Wood Stove / Solid Burning Appliances
Have your wood stove inspected...
In general building inspectors do not inspect for code compliance of solid fuel burning appliances, fireplaces and chimneys in the course of a pre- purchase building inspection.
The fact that codes change and that Insurers and Municipalities have additional specifications for such installations, renders the installations non standard.
RMS, by its expertise in this field and by its function as a technical reference for Insurers across Canada for over 100 years, can now assist you if you wish to verify the code compliance of your solid fuel burning appliance.
It should be noted that home owners are not automatically informed of current applicable codes hence, its should not be taken for granted that the sold fuel burning appliance and its chimney installed in the home you are intending to purchase complies to current applicable standards.
It is recommended that you have any solid fuel burning appliance inspected for code compliance, prior to the purchase of your new home.
The costs of such an inspection performed by a qualified inspector are minimal especially when this inspection is performed at the same time as the pre purchase inspection. Furthermore, this preventive measure reduces costs and worries related to the risk of certain latent installation defects which can be identified during such an inspection.
Code compliance
The minimal standards for the installation of a solid fuel burning appliance and its chimney have to comply to the requirements of CAN/CSA – B365 Code for the installation of solid fuel burning appliance and its components.
Code compliance inspections
There are two types of code compliance inspections that can be performed on a solid fuel burning appliance:
- Visual without demolition:
This is the type of inspection which you will have done in majority of cases prior to the purchase of a home.
It is rather difficult to open walls and demolish certain components in order to verify the hidden sections of such an installation.
This type of code compliance inspection is complete but only for the visual components of the installation will be verified to ensure compliance with CAN/CSA-B365 code for the installation of solid fuel burning appliance and its components.
The RMS inspector will verify code compliance of the following visual components:
- The condition of the stove;
- Clearances with combustible materials (walls, floors, ceilings);
- Smoke pipe;
- Fire cut offs;
- The condition & the safety installation of the chimney whether it be pre fabricated or masonry namely:
- Clearances to combustibles
- Radiant fire cut offs
- Height
- Cap
- Tees
- Crown
- Liners
- Etc.
- An exhaustive inspection with demolition:
This type of inspection is performed using the exact same technique as the visual inspection but the building inspector will open walls, floors or ceiling in order to confirm defects which are in nature hidden.
This type of inspection is required when there is need to confirm the corrective measures required regarding a specific problem which is hidden or if there is a need for the preparation of an expertise report for legal purposes.
What RMS will provide following their inspection?
- A written report on the installation including all the components observed;
- Recommendations on the required improvements, repairs and/or replacements required;
- A sufficient number of photos;
- All is sent via e-mail or regular mail to the choice of the customer, within a few days following the inspection.