register plate?

[robgil]

What would you use as a register plate over an inglenook? I have built a sectional frame out of angle iron and hung a fire canopy but what to use for the infills between the angle iron frame? Ive got lots of galvanized sheet tin but wondered if there was anything easier to use?

 

[d49xc]

Standard register plate type material is Galvanised steel probably 2mm thick.

 

[robgil]

Thank you , I shal,l see how thick my sheets are , I doubt they will be 2mm though but the framework is made up of quite small sections so it should be strong enough.

 

[Penners]

The only material I've ever seen used for register plates is steel, Rob. If you've installed the frame you could buy yourself a pop rivet gun, to fit the steel sheet to it.

Don't try welding galvanised material. This produces an airborne white fluff which is toxic.

 

[d49xc]

If your going to nut/bolt it to the angle iron...then use stainless steel bolts/nuts. The 'gunk' from the fire will seal any std steel bolts solid and you'll never get them out in the future.
When you buy commercially made register plate units with an inspection hatch in them the bolt/fixing assy of how the hatch is held to the plate are always done in stainless.

 

[geoff]

Is it an open fire or a stove in the inglenook? If it's a stove you could simply use fireproof board from a builders merchant, screwed into the framework you have made as it will have a lined flue connected all the way up. That's what I did and it's lasted 12 years now in my inglenook (8ft x 4 ft) and it's still fine. The register plate is a good distance from the stove and only the flue pipe is hot close to the board - but that is what the board is made for anyway. If it's an open fire with no fitted flue (i.e. chimney after any canopy and register plate left open) you may well have to use steel because it could be exposed to high temp combustion products and ash etc. (chimney fires as well). I posted about painting my inglenook a couple of days ago so you can see the size of inglenook in the photo (although not the register plate unfortunately). You can use filler in any gaps in the board if you have to cut it to get it to fit and round the wall edges. Fitting the steel will be a hell of a job as it will be VERY heavy and if it's an old house or uneven stone/brick walls getting the right shape and fit will probably be a nightmare (it was bad enough with lightweight board) - copious 'F' words will be inevitable, so good luck.

 

[geoff]

Sorry, just noticed you mentioned a canopy so it must be an open fire..... :roll: ... well, it's late. You'll still need three or four people and a lot of patience, though.

 

[robgil]

Thanks guys , The register plate framework is around 2 x 1 meters and is in three or more sections so the pieces of sheet steel wont be massively large. Its really to allow a draw on the fire whilst being fireproof just in case so I reckon 1mm +/- sheeting should be OK? I'ts all I've got.
Would fire cement be OK to seal it up or should I just use mastic? I know mastic might be a bit of a bodge but whats the worst that can happen?
I will probably use nuts and bolts for easy removal to clean the chimney.

 

[MatthewC]

There must be some Building Regulation about this, surely? I'm sure you should be getting it signed off, and I would doubt that 1mm plate would be sufficient.

 

[robgil]

You could be right about building control , I shall look into that.
I dont see why there should be specific spec on thickness of material except to prevent things from falling through from the chimney above? If for instance the fire got out of control and burned through it would only go up the chimney anyway, I would be more concerned about it spilling out into the dining room. Why do you think 1mm wouldn't be sufficient? Last thing I want to do is put all this together then find out I have made it dangerous somehow.

 

[MatthewC]

You could be right about building control , I shall look into that.
I dont see why there should be specific spec on thickness of material except to prevent things from falling through from the chimney above? If for instance the fire got out of control and burned through it would only go up the chimney anyway, I would be more concerned about it spilling out into the dining room. Why do you think 1mm wouldn't be sufficient? Last thing I want to do is put all this together then find out I have made it dangerous somehow.

I would have thought that a plate of only 1mm might be susceptible to slight bowing/buckling due to the heat of the fire or the flue itself. The whole thing is meant to work so that the draught goes up (including any gas in the chimney), not down into the room, and any buckling around the flue (or at the edges of the plate) could cause draughts back the wrong way.

I have to admit this is only based on my own research for the woodburner (and register plate) that I am going to order next Tuesday, but there is also a bit of (Chartered) Engineer's gut feeling about the thickness. Do check Building Regs or ask a competent installer (which I do not pretend to be!).

Matthew
http://houseintheenchantedforest.blogspot.com/

 

[philpjuk100]

I see that firms selling register plates advertise that they use 1.5 or 2mm plate (ok on a period site that should be 0,060" or 16swg!) I have bought sheet steel from ebay(a chap who calls himself"zero_markup") who even with carriage is cheaper than my local steel stockist (and he does not moan when you only want a bit!)phil.

 

[d49xc]

I was deliberately avoiding any mention of the Regulations in my ealier reply re the thickness.
since Oct 2010 any modifications to or installations of flues/fires/stoves etc are now subject to the B.R control (it's part J)
So you "should" either be getting it signed off - or get a registered installer (Hetas I think) to do the work.
I think they also have to leave a plate/notice on the chimney stating the work done.

Or do as has happended round here; people actually do conversion/extensions without permission....and tell the council to Foxtrot Oscar.

 

[masochists-r-us]

We contacted a Hetas registered installer. He wanted £325+VAT to simply drop the liner down the chimney, but did not want to supply/fit the register plate nor connect the stove. However, he was prepared to provide the installation plate to attach to the inside of the chimney ! Licenced to print money methinks.

 

[robgil]

I wish I could make 300 quid for an hours work. :shock: Thats just over 600k a year for simply dr4opping liners down chimneys.

 

[Feltwell]

I wish I could get a liner installed for £325. I'm presuming that's for a chimney you can to the top of (safely!) with a ladder - mine needs lots of scaffolding to go up nearly 4 storeys, then a scaffolding bridge constructing to get from the front wall to the roof apex and hence to the stack. It's not going to be cheap.... Wish I'd done it when I did the roof now. Hindsight is a wonderful thing......

 

[Penners]

Licenced to print money methinks.

Only if someone is fool enough to pay that kind of money!

 

[MatthewC]

I wish I could make 300 quid for an hours work. :shock: Thats just over 600k a year for simply dr4opping liners down chimneys.

A chimney liner is pretty well £40-£50 per metre (!) so the cash is not going to the installer but to the manufacturer (apart from the HMRC's 20% of course). I have no idea why it should be so expensive, but I am going to order one tomorrow...

Matthew
http://houseintheenchantedforest.blogspot.com/

 

[MdB]

A chimney liner is pretty well £40-£50 per metre (!)

I hope you are getting 904 grade for that price. 316 should be less than £30/m.

 

[AMc]

I was offered the choice of fireboard or steel for our register plate (with woodburning stove). The difference suggested to me by the owner was the steel could support vermiculite if I wanted to insulate the stack but the fireboard wouldn't. The installers wanted to use fireboard because it would 'give a better fit' a.k.a. be easier to cut out.
I went with the steel 2mm sounds about right but it was one job I was happy to fork over £150 for even when they added VAT to their final price :shrug: