2010 Changes to Part J – Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems

Revisions to Part J includes new guidance on the following;

• The provision of adequate access for the visual inspection of concealed flues. This is to ensure that flues  can be inspected properly when being commissioned or serviced.
• The new requirement J2A, “warning of release of carbon monoxide” describes the need for carbon monoxide alarms where solid fuel appliances are installed.
• The position of flue outlet clearances relative to adjacent pitched roofs has been clarified.
• Guidance on the provision of hearths and wall clearances for solid fuel appliances has been revised to take into account the availability of modern appliances.
• The requirements for alternative approaches for appliances burning solid fuel have been revised. The guidance under BS 6461: Part 1:1984, (1998) and BS 7566: Parts 1-4: 1992, (1998) have been replaced with BS EN 15287-1:2007 Chimneys.  Design, installation and commissioning of chimneys for non-room sealed solid heating appliances.
• Guidance for permanent ventilation openings for flued appliances in very airtight houses (where the design air permeability is less than or equal to 5.0 m3/(h.m2) have been increased to counteract the decrease in
adventitious ventilation relative to older houses.  Appendix F gives advice on assessing the air permeability of older houses.
• There are additional provisions for oil burning appliances.  Section 4.7 includes guidance on the position of flues in proximity to roof windows.  An additional note concerning the discharge of wet flue products and the Environmental Protection Act as well as problems associated with materials susceptible to continuous damp conditions.  This section now explicitly includes liquid biofuel and blends on mineral oil and liquid biofuel within the scope of combustion installations designed to burn oil.
• In section 5.7 (Risk from oil pollution) advice includes guidance on the construction of above and below ground oil storage tanks.  The installation of underground oil storage tanks is not recommended.
• In section 5.8 ‘significant risks’ now includes reference to a location within Zone 1 (Inner protection zone) of an Environmental Agency Groundwater Source Protection Zone (SPZ) and refers the reader to the Environment Agency’s Groundwater Sources map.
• In section 5.11 additional guidance is provided on integrally bunded oil storage tanks.
• In section 5.21 & 5.22 further informative guidance is provided on the installation of LPG gas service pipework and refers to the problems associated with corrosion and ventilation.
• The new Appendix G provides a summary of the European chimney designation scheme.  The essence of the scheme is a series of code letters based on the general chimney designation scheme of BS EN 1443:2003.
• The reader is advised that many of the British Standards included in the guidance have been updated.