day “who is inspecting/signing off the job?” is the real question and it is these people that need to be kept happy. If in doubt err on the side of belt n braces caution..