Boat Fitting Guide

Pick a stove specifically
recommended for boats,
with the CE safety mark
If there has to be a short
length of uninuslated pipe to
connect to the insulated
chimney, then at least 3x its
diameter away from
unprotected combustibles.
(5.3) Stove, hearth
and chimney all
FIXED FIRMLY IN
PLACE
HEIGHT At least 600mm
above the roof when
moored – removable if
need be. (8.4)
STOVE SITED where it won't cause
obstruction, particularly to escape
routes or near steps. (5.1)
INSULATED CHIMNEY
Insulated pipe outside and inside the
cabin, for safety and to keep the smoke
HOT so it rises. Uninsulated pipe cools
the smoke down and drastically spoils
stove performance. (8.2)
Open-sided RAIN CAP (8.4)
Check with the makers, but
insulated pipe often needs to be
3/4 of its diameter away from
unprotected combustibles (8.2)
The whole
chimney
able to be
CLEANED
from end to
end (8.5)
Heat PROTECTION PANELS
Stoves and uninsulated flue pipes can easily get hot
enough to set fire to paint, wood or other
combustibles a distance away. A single fireproof
panel fastened straight to a wall is no use – heat can
pass straight through it.
One way of making a good protection panel is to
have: a 10mm air gap (supported on offcuts), then
25mm thick calcium silicate board (which can be
tiled) then at least a 45mm gap to the stove body, all
extending at least 200mm above the stove. (7) (This
construction can be used as the hearth underneath a
stove with legs, if topped by a 15mm cement-board
panel.)
No special info from the manufacturers? No protection panels? Then 800mm
A SOUND CHIMNEY
Even tiny leaks in the
chimney can let air in,
which cools the smoke,
stops it rising, and risks
poisonous CO gas
leaking out.
FLUE
PIPES
fit socket
end up, and
are sealed
with fire
cement
(8.3). They
should be of the
diameter
recommended by the
stove manufacturer,
and never less than
100mm.
IDEALLY STRAIGHT, but
never more than 2 x 30°
bends and NO horizontal
lengths! (8)
STOVES IN BOATS
Some of the basics about fitting and using solid
fuel stoves on boats in the UK and Ireland.
The numbers in (brackets) are sections in
British Standard BS 8511:2010 Code of
practice for the installation of solid fuel
heating and cooking appliances in small
craft where much more detailed information
can be found. The code isn't compulsory, but
will always be referred to if an accident occurs.
A good stove and its chimney will follow the
rules here and:
● Be recommended by the manufacturer for
use in boats.
● Be installed by a competent person. (5.2)
● ... strictly to the maker's instructions
● Be the right size for the space to be heated.
● Have securely latching doors which can't
jolt open.
● Use very dry wood or smokeless fuels.
Avoid bituminous coal (called 'housecoal' or
'Polish coal')
● Have chimney and flueways cleaned very
regularly.
● Have door seals, windows and liners kept
sound.
● If your stove has a lower ash door which
can be opened separately from the main
door – take very great care, leaving it open
can make the fire burn far too fiercely, a
common cause of serious boat fires.
INSULATED FLUE PIPE!
PLENTY OF FRESH AIR!
FLAMMABLES WELL AWAY.
THROUGH THE ROOF
The pipe should have
provision for
expansion, have no join
inside the roofspace
and be well protected
from combustibles (8.4)
THE HEARTH needs to
project at least 225mm in
front and 150mm to each
side of the stove OR have
a high lip. Made of sturdy,
non-flammable material, to
fully protect combustibles
underneath. (6)
FIT ALARMS! Carbon Monoxide
in smoke is poisonous, and fire
can start unnoticed.
Stoves need FRESH AIR
to burn safely. Have a
completely open vent of
550mm² (about 1”
square) for each 1kW of
stove output, preferably
divided between vents at
high and low level (9)
BS EN14604 Optical
smoke alarm
BS EN50291
CO alarm
W
E
L
L
A
W
A
Y
F
R
O
M
C
O
M
B
U
S
T
I
B
L
E
S
.
.
.
a
n
y
t
h
i
n
g
l
i
k
e
w
o
o
d
,
G
R
P
,
f
u
e
l
,
g
a
s
c
o
n
t
a
i
n
e
r
s
,
o
i
l
,
c
a
n
d
l
e
s
,
c
u
r
t
a
i
n
s
,
c
u
s
h
i
o
n
s
,
c
l
o
t
h
i
n
g
,
b
o
o
k
s
,
o
i
l
l
a
m
p
s
,
f
o
l
d
-
a
w
a
y
f
u
r
n
i
s
h
i
n
g
s
o
r
a
n
y
t
h
i
n
g
w
h
i
c
h
c
o
u
l
d
c
r
e
a
t
e
a
f
i
r
e
h
a
z
a
r
d
–
a
l
l
a
s
f
a
r
a
w
a
y
a
s
t
h
e
s
t
o
v
e
m
a
k
e
r
s
a
y
s
i
s
s
a
f
e
,
u
s
u
a
l
l
y
a
b
o
u
t
8
0
0
m
m
a
w
a
y
o
r
b
e
h
i
n
d
a
P
R
O
T
E
C
T
I
O
N
P
A
N
E
L
.
(
5
.
1
)
FULLY-INSULATED FLUE
safer, makes the fire more efficient, more
heat, less fuel, more controllable, lights
faster, makes much less smoke
Stove shown is Tiger Cub
from www.percydoughty.com