Problem Investigation The initial role for Sure Fire Technical Services in the solid fuel industry was to provide a back up service when things went wrong for the customer, heating engineers, the architect or builder. With the fall from favour that the solid fuel industry suffered in the 1980’s and 90’s the level of expertise available dropped and problems started to occur with new and existing installations. With the many years of problem solving experience in this field Mick Waumsley quickly established himself as a leading expert in solving these problems. This work still forms a major part of the role of Sure Fire Technical Services within the industry and the problem solving has been extended to include Chimneys, Fireplaces and the new solid Biomass installations. With the move towards linking wood and biomass installations into existing heating systems the added complications has resulted in a further extension of this service to include design advice and expert witness work (details of these can be seen on the relevant pages).

Expert Witness Investigations Following on from the problem solving work done by Sure Fire Technical Services it began providing Expert Witness statements for use in court, everything from a small claims case through to a full manslaughter prosecution. This work now forms a significant part of the technical services provided by the company and Sure Fire Technical Services has worked for many clients including the Police, Health & Safety Executive and many solicitors. FULL CV of Mick Waumsley can be downloaded here (.pdf 35KB). Our CLIENT LIST is available on request. All expert witness reports are provided in accordance with the requirements of the Court procedural rule 35 and are written and investigated in a fully independent way to ensure the client is aware of the full extent of any problems as well as any contributory factors that may exist.

Heating System Design (including Link Up) The design of Solid fuel and wood burning heating systems is a specialist field and with the move towards linking wood and biomass installations into existing heating systems the added complications has resulted in a further role for Sure Fire Technical Services in the design of systems either from plans or from site surveys. This service is tailored to suit the client, whether it be an Architect who wishes to specify a certain fuel type and heating methodology, right up to a heating engineer who requires full radiator and pipe sizing services and drawings showing pipe layouts etc. The same work, complete with specifications can be provided to the self build market or to private clients who want to ensure like for like quotes are provided when getting prices from contractors or subcontractors.

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Multi-Source Systems
With increasing energy cost and a greater insecurity of fuel supplies in the UK more and more clients are requesting heating systems with more than one fuel source. To add to this a number of customers are asking for renewable energies to be incorporated into existing heating systems.
At Sure Fire Technical Services we often provide schematic designs for multi source systems to include gas and oil with solar and biomass systems that are then used for radiators, hot water and under floor heating systems. For more information use the enquiry system on the contact page.

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Chimney CCTV Surveys Sure Fire Technical Services has been inspecting chimneys with CCTV equipment for almost 10 years and as a result is one of the countries leading specialists. We have done work on a wide range of properties from a standard social housing three bedroom semi detached house through to work on St Michael's Mount in Cornwall. The surveys are used for many reasons but the most common are: 1.To check the quality of work carried out by others. 2.To certify chimneys 3.To investigate problems being experienced by the user of the appliance 4.To inspect prior to use, or re use, to identify any work that may be required to make the chimney safe. The equipment used is produced by Wohler and will provide a survey in colour and since the camera has a pan and tilt head (enabling it to look through a full 360° arc), it is possible to obtain more detail than with a forward only look. The survey is available as a CD or VHS video and for an extra charge can be edited to include on screen notes and comments.

Safety Training
Working at Heights (£180.00 +vat)
Since May 2005 any one that works off ground must have a ticket to say they have been trained to do so and can use all the equipment they need safely. With this in mind Sure Fire Technical Services have teamed up with Ability International (a major supplier of ladder, scaffold and harnesses etc) to provide a full training course that is geared to those engineers who work at heights.

The course covers: Ladders and steps; Tower scaffold; Roof access platforms; Specialist chimney access platforms; Fall arrest equipment.

The company provides a full range of equipment to see and use on the day and with the new facilities, which includes a full 8m eaves height, this can all be done indoors.

* DOWNLOAD OUR PROSPECTUS & APPLICATION FORM here (.pdf 595KB)

Property Testing and Certification Services to Chimney and Flue Testing to Approved Document J ( Applies to all new dwellings) Why? - To ensure the safety of the user of the fire and prevent Carbon Monoxide poisoning incidents. How? - By ensuring the integrity , construction quality and the cleanliness of the flue in a chimney.

ADJ: 1.53 - "A check list for the report is given in Appendix A and guidance on testing is given in Appendix E." ADJ: 1.54 - "Flues should be checked on completion to show that they are satisfactorily gas tight and constructed with materials and components of sizes which suit the intended application." Sweeping / Core Test - Ensures the correct flue bore is maintained throughout the flue and that the chimney can be swept. Soundness Test - Ensures the flue is satisfactorily air tight and gives a report of the result. Flue Flow / Evacuation Test - Ensures the poisonous gases and Carbon Monoxide given off by the fire evacuate to atmosphere effectively. Reporting & Data Plating - Required under ADJ: 1.53 & 1.56 and can be done on satisfactory completion of the above testing and investigation.

Chimney Design The previous British Standards on the design, construction and testing of chimneys have all been replaced in the past three years by new European Standards. This change provides a great deal more information and more stringent criteria for the design and specification of chimneys, be they on site constructed masonry chimneys or factory made block and steel chimneys. As a result, Sure Fire Technical Services, long time specialists in the field, now offer a design service for chimneys and flues for solid fuel and wood burning appliances. This service includes the provision of a full specification and sizing calculation to enable a builder to ensure the safe operation of any solid fuel appliance in a domestic property.

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Biomass System Commissioning & Testing
With the move to renewable energy in both new build and renovation projects it has become apparent that the Carbon Dioxide emission levels of homes has become a major factor in the minds of many buyers.

Mick Waumsley of Sure Fire Technical Services. has been a consultant on Biomass heating, and its integration into homes and multi source systems. Mick is one of the few BPEC and HETAS approved lecturers on the subject and has helped develop both the BPEC and the HETAS domestic biomass training manuals.