Thatching - Reducing the risk of fire

[sweetpea]

Could I pick the forum's brains again?

One of the nasty things about our 17th century listed cottage was that when the house was modernised (terribly) in the 1950's the thatch was removed and replaced with concrete marley tiles.

Being a little purist, one of MY aims when we bought the cottage, was to persuade my husband to have the tiles removed and replaced with thatch. Having gone through the correct routes with the planning office and historic building officer, (no persuasion needed there) we all agreed it was the kindest thing we could do to improve the look of the building.

Well, my thatchers, arrived on Wednesday, much to my delight! I know it's sad, I was like a little girl in a sweet shop, I could hardly control my excitement. The day I had been waiting for, 'had finally arrived.

Anyway, my question to you is:

1. An alarm called 'thatchgard' which monitors the heat of the thatch and
will apparently warn, in advance, if the temperature of the thatch
exceeds an acceptable level. Does have anybody have one? Are
they worth the expenditure?

2. Has anybody had their thatch sprayed with a fire-resistant product? I
don't know of one myself, but there are products out there. Does
anyone have any views on that too?

3. Is there any other products on the market that help reduce the
damage a fire can cause and one that you would recommend?

4. Has anybody heard of a produce called 'blue-stone' and does it keep
the thatch brighter for longer? Has anybody used it?

Our thatchers have laid a fire-resistant lining under the battens which
should give a little more time before spreading elsewhere.

I just want to ensure that I have done all I can to reduce fire damage, god forbid, if ever there were one.

Sorry so many questions, any sound advice would be gratefull received.

 

[Flyfisher]

I've no direct experience of thatch but I'ver read that one of the most damaging aspects of a fire is that the fire brigade usually have to tear the roof apart in order to tackle the blaze, however small. This is because fires usually start within the roof space and the thatch itself is waterproof (obviously!), so it's no good just spraying water on it directly.

So the fire resistant lining you mention makes sense in that respect. I would think a smoke alarm in the attic would also be a good idea for early warning; smouldering could be going on for a long time before anything amiss was noticed from indoors or outside.

There was another thread recently about wiring in the attic of thatched houses, so that would be worth reading.

I'd also think that your Thatchers should be able to give good advice on all these things - they are working with thatched roofs all the time and, presumably, will have seen everything there is to see.

It all sounds like a lovely thing to do though. Make sure you take plenty of before, during and after photos.

 

[Nemesis]

This is worth reading also:

http://www.nfumutual.co.uk/lifestyle/related-articles/thatch/thatch-fire-safety.htm


Fires attributed to the installation of stoves instead of open fires have been in the news in recent times, so worth considering extra precautions around chimney areas and linings if a stove is installed.

http://www.wfb.org.uk/media/press_releases/2006/media_press_releases_060206.htm

While I no way am endorsing a 'pumped' liner in a historic building (irreversible) this site also has sound advice:

http://www.chimney-problems.co.uk/thatchedproperties.php

 

[sweetpea]

This is worth reading also:

http://www.nfumutual.co.uk/lifestyle/related-articles/thatch/thatch-fire-safety.htm


Fires attributed to the installation of stoves instead of open fires have been in the news in recent times, so worth considering extra precautions around chimney areas and linings if a stove is installed.

http://www.wfb.org.uk/media/press_releases/2006/media_press_releases_060206.htm

While I no way am endorsing a 'pumped' liner in a historic building (irreversible) this site also has sound advice:

http://www.chimney-problems.co.uk/thatchedproperties.php

Thank you for that information, I have logged onto the websites that you suggested and have briefly read through the articles. I have printed off them off to thoroughly digest the info. Chimney sweep now booked to clean all the fireplaces!!!

Two of the inglenooks have liners as they have woodburners in the fireplaces, the third was blocked under the marley tiles but the builder is going to re-instate now the tiles are off. Some of the thatch is now on, and it looks so much easier on the eye!

I tested the chimneys with smoke pellets today and neither of the woodburning chimney leak smoke that a good sign.

 

[Nemesis]

Well check that there is adequate insulation in the stacks, this is where liners are failing and where fires are starting.

Did you do a pressure test? That's the only way really to see if a chimney leaks.

 

[sweetpea]

I've no direct experience of thatch but I'ver read that one of the most damaging aspects of a fire is that the fire brigade usually have to tear the roof apart in order to tackle the blaze, however small. This is because fires usually start within the roof space and the thatch itself is waterproof (obviously!), so it's no good just spraying water on it directly.

So the fire resistant lining you mention makes sense in that respect. I would think a smoke alarm in the attic would also be a good idea for early warning; smouldering could be going on for a long time before anything amiss was noticed from indoors or outside.

There was another thread recently about wiring in the attic of thatched houses, so that would be worth reading.


I'd also think that your Thatchers should be able to give good advice on all these things - they are working with thatched roofs all the time and, presumably, will have seen everything there is to see.

It all sounds like a lovely thing to do though. Make sure you take plenty of before, during and after photos.

Good advice gratefully received. I have since rang our electrician, as there are lots of electrical wires in the loft space and even downlighters that light our ensuites. He is going to come next week and undertake a electrical safety check. Smoke alarm sounds sensible too. The thatch is looking good. Roll on Monday when they arrive again.

If anybody is contemplating have a re-thatch , new ridge etc, I would definitely recommend, they are a national company.

 

[sweetpea]

Well check that there is adequate insulation in the stacks, this is where liners are failing and where fires are starting.

Did you do a pressure test? That's the only way really to see if a chimney leaks.

Could you tell me a little more about how to check the insulation in the stacks, I know the chimneys have a flexihose (silver in colour) inside them. I don't think it was a pressure test I did, all I did was to pop the smoke pellets in the woodburners, light them and then scarper up the scaffolding to see if any smoke was escaping through the bricks.

Excuse my ignorance, but what's pressure test?

 

[Nemesis]

You need to block off the top and bottom of the chimney - with the smoke trapped inside, Otherwise the draught can pull it straight up and you don't get to see any gaps.

If you read the stuff on the CICO site it explains a bit more about liners and stacks. They must be away from the walls and insulated so the bricks can't get hot.

 

[sweetpea]

You need to block off the top and bottom of the chimney - with the smoke trapped inside, Otherwise the draught can pull it straight up and you don't get to see any gaps.

If you read the stuff on the CICO site it explains a bit more about liners and stacks. They must be away from the walls and insulated so the bricks can't get hot.

Great bedtime reading! Many thanks, I ho I ho it's off to bed I go!

 

[Nemesis]

Wot now? We are having an eclipse - it's the best for years!

 

[sweetpea]

Wot now? We are having an eclipse - it's the best for years!

EEK!!!! I did see it, have been watching all evening on and off. Wouldn't have missed it for the world!!!

 

[Geoff Flegg]

Screwfix sell interconnectable smoke alarms - i.e. you can arrange it so that if the one in your loft space goes off, the ones downstairs go off as well.

If you don't want the hassle of running wiring round the house, they do battery powered radio interlinked ones - which is what I've just fitted to my house, they seem to work fine. Only thing is you would need to remember to go up into the loft every now and then to check the battery, which is obviously not an issue with a mains-powered system.

 

[sweetpea]

Screwfix sell interconnectable smoke alarms - i.e. you can arrange it so that if the one in your loft space goes off, the ones downstairs go off as well.

If you don't want the hassle of running wiring round the house, they do battery powered radio interlinked ones - which is what I've just fitted to my house, they seem to work fine. Only thing is you would need to remember to go up into the loft every now and then to check the battery, which is obviously not an issue with a mains-powered system.

Fantastic, thank you! I think I'll go for the battery operated version to try and avoid more wiring in the loft.

I'll order online if they have a website, I'm sure they must have.

 

[Geoff Flegg]

http://www.screwfix.com - then enter the codes below in the search box.

You need the smoke alarms (item 10006) and also RF bases (10754). I think they've got other smoke alarms which also work with the RF bases, but that type is best suited to smouldering fires.

The RF bases are the expensive bit, but in my view well worth it. In my house, although it's not huge, if a smoke alarm went off downstairs you wouldn't hear it upstairs, at least not enough to wake you up.

 

[Geoff Flegg]

I see you mention downlighters as well - be careful, they can get really hot. You might want to fit fire hoods to them - again, Screwfix, item 56254 or 27270, depending on the downlighter size - these are full of material that expands in the event of a fire.

I sound like a Screwfix advert! Incidentally, for those who do use Screwfix, http://www.toolstation.com is worth trying - it's ran by the people who set Screwfix up originally, before they sold Screwfix to the Kingfisher group (owners of B&Q amongst others). Toolstation is a bit more "trade" in its approach, the catalogue's not as glossy as Screwfix and has less product guidance, but they are often cheaper. Screwfix seems to be getting more expensive.

Geoff

 

[sweetpea]

www.screwfix.com - then enter the codes below in the search box.

You need the smoke alarms (item 10006) and also RF bases (10754). I think they've got other smoke alarms which also work with the RF bases, but that type is best suited to smouldering fires.

The RF bases are the expensive bit, but in my view well worth it. In my house, although it's not huge, if a smoke alarm went off downstairs you wouldn't hear it upstairs, at least not enough to wake you up.

Ooo thanks for that info, I logged on to the screwfix site but wasn't sure which ones I had to order. I was going to ask if you knew the product codes and lo and behold you had already provided the info.

I shall order straight away.

 

[sweetpea]

I see you mention downlighters as well - be careful, they can get really hot. You might want to fit fire hoods to them - again, Screwfix, item 56254 or 27270, depending on the downlighter size - these are full of material that expands in the event of a fire.

I sound like a Screwfix advert! Incidentally, for those who do use Screwfix, http://www.toolstation.com is worth trying - it's ran by the people who set Screwfix up originally, before they sold Screwfix to the Kingfisher group (owners of B&Q amongst others). Toolstation is a bit more "trade" in its approach, the catalogue's not as glossy as Screwfix and has less product guidance, but they are often cheaper. Screwfix seems to be getting more expensive.

Geoff

Thank you again Geoff, the downlighters are something that worry me to be honest, so covers for them would definitely give me a little more peace of mind. Is it worth me looking for the suggested items on toolstation first. I guess, if the smoke alarms had have been cheaper on the toolstation website you wouldn't have ordered them from screwfix?

 

[Geoff Flegg]

I bought the smoke alarms ages ago, and never got around to fitting them - how slack is that! There was at least a single smoke alarm already there, in my wholly inadequate defence!

I moved house recently and have now fitted them to the new house. No idea if Toolstation sell them, it would be worth you having a look though.

 

[skier-hughes]

I use toolstation a lot. I find thema litle cheaper than screwfix, delivery is good adn free for not too big an order. I used Screwfix once and didn't like the free postage, but the fact they then charged a packing fee!!!!!

Graham

 

[sweetpea]

I use toolstation a lot. I find thema litle cheaper than screwfix, delivery is good adn free for not too big an order. I used Screwfix once and didn't like the free postage, but the fact they then charged a packing fee!!!!!

Graham

Good to know, crazy isn't it. why don't screwfix just be honest and say it's a P&P fee.

I did log on to the toolstation website, but the items Geoff had suggested earlier didn't appear to be available, so had to pay the packing fee when I ordered the alarms from Screwfix!!!