BLOCKED FIREPLACE

[JHUNTA]

Hi

New to this, literally.... I am seeking some lucid advice, as planning application has been semi refused due to a bricked up fire opening.

I want to install a wood burner in the back ground floor flat bedroom of a 1920//30 ish built house, converted into flats during 1978.

The flat above me has a bricked up fire opening in their bedroom, with a vent near the ceiling. The chimney breast depth is roughly 29 cms, where as my chimney breast depth measures 25cms and has no air vent, removed i am guessing.

The Local Authority surveyor came round tapped on the wall, heard no hollow, and said it is not possible to install a stove. His reason, because the opening has been bricked up reopening it is a structual change that will open a can of worms and needs building regs. app

Due to the depth of my chimney breast might there have never been a fireplace there to begin with or is the surveyor just fobbing me off, because that is how it felt!!!!!

I am going to appeal their decision, PLEASE HELP, ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREAT

Jay

 

[hotrod]

The Local Authority surveyor came round tapped on the wall, heard no hollow, and said it is not possible to install a stove.

 

[Richard C]

Appealing to your LABC will do nothing, what is it you intend to appeal against? The BI/surveyor can't say/hasn’t said you can’t have a stove, merely that fitting one will involve considerable work which is notifyable & must comply with Building Regs. His advice that “the opening has been bricked up reopening it is a structural change that will open a can of worms and needs building regs. App” is probably correct but impossible to say without seeing it. Re-commissioning an open fire or installing a stove is subject to several Building Regulations & is notifyable work unless you use a HETAS approved installer or you can DIY with a Building Notice; it's standard procedure for this type of work. If you need to open up an old fire opening then, depending on what’s there, it may need a lintel which is a structural change & involves submitting further details for approval of what you propose. You may also have more serious obstacles to overcome if the flue has been blocked off in the flats above, there will be nowhere for the smoke to go; even if it's still open, at the very least it will have to be fully lined.

Tapping the wall for hollow sounds can be a guide to what’s behind there but it’s hardly a detailed survey & I’ve no idea if/what you paid for the advice. You need to get specialist advice from an installer & a builder if structural work is involved but my guess is there isn’t going to be a cheap option, especially if you have to provide/construct a complete new flue.