Heat issues for worktop near boiler flue (+ oven sides)

[DIYNotIan]

Hi all

I'm planning on installing a worktop in my utility room along the length of the wall in this photo:

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• DIYNotIan
• 11 Jun 2013
• 1

Height wise it will be just above the washing machine and boiler, so I'm going to have to cut a section out of the worktop to allow for the flue:

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• DIYNotIan
• 11 Jun 2013
• 1

I wondered how much of a concern the heat from the flue will be? The metal plate that the flue comes out of also gets pretty hot.

How much of a gap should I allow, and do I need to use any kind of product to make it safe from the heat?


On a related subject, what can be used down the side of an oven (electric in my case) to stop the heat causing damage to the unit next to it? I have freestanding units, so there is a gap of around 5-6cm between the side of the oven and the unit next to it.

Cheers

Max

 

[DIYNotIan]

Just to add, the worktop will be pine (35mm).

I don't know what temp the flue gets to, but it does get pretty hot. If you wet your finger you can touch it but have to move it away again very quickly!

 

[foxhole]

Did you consider mounting the top a little higher so it clears the flue altogether.? As long as there is a gap between top and any heat source it should be fine, you can cap cut out with worktop metal trim or box in the pipe to prevent things falling on top of boiler.
I think higher top is best option.
Oven should be fine with a 50mm gap.
You could hinge the top at the rear as you will need to maintain access to boiler.

 

[DIYNotIan]

Hi

Yeah, we did consider mounting higher. But there's a window to the left and we think it will look silly if it is almost as high as the window sill. We might try it just to check though. You never know, it might look better than I'm imagining.

If not though, it will be back to plan A. In which case, further thoughts on whether there would be a fire risk or any other potential problems would be great. And how much of a gap would be needed.

Cheers

 

[foxhole]

You could place the top low over the W/M and then step up over the boiler flue with the step section hinged to wall to give boiler access.

 

[DIYNotIan]

Will def consider that option....

If we did do that, would we still need to leave ventilation gap for the boiler do you think?

If it helps, I have the info on this boiler now. Here's a pic of the label on the top of the boiler:

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• DIYNotIan
• 14 Jun 2013
• 1

There is a silver plate at the bottom which has the following info:

RBL - Riello 40 G2S
Type - 424T50
COD - 3742450
N. - 03013000209
Class C
12-30 kW
1-2.5 KG/h
Combust max. visc. @ 20C 6mm 2/s


Some of the writing was a little tough to read so I could not say that all that info is 100% accurate....

Thank you so much.

Max

 

[Danoil]

Probably best to ring warmflow to ask them the minimum distance, the flues on these can get up to 300 degrees C so you need to have a fair bit of clearence more (to allow heat to dissippate and air to circulate rather than a fire risk). Also, remember to make the work top removable so to allow access to the top of the boiler for servicing.

 

[DIYNotIan]

Hi

Just rung Warmflow. They said do not have any manuals for boilers of that era. He seemed to not be worried at all about having a worktop over it and seemed to think that enclosing it would not cause issues with overheating. He was quite blasé about if though.

With regards the heat, even with the boiler at full pelt I can lick my finger and then hold it on the flue for half a second to a second. So I don't think it is mega hot.

Thanks for the tip re keeping it removable. Def a good idea!

Any further thoughts from anyone would be great.

Cheers

Max

 

[foxhole]

You are not enclosing it, merely putting a top over it.

 

[DIYNotIan]

You are not enclosing it, merely putting a top over it.

Actually, we were going to have a front for the worktop. Our preference would be a curtain to hide the boiler. Would that be safe and would it allow enough ventilation? If that's a no-goer, then perhaps a radiator cover (lattice) type thing, or a thin sheet of wood with lots of large holes.

Thoughts on that would be great.

Cheers

 

[doitall]

Hope you got a CO detector somewhere handy.

Has the room actually got any high and low level ventilation..