Discuss BS5440-1 preventing gas fire upgrade.... Help!! in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net

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Hi - I would like to replace our existing Gas Fire, which is the original appliance fitted from new 20 years ago. The issue is that Gas Safe regulations have changed since and mean that our property (and many others could not be constructed this way!).

Our gas fire (a balanced flue) vents from our wall that forms the boundary, and lies in our neighbours property. The area it vents to is not an access point it's a narrow strip of land between the properties and lies entirely within their garden. Our vent is at 60cm and is directly facing their vent. Neither their or our property has a window or door on those walls.

Gas Safe (utterly unhelpful) say that the flue cannot protrude through a boundary wall.... well it already does and was perfectly legal when the properties were build. We cannot move the fire place as there is no other external wall to the lounge and running pipework through 2 upper floor is not desirable, cost effective, or practical.

Gas Safe have offered no solutions or practical advice merely informing that "It's not our job..." and "you can't have a flue that goes out there".

Has anyone any practical advice or solutions? This cannot be an isolated case. Any advice gratefully received. We do not want to go electric, though appreciate we may have to if we don't want to stick to a crappy, tired old fire place.
 
Would getting the boundary re-defined so it was half-way between the two houses work fix the problem? It's odd that this is not where is is, anyway. Maybe ask your solicitor what they think about approaching your neighbour with a proposal.

I suspect that the most cost-effective solution is to switch to electricity for that fire.
 
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Unfortunately I don't think the neighbour would go for a boundary re-definition without some extortionate fee - even though the land is largely blocked off from the garden with a permanent fence at the other side. It's common on the estate (mix of Wimpy, Barratts & Wilson) with the vents positioned in the garden or on the drive of the neighbour.

Someone has suggested that there can be a pipe running up the side of the house so the gasses vent higher up ?

I'll check out the flueless fires. Electric is just something neither of us really want.
 
You will need an air vent into the room with the fire in if you have flueless
 
Inset Gas Fires For Sale | Flueless Inserts from Superior UK
Should not be a problem you can go flueless, these gas fires use a catalytic convertor to clean out products of combustion so heat stays in the room.

Hello Chris,

I know that this may cause some disagreement but:

These Flueless Gas Fires like others are specified to be a `Secondary Heat Source` - not designed to be used when temperatures are really cold because the combustion process will cause condensation to form on Window glass and other cold surfaces.

Here is a quote from the Flueless Gas Fire Manufacturers website that You gave the link to:

QUOTE:

What about condensation?


All of our flueless fires are designed to supplement central heating and should be used as a secondary heat source only. Therefore, the background ambient temperature of the room will prevent any moisture from condensing on colder surfaces such as single glazed windows.

END OF QUOTE

The Manufacturers idea is that they be used when some heat is required but it is not cold enough to merit putting on the Central Heating - or when the Heating system is on but additional Heating is required in the room.

I am not being pedantic with this message Chris - I wanted to try and ensure that the OP and any future readers of this thread were informed that these Fires are NOT suitable as a `Primary Heat Source` for a room when very Cold temperatures exist.

Shaun - Catalytic Convertor details on the webpage that member chris watkins gave the link to state that `even after approx 27 Years of use [4 Hours per day ?] the Catalytic Converter has been found to be as good as new` - words to that effect.

Chris
 
Good post CHRISX you make a valid point, I assumed that this was not the primary heating due to the fire being a balanced flue type but of course we don't know & other may read with difference requirements.
Our gas fire (a balanced flue) vents from our wall that forms the boundary, and lies in our neighbours property. The area it vents to is not an access point it's a narrow strip of land between the properties and lies entirely within their garden. Our vent is at 60cm and is directly facing their vent. Neither their or our property has a window or door on those walls.
As a more general point, it is my understanding that so long as an appliance was installed in accordance with the Manufacturers Instructions & the Standards as they stood at the time of installation (& of course it is still able to function safety) then it can't be condemned just labelled as not to current standards.
I am not a gas fire expert but there are still balanced flue fire for sale so based on the principal above what is it in BS5440 - 1 that prevents the replacement installation, if it is like for like ?
If it is just access or similar that is the issue we use Party Wall Agreement don't we?
 
Chris[/QUOTE]
Good post CHRISX you make a valid point, I assumed that this was not the primary heating due to the fire being a balanced flue type but of course we don't know & other may read with difference requirements.

As a more general point, it is my understanding that so long as an appliance was installed in accordance with the Manufacturers Instructions & the Standards as they stood at the time of installation (& of course it is still able to function safety) then it can't be condemned just labelled as not to current standards.
I am not a gas fire expert but there are still balanced flue fire for sale so based on the principal above what is it in BS5440 - 1 that prevents the replacement installation, if it is like for like ?
If it is just access or similar that is the issue we use Party Wall Agreement don't we?

Hello again Chris,

You are correct that Appliances that were installed to previous Standards and are working correctly / safely cannot be condemned.

But when a replacement appliance needs to be installed the `New` / current Standards have to be applied / adhered to - including in this case the Products of Combustion not being allowed to discharge over a property boundary / onto another property.

I don`t know what would be the outcome if a Neighbour took legal action regarding the OP`s existing situation where an Appliance that was installed years ago was discharging Products of Combustion over their boundary ?

Would a Court have the power to order that the Gas Appliance had to be relocated [if it was possible] to prevent what is now prohibited - the Flue Gasses from being discharged onto their property ?

As it is deemed unacceptable now perhaps that Regulation would be enough to cause a Court to order that it should be adhered to in retrospect ?

I don`t mean that this would set a precedent for ALL previous Standards & Regulations to have to be updated to adhere to current standards - but what about those which are now deemed to be applicable for `Safety` / breaches of Boundary Laws ?

Chris
 
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