The Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

PART L Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems

Application and interpretation

69.—(1) Any provision in regulations 70 to 74 and 77 which applies to a combustion appliance, shall also apply where solid fuel is intended to burn directly on a hearth without the installation of any appliance.

(2) Regulation 72 shall not apply to a combustion appliance designed solely for cooking purposes.

(3) Regulation 75 shall only apply to a liquid fuel storage tank and connecting pipework located outside the building, which serves a fixed combustion appliance within the building and which is—

(a) a fixed oil storage tank with a capacity greater than 90 litres; or

(b) a fixed liquefied petroleum gas storage tank with a capacity greater than 150 litres.

(4) Regulation 76 shall only apply to an above ground fixed oil storage tank, which serves a dwelling and to which any one of the following applies—

(a) it has a capacity of more than 2500 litres but less than 3500 litres;

(b) it is located within 10 m of inland freshwaters or coastal waters;

(c) it is located within 50 m of a source of potable water, such as a well, bore-hole or spring;

(d) it is located where spilled oil from the installation could reach the waters in (b) or (c) by running across hard ground;

(e) it is located where spillage could run into an open drain or loose fitting manhole cover; or

(f) it is located where the tank vent pipe outlets cannot be seen from the intended filling point.

(5) In this Part—

“Combustion appliance” means a fixed appliance (including a cooker) which—

(a)

is designed to burn solid fuel, gas or oil; or

(b)

is an incinerator.

Air supply

70.  A combustion appliance shall be so installed as to receive a sufficient supply of air to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the combustion appliance and any connected flue.

Discharge of products of combustion

71.  A combustion appliance shall be so installed and any connected flue-pipe, flue or chimney shall be so constructed and installed as to ensure that the products of combustion are discharged to the external air without causing a hazard to the health of any person.

Warning of the presence of carbon monoxide gas

72.  Where a combustion appliance is installed in a dwelling, reasonable provision shall be made to detect and give warning of the presence of carbon monoxide gas at levels harmful to people.

Protection of people and buildings

73.—(1) A combustion appliance shall be so installed and any connected flue-pipe, flue or chimney shall be so constructed and installed as to ensure that their use shall not cause—

(a) burns to any person; or

(b) damage to a building by heat or fire.

(2) A hearth or fireplace recess shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent damage to a building by heat or fire as a result of the operation of a combustion appliance installed in it or on it.

Provision of information

74.  Where a hearth, fireplace, flue or chimney is provided or extended, a durable notice containing information on its performance capabilities shall be affixed to a suitable place in the building for the purpose of enabling a compatible combustion appliance to be safely connected to that hearth, fireplace, flue or chimney.

Protection of liquid fuel storage tanks

75.  Reasonable provision shall be made to ensure that a liquid fuel storage tank and connecting pipework is so constructed and separated from adjacent buildings and the boundary of the premises as to reduce to a reasonable level the risk of the fuel contained inside it igniting in the event of a fire occurring in adjacent buildings or premises.

Protection against pollution

76.  An oil storage tank and connecting pipework shall be so constructed and protected as to minimise the risk of an escape of oil causing pollution to the environment.

Prevention of smoke emission

77.  A combustion appliance installed in a building for the purpose of heating or cooking, and which discharges its combustion products to the external air shall be capable of, or readily adaptable to, the burning of fuel smokelessly, unless it is—

(a) a furnace which complies with Article 5 of the Clean Air (Northern Ireland) Order 1981(1) (which requires that new furnaces shall so far as practicable be smokeless); or

(b) an appliance of a class exempted conditionally or unconditionally from the provisions of Article 17 of the Clean Air (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (which relates to smoke control areas) by any order for the time being in force under paragraph (7) of that Article.

(1)

S.I. 1981 No. 158 (N.I. 4)