Chimney fire safety

Chimney fires can have serious results in houses. We strongly recommended that you have your chimney swept and follow the advice below.

Fire Kills chimney safety

Remember:

have your chimney swept at least once a year – more frequently if you burn wood
avoid burning resinous woods
only burn suitable fuels
do not overload your fire place
let the fire burn out completely before you go bed
always check round the fire place for hot embers or sparks
use a British Standard fire guard to prevent sparks escaping
make sure the appliance receives enough air to allow the fuel to burn properly
maintain your appliance in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
inspect your chimney breast, particularly the roof space. Make sure that it is sound and that the sparks or fumes cannot escape through cracks or broken bricks
avoid storing items in the roof space close to your chimney
fit a smoke alarm on each floor of the building, check the batteries weekly and change the batteries yearly (unless you have 10 year batteries)
consider having a carbon monoxide detector fitted as an additional safeguard against the build up of poisonous fumes

make sure you have your appliances installed and regularly serviced by a qualified engineer
all gas appliances should be installed and regularly serviced by a Safe Gas registered engineer
ensure your home is properly ventilated – never block vents
make sure all chimneys are regularly swept and flues are kept clear.