Solid fuel heaters need permit, reminds the council

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 591, 20 June 1995, Page 5

Solid fuel heaters need permit, reminds the council

The Ruapehu District Council has been 'inundated' with enquiries from building owners regarding the installation of free standing and inbuilt heating appliances and say it would appear that some retailers are not advising purchasers of the requirement to have a building consent prior to the installation. A significant number of homes are at risk from installations that do not meet the proper standards, states council chief executive Cliff Houston in a press release. He said the problems "raise an interesting question with respect to

insurance if fire damage occurs from a noncomplying installation." These points were recently made on Fair Go. One of the main problems for inbuilt installations is the heat transferral within the chimney to wooden framing which can eventually lead to a house fire. "Council cannot inspect these inbuilt heaters once installed unless a new heater has recently been installed and the owner is prepared to remove the fire and expose the existing chimney. Council cannot legalise Older-installations

by the retrospective issue of building consents," stated Mr Houston. He said reports have also been received that a very high proportion of solid fuel heaters, both free standing and inbuilt, are being installed without seismic restraint. Unrestrained heating appliances are a major cause of fires following an earthquake. Anyone having queries regarding installations should consult a building inspector, who can check whether a building permit has been issued, he concluded.