Loading...
Permit for Log Lighter12.19.2-23 Dear Mr. Donovan/ Edmonds Permit Person, I am asking to put in a natural gas log lighter in the chimney and to have the flue unclamped and fully functional and able to fully open. The chimney currently has a piped in gas line and a gas lit log set. The flue is clamped in a position where the flue cannot be fully opened or fully closed to the best of my knowledge and as described by installers best that they can discern after examining the flue and clamp. Under the current fireplace and flue conditions, I have had birds fly into my house on 3 occasions and/or get trapped in the chimney with the screen door closed; had a nest present at least once per report (that was removed – the warmth or the chimney seems to attract the birds); and the partially open flue creates a draft and causes a draft in the room and a significant waste of energy and decreases heating efficiency of the house. The current set-up prevents the ability to have a wood burning fire as the gas line is not adapted for wood burning and the clamped flue makes a wood fire unsafe because the flue cannot be opened and closed fully. I am planning to unclamp the current flue and either make the current or put in a chimney flue that is fully working/operational and can fully open and close. There is a door at the opening of the chimney that is an open door (chain-mail screen-door) as required for a wood burning fire that both allows for combustible air to enter the burning fire and prevents sparks and embers from escaping the chimney. The above best fulfills the international and national and local and manufacturers specifications (e.g.International Fuel Gas Code and the individual manufacturer’s instructions) Once the permit is provided. The gas installer company will be chosen. The natural gas log lighter will be selected from one of 3 manufacturers listed below, as chosen by the installer company based on which gas log lighter configuration is best suited and safest for my chimney. The chimney will cleaned. The current flue which currently is clamped partially open will be unclamped and the flue will be examined for functionality. The current flue or a second flue (if the flue current system is not optimal/operational) will be present to insure a fully functioning (fully opening and closing) flue system. The manual gas key is already in place and is operational and will be checked by the gas company installation team to ensure that it is properly operational. The chain-mail steel screen door is already in place and is operational. Wood fire with a manual gas log starter man without a clamp The ability to manually open and close a flue is the usual behavior for a wood fire. The ability to manually open and close the flue conserves heat when the fire is not ablaze (heat efficiency codes). The ability to open the flue fully working is needed for an open fire. The flue cannot be not restricted by a clamp. The ability to have an open screen door is needed for an open wood fire to allow combustible air to fuel the fire. Any partial closure/ blockage of the flue with a clamp prevents egress in a wood fire and can create a backdraft (which creates dangers to humans); any blockage of the intake doors prevents air to fuel the burning thus manual operation of the doors in needed or the doors can be grilled or latticed to allow air into the fireplace. Automatic gas systems can fail and prevent egress of gas out of the chimney or vent. Humans are routinely responsible for opening the door or having doors that allow air into the fire. They routinely manually control the gas key. They routinely open and close the flue in a wood burning fireplace when burning logs and when not in use. Conclusion The proposed unclamped fully functioning (opening and closing) flue with a manual natural gas log starter controlled by a manual gas key is the most efficient and safe system. I respectfully ask that you grant a permit for such a set-up. Specifications: I will utilize one of the 3 manufacturers listed below. Their instructions are enclosed: Dante HPC Midwest Hearth All make natural gas log lighter/starters and have similar requirements: A clean and functional chimney A working flue that can be opened (fully) if the chimney burns wood the flue needs to be fully open. A clamp on the flue will A door with no specifications as to the type of door. Given that this is a wood burning fire there is a requirement that the door be able to allow combustible air to enter the chimney. I have a screen chain-mail screen door. Dante Log Lighter HPC Midwest Hearth Misc. Items Examples of a door Open Grid Door (lattice/grill pattern) Standard Screen Door Misc. Items 2. Functional Chimney and Vent (M) States that the combustibles have the ability to be conveyed from the appliance to the atmosphere through an approved chimney or vent system. The regulations are silent on whether this is done manually or automatically and are silent on whether the venting system/flue is maintained in the open, the partially open/closed, or the closed position during non-operation of the appliance (log lighter). It just states that the chimney and venting system/ flue is an approved system. A flue that is manually controlled is a form of an approved system. The chimney is open to the atmosphere when the manual flue is operated and placed in the open position (this would be true as well for an automatic system). This fulfills the manufacturers guidelines as also discussed in CSA8 of the codes.