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Wood Pellet Stoves: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 211 - Approval

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A decision made 28 October 2011:

Decision Reference: MD-PE-2011-0106

Decision Summary Title :

Building  Bye-laws (Jersey) 2007

Date of Decision Summary:

03/10/2011

Decision Summary Author:

 

Director

Building Control

Decision Summary:

Public or Exempt?

(State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)

Public

Type of Report:

Oral or Written?

Written

Person Giving

Oral Report:

 

Written Report

Title :

Wood Pellet Stoves

Date of Written Report:

26/09/2011

Written Report Author:

Director

Building Control

Written Report :

Public or Exempt?

(State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)

Public

Subject:  Approval of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 211 for the installation of mechanically vented Wood Pellet Stoves in dwellings as an alternative to the  Ministers approved Technical Guidance Document (TGD) Part 3 (2011 Edition).

Decision(s):

  1. The Minister decided to accept wood pellet stoves as a special class of appliance and permit the installation of mechanically vented wood pellet stoves in dwelling accommodation with a flue vent that does not accord with the guidance given in the TGD 3, but which terminates in accordance with the recommendations given in the NFPA standard 211, subject to the following conditions;
    1. A test report is provided that confirms the pellet stove conforms to BS EN 14785:2006 – residential space heating appliances fired by wood pellets – requirements and test methods.
    2. Any flue system which does not follow all relevant recommendations given in the TGD 3 is independently tested by a Laboratory which holds United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), or equivalent, accreditation for undertaking such tests, and certified by that Laboratory as being adequate for the proposed appliance and that the completed installation will meet all relevant requirements of the building bye-laws (Jersey) as amended. 
    3. The work is to be undertaken by a person registered under one of the Minister’s approved schemes for the installation of solid fuel burning combustion appliances.
  2. The Minister instructed the building control director to research options for extending the Minister’s approved schemes for certifiable building work, so as to include schemes specifically aimed at ensuring competency of persons specialising in the installation of wood pellet stoves. In particular, the National Fireplace Institute examination for Pellet Certified Specialists. 

 

 

Reason(s) for Decision: To facilitate the installation of wood burning pellet stoves without a conventional chimney.

Resource Implications:  Officer time.

Action required:  

  1. Change application guidance for the householders and installers to highlight the alternative options available for the installation of mechanically vented pellet stoves.
  2. Research options for extending approved schemes for certifiable building work and produce report for Minister’s consideration.

Signature:

 

 

Position:  Minister

Date Signed:

 

 

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Hide report
Wood Pellet Stoves: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 211 - Approval

 

 

 

 

 

 

REPORT TO

 THE MINISTER FOR PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

 

(This is hidden text it will not print out. Use F11 to move to the next field.  Shift -F11 to previous field.)

 

3/09/6

26 September 2011

 

Wood Pellet Stoves.

 

1.     Purpose of the Report.

To inform the Minister of comments received in response to the published notice outlining proposed changes to the building bye-law requirements relating to the installation of combustion appliances. It proposes that in light of the unfavourable comments received, that further investigation of the matter is needed before making any decision to relax or dispense with current bye-law requirements.

 

  1. Responses to the public notices inviting comments on the proposed changes.

 Notice was published in accordance with the Planning and Building  (Building Bye-              laws) (Jersey) order 2007, on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of September 2011.  In total six               written comments were received from interested parties. Three from potential               purchasers of wood pellet stoves and three from industry professionals.  A               summary of the comments received, together with the department’s response to               those comments is given in Appendix 1 to this report. Copies of the letters received               are attached in Appendix 2.  

 

  1. General comment.

 

 The Minister’s proposal is to treat wood pellet stoves as a new class of heating  appliance as per the National fire Prevention Association design code 211, and               permit vents from such appliances to discharge at low level.

 

 Comments received from the Solid Fuel Association, which is the recognised  authority for advice on safety of solid fuel combustion appliances in the UK has               questioned this approach,               as it is unclear to them, what degree of expertise the               NFPA may have in effective evacuation of flue gasses.

 

 This comment is supported by the fact that when one refers to the NFPA document               it is apparent that there is no specific guidance relating to the design of chimneys or               vents, although Chapter four of the NFPA 211 document does sets out the general               requirements for a chimney or vent, which include the following :

 

  ‘a chimney or vent shall be so designed and constructed to develop a flow                              sufficient to remove completely all flue gases to the outside atmosphere.’

 

  ‘chimneys or vents shall be evaluated to ensure proper performance with                              respect to draft, creosote build-up and condensation.’

 

  ‘the venting system shall satisfy the draft requirements of the connected                              appliance in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions or approved                                           methods. ‘

 

  ‘ the operation of a mechanical draft system shall not adversely affect the                              performance or safety of, or cause spillage of combustion products from,                                           other combustion equipment operating with the same building.’

 

 It would seem from the above that the NPFA guidance relies on specialist design  and testing for the evacuation of flue gasses. This supports the departments’ view               that if low level / horizontal venting for wood pellet stoves, are to be permitted, the               installer should provide appropriate test evidence to show the appliance and               proposed flue arrangement has been tested as a unit, and that it complies with an               appropriate recognised standard.

 

 The department is concerned that relaxing of the bye-law standards is being  considered when it is known regulations in France have recently been tightened in               relation to the fitting of wood pellet stoves, and that French regulations now mirror               the Jersey building bye-laws. It is presumed regulators in France had a good               reason for doing this.

 

 Bearing in mind that anyone wishing to install a wood pellet stove can do so,  provided they fit a traditional flue /chimney, which can be a factory made metal               chimney that is relatively simple to install, it is unclear to the writer why a change                to the bye-laws needs to be made. Certainly, in view of the comments received from               industry professionals it is considered further work to understand the potential               safety risks of making any change to the bye-laws needs to be done.

 

 

  1. Recommendation

 The Minister defers his decision on the matter until such time as appropriate   independent test evidence is available that demonstrates the effectiveness of pellet               vents fitted with mechanical draft systems. 

 

 

 

Written by:

Director – Building Control

 

C:\Documents and Settings\roscouetm\my documents\Bye-law amendments Part 3\Sept 2011 report to minister on Pellet Stove Consultation rpt.doc

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