Thatch Fire Prevention Checklist
MyGARD provides top tips on www.thatchgard.com to help reduce the risk of fire in your thatched property
REDUCING THE RISK OF FIRE IN YOUR THATCHED PROPERTY
Thatched property owners must be vigilant all year around, but the autumn and winter months are historically associated with a significant increase in the rate of thatched roof fires as people start to use enclosed stoves and fireplaces more frequently to keep warm.
Following these tips will help to maintain your thatched roof and reduce the risk of fire. We hope you find them useful, but if you have any further questions please contact us on 0870 460 8464 or email info@thatchgard.com.
THATCH FIRE PREVENTION CHECKLIST
• Flues and liners should be cleaned at least once a year or twice a year if green wood is used.
• Burn only well-seasoned wood. Wood should be stored in a dry, airy environment for two years and be at 21 per cent moisture or less, to prevent tar condensing in the chimney.
• Poorly maintained pointing and decayed stone or brickwork in chimneys adds to the fire risk. Ask a registered chimney-lining engineer to carry out a CCTV inspection every 5-10 years depending on the level of use.
• Look for the warning signs: a dry clear sunken area around a chimney with an active flue, particularly if the remainder of the roof is covered with moss. This may indicate that flue gases are leaking into the surrounding thatch, or that the thatch is overheating.
• Regular property maintenance checks should be carried out to inspect areas of potential risk-including electrics and, if fitted keep spark arrestors clean.
• Rodents will chew through electrical cables in loft spaces so make sure any cables are protected where they are in contact with thatch.
• Locate external security lights at least one metre away from the eaves.
• To ensure you are alerted to dangerous increases in temperature levels from your chimney, install a device like ThatchGARD that continuously monitors the temperature of the thatch.
