No – however we recommend for any appliances that are powered using a type of solid fuel (coal, wood, etc.) you:
1. Make available instructions on using the stove to include:
- Manufacturer’s instructions on how to operate the stove
- Instructions on how to light the fire
- Only use a fuel type that matches the manufacturer’s instructions
- Do not burn treated waste wood
- Only burn wood that is quality assured by the Woodsure (woodsure.co.uk) scheme or logs that carry the ‘Ready to Burn’ mark (www.readytoburn.org)
- Not to use flammable liquids such as petrol or paraffin to light the fire
- Not to burn paper or rubbish
- Not to overload the fire with fuel
- Not to burn coal – sales of traditional house were banned in England from 1 May 2023
- Keep permanent air ventilation grills clear at all times
- Keep all combustibles, including logs, at a safe distance from a hot stove and hearth
- Ensure the fire is completely extinguished before the tenants go to bed or leave the property
- Never leave an open fire unattended without a spark guard
- Dispose of ashes in a metal bucket stored outside
- With mineral fuel, empty the pan regularly to stop ash build up touching the underside of the grate. This can lead to damage by overheating.
- Throat plates should be cleared at least monthly or as recommended by the manufacturer
2. Check appliance is fitted with a sparkguard – to reduce the possibility of sparks from solid fuel fires reaching and igniting nearby combustible material. Sparkguards should meet British Standard 3248:1986
3. Arrange for all working chimneys in the property to be swept and inspected. This is to reduce the risk of chimney fires and poisoning from fumes. Use a chimney sweep registered with the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps or the National Association of Chimney Sweeps who in addition to sweeping the chimney will carry out checks such as smoke evacuation to ensure your chimney is working as it should. Some insurance underwriters stipulate in their policies that chimneys should be adequately maintained so failure to do so could render the insurance policy invalid in the event of a chimney fire.
4. Arrange for any stove installed in the property to be serviced. Use a HETAS (HETAS Ltd operates the Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme) registered installer. HETAS registered installers can be found here
Finally, it is a legal requirement that a Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm is installed in any room with a solid fuel appliance.
Further Reading
After Your Purchase – HETAS Consumer Advice
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