Fire rating of inspection hatches for flues in voids....

[capitanpugwash]

So the Technical Bulletin for flues in voids states that the inspection hatch has to be 60 mins fire rating. I am just about to install a flue into a lowered ceiling which will need an inspection hatch for viewing. The owner is not keen on shelling out £50+ for a purpose made inspection hatch as it is in a utlity room and I can't help but agree. Can I use fireline board of, say 450 x 450 and have a screw on each corner to make it easily accessible? Or would a piece of metal suffice from the local smithy?

I can see why you might need 60 minutes fireproofing when dealing with flues through blocks of flats where fire spreading is of concern, but you put a flue from the kitchen through a conservatory, say, and it looks ugly, so you decide to box it in. I can understand the need for an inspection cover to allow inspection of the flue but requiring 60 minutes fire resistance in the hatch is frankly bizarre...:chillpill:

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

cant see why you cant use ellis board its fire proof

 

[capitanpugwash]

Where do you buy ellis board? Is it like fireline board? I'm guessing it comes in 1800 x 900mm sheets. I suppose I could rip it to 450 x 450mm size and have 7 spares I suppose!

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

its just what we call it here its the same as white fireboard

 

[diamondgas]

Well I think the inspection hatches are another knee jerk load of bkolcos!! Who is going to open them up? They'll become useful only when something goes wrong!! ..................Or maybe that's there real purpose? .............Makes sense i guess!!!............O well, hohum ....!!! *laughing*

 

[stani]

cant honestly see the reason for a 1 hour rated hatch on a 1/2 hour rated plaster board ceiling, thats hiding a 5 minute rated plastic flue pipe.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

elf and safety

 

[AWheating]

cant honestly see the reason for a 1 hour rated hatch on a 1/2 hour rated plaster board ceiling, thats hiding a 5 minute rated plastic flue pipe.

i would guess it down to the logic of many voids may be in flats as captain mentioned , flats require more than 1/2 hour fire rated walls in many cases, so sticking to 1 hour makes sense.