SURE FIRE Protect Ancient Buildings - Mick Waumsley was contacted by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and asked to deliver two pages at their seminar at Hampton Court. The two pages are for 20-30 mins each on Chimney principles and problems and fire risks from flues in ancient buildings. Mick says, "I am delighted to be asked to take part, as it is better to be advising architects and surveyors at an early stage as opposed to after a problem or tragedy .These buildings require extra care in both the pre-work survey and while carrying out this work, and so, being offered the opportunity to get this message across is very important."

New SURE FIRE Staff Member
As part of our continued development we were joined by a new member of staff and, after a continuing intensive training program, he is now out working hard for SURE FIRE.

Winston Picken is a HETAS registered inspector having achieved a Distinction in his HETAS exams. It is Winston who will be out on-site testing and certifying chimneys as well as performing the Air Permeability testing procedures.

HETAS choose SURE FIRE TECHNICAL SERVICES - SURE FIRE have been chosen by HETAS as one of the companies to provide the quality control inspections for their 'Competent Persons Scheme'. In November SURE FIRE TECHNICAL SERVICES completed the first of its inspections on installations carried out by HETAS registered installers. These inspections ensure that people registered on the HETAS 'Competent Persons Scheme' are indeed carrying out their work in accordance with the Building Regulations and recognised good practice.

We are please to announce that the inspections carried out so far by SURE FIRE show the installations to be of a high standard and that customers are delighted with, not only the technical competence, but also the courtesy and professionalism of the companies concerned. Mick Waumsley of Sure Fire stated, "We are pleased to be associated with this scheme as the standards for membership are high and are being constantly checked. Our aim is to ensure these high standards continue." In addition to the work for HETAS on quality inspections, SURE FIRE already carry out the same type of work for the National Association of Chimney Engineers, further recognition of the quality of work carried out by the organisation.

Joint Expert Witness Schemes - SURE FIRE TECHNICAL SERVICES have, on a number of occasions, acted as 'Joint Expert Witness' in Small Claims Court cases.
With this arrangement the claimant and defendant agree to use the same independent expert witness and also agree to accept the results of the report. The Judge/Arbitrator will then rule on the claim in accordance with this report. The advantage of this type of arrangement are two fold, firstly the cost of the investigation and report are shared by the two parties rather than each having to pay for their own expert, and secondly,the court costs are reduced as much less time is needed because their is no dispute over the technical issues raised. If you are in dispute over a solid fuel installation consideration should be given to this service offered by Sure Fire. top of page

Building Regulation changes for chimneys, flues and combustion appliances.
From April 1st there are new Building Regulations for section J. This section relates to the construction, and maintenance of chimneys / flues and now includes fuel storage systems. The changes to this section are numerous and complicated and will require those involved in this work to study the Approved Document (ADJ), which now has 70 pages compared with 13 pages in the original.

ADJ states that the responsibility for achieving compliance with the requirements of Part J rests with the person carrying out the work and so this person must be competent in the work they are being asked to do. It is now the responsibility of this person to draw up a report showing the materials and components installed and that the completed flue has passed the appropriate tests. The tests to be carried out are described in Appendix E of ADJ and they vary according to the grading or designation of the flue. There is also the requirement for all installations of Solid Fuel Appliances to be covered by a Building Control Application, this requires a considerable amount of paperwork and can add as much as £100 to the cost of an installation.

There is a Competent Persons Scheme available to those who members of the relevant Government recognised bodies. HETAS has been given the status of a Competent Persons Scheme for the installation of solid fuel appliances and to achieve HETAS registration, a company will have to have qualified staff. One of the qualifications is to have passed the HETAS Awareness (for Dry appliance installations) or the Engineers course (for the installation of appliances and central heating systems). The advantage of belonging to a Competent Persons Scheme is to avoid the need to apply for building control permission for the work for which you are registered.

SURE FIRE have organised a series of training courses throughout the country. For further details on these or to register interest if one is to be run in your area, please contact us.

Training Development 'goes on a pace'.
HETAS has provided training on two new subjects for two new companies over the past two months: Euroheat, producers of high quality multifuel, oil & gas stoves; and Isokern, chimney lining and construction products.

Euroheat asked SURE FIRE to develop and deliver a one day training course on the design of heating systems for solid fuel appliances. This course was delivered to the Euroheat technical staff as a part of the companies ongoing staff development program.

Isokern decided to make use of SURE FIRE management expertise by asking them to develop and deliver a training course on the companies ISO9002 scheme to new registered installers. Both the clients and the delegates were very pleased with the results.

Regulations Published At Last!
The long awaited building regulations update is now with us and Approved Document J of the building regulations became available on the 1st November 2001. This document has changed to such an extent that it is now 70 pages long as opposed to the 13 pages of the document it replaced. These new regulations are programmed to come into force on 'April Fools Day' 2002!

With so many changes SURE FIRE are developing a 1 day seminar to be taken around the country to update trade members and local authority staff. top of page

Training Courses

• HETAS goes to Scotland - SURE FIRE are providing a range of courses all around England over the next few months (see training page). Additionally, SURE FIRE will be running the first ever Scottish HETAS Course in Dumfries. The course has become an immediate success, fully booked within a few days of being promoted. Keep checking this website for the dates of the next Scottish Course.
• Upgrade your HETAS AWARENESS qualification - HETAS has developed a one-day supplement to their Awareness course. This new course includes information on the correct design of solid fuel heating systems, system control selection, fault diagnosis and information on linking a solid fuel boiler to a new or existing gas or oil heating system. This allows the use of the gas or oil boiler as well as utilising the heat generated by the solid fuel appliance to be used throughout the house.
  The first of these courses, piloted by Mick Waumsley of SURE FIRE, are being held at Kings Lynn, Basingstoke and in Devon. For further details please contact SURE FIRE.
• 'Safe and Sound' Staff - SURE FIRE has developed a special Roofs and Ladder Safety Course for heating engineers and chimney lining contractors. The course is sponsored by, and developed on behalf of, the National Association of Chimney Engineers (NACE) and is available to non-members as well as NACE members. The course covers the relevant Health & Safety rules as well as provides the opportunity to erect / dismantle a roof platform and a scaffold tower.

The first two courses were fully subscribed but a third is being organised for September. For further details contact SURE FIRE or NACE (01773) 599095

Legislation Changes
The South Wales Health & Safety Executive have begun to take a more active role in the investigation of Carbon Monoxide incidences from solid fuel appliances in rented accommodation. The HSE has now put on record that it expects landlords to service and maintain any solid fuel appliances in their housing stock and to fail to do so will be an offence under section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. In addition, if any incidence of CO poisoning occurs the HSE have stated that they expect such incidences to be reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences (RIDDOR) regulations.

Landlords are expected to ensure the personnel responsible for the maintenance of their solid fuel appliances are competent and SURE FIRE recommend that any personnel or contractor are HETAS trained & registered. In the last twelve months we have investigated 7 fatal incidents due to CO from solid fuel appliances so don't ignore any fumes or smoke from a lit solid fuel appliance.... it spells DANGER !

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES)
The new HEES Scheme includes a solid fuel option, so if you know any one who may qualify for the upgrading of their open fire under this scheme make sure they get in touch with the Neighbourhood Energy Action Office. For more information call 0191 261 5677.

Appliances
The popular Parkray Chevin range of multi-fuel central heating room heaters has been re-launched having been dropped two years ago in one of the company's rationalisation plans. In what is seen as major support for the solid fuel heating market, Parkray have restarted production of the 99 & 111 Models of the range. Better still, the new models are less expensive than originally making them worthy of consideration for new installations & for appliance replacement or upgrades.