Zollikon has worked on several projects where customers have wanted a Ground Floor rear extension to their kitchen, to include an open plan dining room and sofa/TV area – a ‘Swiss Army knife’ multi-purpose family area. To complete the new lifestyle, a log burner is then sometimes specified – warmth, atmosphere, lovely.
But the placement of a log burner in a room containing a kitchen brings an interesting conundrum with regards to building regulations.
Kitchens must have a mechanical extractor fan. Rooms with log burners cannot have a mechanical extractor fan. What gives?!
When asked about this, one experienced Building Control officer told me that he could sign off the kitchen and a registered HETAS installer could then sign off the log burner installation. I love helpful Building Control inspectors who are happy to exercise their common sense in allowing builds to proceed sensibly. But with solid fuel burners we could be looking at noxious gases, like the deadly carbon monoxide, being sucked into a family room. I always think of my clients’ projects as though it were my family living and sleeping in the house when it comes to safety.
The solution seems to be an air vent to outside placed near the log burner to ensure that any negative air pressure from the cooker extractor fan brings fresh air through the log burner’s air vent, not gases from the log burner. If this arrangement is agreed by your building control officer / HETAS installer, it is literally vital that you make sure the air vent is always kept clear – check for leaves, dirt, plant, etc outside and carpet, rugs, cushions, furniture, boxes, toys, etc inside. Of course, by law, you must also have a working carbon monoxide alarm, correctly positioned, as a further safeguard.
While I’m in a health safety mode… especially if you have young/visiting children, please remember that log burners can get extremely hot. A guard and discouragement of running around near it when hotter than an iron would be wise precautions.
Please also only use well-seasoned (dry) wood. This reduces unhealthy and polluting smoke particulates, protects your chimney from dangerous soot deposits, produces more heat and is a lot easier to burn. Your wallet, your neighbours and the planet will thank you. If unsure about your wood supply, you can buy a moisture detector for just a few pounds.
Having said all this, log burners are fantastic features that can kick out enormous amounts of heat far more efficiently than an open fire and they are popular for good reason.
Enjoy!