Gas fire flue question

[hughjayteens]

Hi All
I have recently removed a Faber inset (but glass fronted) fire from my house which was fitted in 2003, and have discovered that the flue is 4" in diameter (there is a metal plate in a nearby cupboard confirming installation date and flue type etc which is '4" Class 2 Flex'). I now want to fit an open, inset Victorian style fire with gas basket.

Have the regs changed since 2003 as I have been told that I now need a 5" flue to fit a gas fire, so it looks like I'll need to change the flue liner which is rather annoying!

Thanks in advance

Cheers

Chris

 

[namsag]

Regs changed well before 2003 (prob about 1990) your other fire should never have been fitted in the first place to 4 inch

 

[SvenVanLagerTop]

Same response. Only fires I've fitted need a 5" flue.

 

[hughjayteens]

Cripes - I'll contact the company that fitted this one and see what they have to say for themselves. We are friends with the previous home owners so can get them to call them as I suspect they won't want to deal with a non-customer.

Thanks!

 

[namsag]

Do you have a standard chimney. If so what is up with it that it needed lined (ask previous) if nothing just remove existing 4 inch liner and use full chimney size.

The four inch rule is you cannot fit a fire to under 5 inch but if it is an existing fire and shows no signs of spillage and passes all the tests it can be left as ncs..
I have not seen a british fire in past 20 odd years that allowed less than 5 inches and in 1990 we made a builder change an new estate with 4 inch flues because the rule was already in place then.

Only get out is if it is in the manufacturers instructions allowing 4 inch

 

[hughjayteens]

Thanks for the info. Fire we removed had 4" fitting built in so maybe that was it. Odd that they would fit a proper installtion plate stating 4" flue if it was illegal so guess it was OK!

Chimney seems fine from my DIY inspection so removing flue sounds favourable. Is that an easy job? Assume I then just get it swept and away we go?

Cheers

Chris

 

[DP]

I wonder if the 4 incher was connected to a back boiler previously.