Flue proximity to window

[swimorsink]

Hi all,

My neighbour is concerned about the location of the flue from my boiler as he believes there is a chance that carbon monoxide may enter through his bedroom window. The boiler was installed circa 1996 and is a wall hung Ideal Classic FF260 with a fan assisted flue. The boiler was inspected last year, the engineer did a visual inspection of the flue but didn't raise any concerns.

Photograph here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vrpf1l01zj0ypi1/2015-01-16 16.07.12.jpg



My questions are:
Is it unsafe / is there anything I can do to satisfy my neighbour that it is?
If it is unsafe, do I have any options to remedy the situation other than installing a new boiler? e.g. additional duct work.


I'm not Gas Safe Registered and will be getting a Gas Safe registered engineer to carry out any work!

thanks,
J

 

[stevetheplumber]

that looks fine to me flue has to be 300mm clear from edge of window

 

[kris]

That's a funny one as most have to be 300 away from opening but that's generaly when the opening is on the same wall. I know worcester have one where it's 600 away from a window on another wall or at an angle .. Check your manufacturers guidelines in your boiler instalation manual but I say your safe enough

 

[Mike Jackson]

Considering the flue gasses on an old boiler will be at a temperature of around 260°C it's highly unlikely that any products of combustion will drop to that window.

 

[swimorsink]

Thanks for the replies. I checked the installation manual and the minimum spacings stipulated by the manufacturer are:

Table 3 - Balanced flue terminal position

Terminal Position	Minimum Spacing
1. Directly below or alongside an opening window, air vent or other ventilation opening	300 mm. (12")
2. Below guttering, drain pipes or soil pipes	25 mm. (1")
3. Below eaves	25 mm. (1")
4. Below balconies or a car port roof	25 mm. (1")
5. From vertical drain pipes or soil pipes	25 mm. (1")
6. From internal or external corners	25 mm. (1")
7. Above adjacent ground, roof or balcony level	300 mm. (12")
8. From a surface facing the terminal	600 mm. (24")
9. From a terminal facing a terminal	1200 mm. (48")
10. From an opening in a car port (e.g. door or window) into dwelling	1200 mm (48")
11. Vertically from a terminal on the same wall	1500 mm (60")
12. Horizontally from a terminal on the wall	300 mm (12")

As I read it, my issue isn't specifically called out in the table - and I'm not qualified to 'interpret' how it does translate in to my specific scenario.

I spoke to my neighbour this morning and he has just told me that when he had his boiler serviced in December, the engineer told him that my vent was illegal. So I'm thinking that engineer could have been referring to the fact that the vent effectively hangs over his property (and probably shouldn't) and not necessarily that it's unsafe???

 

[IDCHAPPY]

He's having a laugh, if he's flapping about it tell him to fit a CO detector at the window if it *EVER*goes off, you'll talk about it

 

[gasmanrob]

So it's taken 19 years for your neighbour to raise concerns

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

Looks fine to me

 

[swimorsink]

So it's taken 19 years for your neighbour to raise concerns

Yes - we've been living here for 17 years, but have sold the house getting close to contract exchange. Could be problematic for my sale, so trying to satisfy him that he hasn't got anything to worry about.

 

[oz-plumber]

Do you guys have no regulations regarding clearances in direction of discharge?

 

[dancinplumba]

Its the upwards prv that's making me chuckle, bet BG installed it

 

[Rickster123]

Its the upwards prv that's making me chuckle, bet BG installed it

I think the classic has the prv fitted at the top. Big old lump of a boiler.

 

[newcastle phill]

Cant see photos

 

[jtsplumbing]

Classic FF Heat only boiler MIs no mention of min distance from front of flue, only gives 300 below a opening, nothing about above , as this one is, he could be getting a slight smell depending on weather conditions , What's the 15mm pipe close to flue ?

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

Classic FF Heat only boiler MIs no mention of min distance from front of flue, only gives 300 below a opening, nothing about above , as this one is, he could be getting a slight smell depending on weather conditions , What's the 15mm pipe close to flue ?

prv pipe

 

[jtsplumbing]

prv pipe

From what ? thought the classic was an open vent boiler ?

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

They did a system boiler with pump and vessel hidden above boiler with an ugly box around it

 

[kozak1968]

So its discharging over his property ? ... Not allowed in my book. But at time of installation may be o.k

 

[GrahamM]

Would be an issue if a recent install but boiler been in 20 years with no concern.
I would be telling neighbour in polite way to run and jump. If concerned at all tell them to fit carbon monoxide alarm.

 

[dmheat]

Boundary clearance NCS at most. In terms of CO pumping in through that window, no....