fire-proofing around a boiler under stairs?

[MP plumb]

hi all,

hope your all well.... not been on here a while.

i have a job where the new boiler will be under the stairs, and have been told i need to fire proof the whole of the cupboard. is this right?


i was told by someone else that i could make a box, fireproof it and fit it around the boiler which will be just as good.


advice much appreciated.

thanks

miss plumb x

 

[SimonG]

We've had it with oil boilers. Either one coat of 'pink' plaster board or two thicknesses of ordinary.

 

[MP plumb]

sorry.... i should of checked.

for the whole of the under stairs or can i make up a casing of mdf/ply and fire proof that?

 

[diamondgas]

If the stairs or the only means of escape and above is 2nd or more story as far as my memory serves me miss plumb I could be wrong, been a long time since I've fitted anything under stairs but use to do loads for Local authority many moons ago

 

[SimonG]

sorry.... i should of checked.

for the whole of the under stairs or can i make up a casing of mdf/ply and fire proof that?

By the time you've done that you could have had a sheet of fire rated plaster board in place and be working on something else. imho.

 

[diamondgas]

Just read this article http://www.stockton.gov.uk/resources/business/eulicencedocshmo/firesafetyguidance.pdf Is it of any relevance?

 

[MP plumb]

makin a case for it is not a problem. ill look at the article, thanks diamond

 

[Simon F]

BS 6798:2009
5.3.2 Boiler compartment installations
5.3.2.1 The boiler compartment shall be a fixed rigid structure, the
internal surfaces of which conform to the boiler installation instructions.
COMMENTARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON 5.3.2.1
If the boiler manufacturer’s installation instructions do not give specific
advice, then any internal surface of the boiler compartment which is of
combustible material should either be at least 75 mm from any part of
the boiler or should be lined with non-combustible material. Methods
of determining whether a material can be described as combustible
or non-combustible are given in BS 476-22. For further advice, see
HSE publication, Safety in the installation and use of gas systems and
appliances [14].
5.3.2.2 The compartment shall permit access for inspection and servicing
of the boiler and any ancillary equipment. A notice shall be fixed in a
prominent position within the compartment to warn against its use as
a storage cupboard. The compartment shall be fitted with a door that
will permit withdrawal of the boiler and any ancillary equipment.
5.3.2.3 If the boiler compartment houses an open-flued boiler, neither
the door nor the air vents shall communicate with a room containing
a bath or shower (see 5.3.5).
Understairs cupboard installations
If a boiler is installed in an understairs cupboard, the cupboard shall
conform to one of the following.
a) Where the premises in which the cupboard is located has no more
than two storeys, the cupboard shall conform to 5.3.2.
b) Where the premises in which the cupboard is located has more
than two storeys, all the internal surfaces of the cupboard,
including the base, shall be non-combustible or lined with
non-combustible material, having a fire resistance of not less
than 0.5 h when determined in accordance with BS 476-22 and
the air vents shall be direct to outside air.
COMMENTARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON 5.3.4
Installation in an understairs cupboard should only be considered if there
is no alternative location.
Whenever possible, the boiler in an understairs cupboard should be of the
room-sealed type.

 

[diamondgas]

New there was something regarding 2 or more storeys

 

[Leo21]

If its a ordinary two story house and it's gas it's not required. Just mounted on fire proof material.