Parliamentary Question addressed to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has considered imposing a minimum standard for chimneys built as part of exempted one storey extensions to two storey houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Reply

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Phil Hogan):

The legal requirements of the Building Regulations are set out in twelve Parts (classified as Parts A to M) and apply to new buildings or, in certain circumstances, to works involving the extension, material alteration or material change of use of an existing building.

Part J €“ Heat Producing Appliances €“ o f the Building Regulations requires such appliance s to have adequate provision for the discharge of the products of combustion to the outside air, and any heat producing appliance, flue pipe, or chimney to be designed and constructed so as to reduce to a reasonable level the risk of the building catching fire as a consequence of its use.

Technical Guidance Document (TGD) J, published by my Department, gives guidance on how to comply with Part J. In particular, guidance is given covering the appropriate location of flue terminals for both natural draught and balanced flue appliances, shielding of flue pipes from combustible materials, encasement of flues where passing through compartment walls and floors and the need for provision for flue cleaning.

The relevant distances for flue locations are based on the European standard EN 15287-1: 2007 Design, Installation and Commissioning of Chimneys – Part 1 Chimneys for non-room sealed heating appliances, which deals with all fuel type appliances.

Part A €“ Structure €“ of the Building Regulations, and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document A , requires that chimneys are s iz ed in keeping with the structural stability of the building to which they are attached.

Buildings which are exempted from planning permission are required to comply with the requirements of the Building Regulations in so far as they apply to the building concerned.