Ventilation

It is very important to allow your solid fuel appliance breath properly or the flue will be unable to take away the fumes effectively. Inadequate ventilation can lead to smoking back or slow gas speed inside the fire and chimney. The chimney can soot up much faster. Insufficient air flow will also lead to incomplete combustion, resulting in potential increased levels of carbon monoxide.

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Open Fires

In the case of an open fire with or without boiler, air opening/s with a total free area of at least 50 percent of the throat opening area should be provided. This is usually 16,500mm2 for a typical open fire. This is ventilation to the room from outside the building.

Closed Appliances

Houses built before 2008 normally have a 5KW heat output allowance without the need for a vent. If the stove is bigger than 5KW a vent must be fitted. The vent needs to be 550mm2 per KW over the 5KW. This means an 8KW stove would need a vent of 1,650mm2.
If the house was built after 2008 then a vent needs to be fitted that is 550mm2 per KW. So an 8KW stove in a new build would need a vent about 4,400mm2 or as advised by the appliance manufacturer – whichever is the greater.
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NOTE: It is sometimes necessary to fit a vent in an older property with a 5KW stove if there is not sufficient air to the room, or, if the property had undergone significant draught proofing or heat loss prevention measures such as double glazing, cavity wall insulation etc.

We will be able to advise you on your ventilation requirements.