Ventilation requirements for Fireplaces, Stoves and gas fires

Ventilation

Building regulations require minimum standards of permanently open ventilation, depending on the type of fire. This ventilation rule is for safety reasons, but generates significant heat losses in its own right.
As a rule of thumb, a 100cm² opening will generate a heat loss of about 300watts averaged over a full year.

The following notes are not exhaustive, but they provide a guide to the main issues. You should always get qualified technical advice prior to any purchase.



Ventilation: What air supply do you need?
Gas fires (Open)	For 7kW input and below, there is no need to fit additional ventilation. Above 7kW, you must fit a 100cm² vent to floor or wall.
Gas fires (Flueless)	100cm² opening required in wall, in the same room as the flueless gas fire
Gas fires (Balanced Flue)	Sometimes called 'Room Sealed' fires, Balanced Flue fires are glass fronted sealed units. These draw air for combustion from outside, and also discharge to outside. There is no need for any additional ventilation into your room.
Open solid fuel fires	The opening needs to be 50% of the flue size. Thus, for a 9” x 9” brick flue, the permanently open vent area will need to be 4.5” x 9”! For a clay fireback, the reduced throat opening size reduces the air vent required to 100cm²
Stoves, wood and multifuel	Below 5kW, there is no need to provide additional ventilation, but about this figure, allow 550mm² (about 1" square) per kW.
Electric appliances	No ventilation is required.

Click below for more technical information:

Feature Fireplaces
Units 1 & 2, Warne Park, Warne Road, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, BS23 3TP

Tel: 01934 628142
Fax: 01934 645625

info@feature-fireplaces.co.uk