Keeping warm in Christchurch

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markh14

95 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#62819 15-Jun-2010 14:15

My brother has a house in christchurch with an existing wood burner fireplace which he uses to keep warm. According to ECan non complying open fires are banned

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3811531/Illegal-heat-check-on-40

I have been looking through these very confusing rules

http://www.ecan.govt.nz/advice/your-home/home-heating/home-heating-rules-canterbury/pages/home-heating-for-christchurch.aspx

Now I'm assuming an 'open fire' is what my brother has at his house. He has a chimney. One of the rules says open fires are banned and another rule says existing open fires are not banned.

So I have 2 questions. Does my brother have an 'open fire'? Is it banned or not?

lurker

838 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Lifetime subscriber

#341932 15-Jun-2010 14:35

An open fire is a just an open fireplace, ie a cavity built into the wall with a chimney leading up.

A wood burner is usually an enclosed fire box, freestanding or built into the cavity that was previously an open fire.

Open fires are banned because they lose so much heat and don't make the most of wood, unlike modern woodburners (edit - I mean a lot of it goes up in smoke whereas a woodburner burns things more thoroughly)

I'm just in the process of replacing my open fire with a woodburner right now - I've left it a bit late because it's bl--dy freezing some nights so my power bills will go through the roof again.

wellygary

8810 posts

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#341933 15-Jun-2010 14:45

markh14:

So I have 2 questions. Does my brother have an 'open fire'? Is it banned or not?

Does he have to open a door to feed wood into the fire?, if the answer is no, then it is an open fire.

Under the council rules, Additionally if he does have a door ( ie log fire) but it is 15year or older it is also illegal to use.

In situtaions other than above, stoke it up with dry wood and enjoy the warmth.