Pellet stove in a flat: can it be installed?
Pellet stoves have become a very useful tool for heating our homes. But the problem arises when we consider installing a pellet stove in a flat. Something for which it is convenient to know what the legislation tells us about it.
Among the heating options that we have in our home, the pellet has become one of the best. We are talking about an economical fuel, with a high calorific value . In addition, it is made with agricultural by-products and other plant remains, so not only does it not pollute, but it also helps convert these residues into a useful and highly efficient product.
For this reason, there are more and more places where pellet stoves become the ideal solution for heating any home or premises. The problem arises when that installation is done on a floor. If it is executed in a house or similar, there is no problem, but the installation of a pellet stove in a flat is subject to a series of conditions that we must know.
What we can tell you is that, as long as you comply with the corresponding regulations, there is no problem installing one of these devices in your home. So that you know all the necessary details, we will go through the different aspects of the regulations to install a pellet stove in a flat in this article.
what does the law say
Horizontal property law: Article 7 of the LPH, or horizontal property law, establishes that the owner of each floor may modify it in the way he wishes , provided that this does not alter or undermine the security of the building, nor supposes a prejudice to the rights of other owners. Therefore, if the installation of the pellet stove complies with these principles, it would be authorized. The only requirement established by the standard is to inform the community in advance, but only if there are alterations to the building’s façade.
Regulations for Thermal Installations in Buildings: Another interesting legal aspect is established by the Regulations for Thermal Installations in Buildings, which indicates the regulations for the smoke outlet of the pellet stove, the chimney or any other similar element. This standard indicates that any equipment that generates gases must have a smoke outlet to the roof , whose chimney exceeds at least two meters the height of the surrounding buildings.
Technical Building Code (RD 314/2006): The Technical Building Code indicates that the evacuation of combustion gases must be carried out, in general, through the roof of the building. The objective is to limit the risks of contamination of its interior spaces. Therefore, if the installation of the stove complies with this standard, there would be no problems in carrying out the installation and enjoying the advantages of a pellet stove.
Municipal regulations: The last legal aspect that we have to abide by is the regulations issued by the town hall in which the house is located. Although it is not usual, it is true that some municipalities may establish certain limitations or obligations when carrying out this type of assemblies, especially affecting the way in which the smoke is evacuated and what is related to the uniformity of the facades. In fact, these same regulations affect the installation of air conditioning equipment, to cite an example. Therefore, reviewing these local regulations is always highly recommended.
How to install a pellet stove in a flat
Having seen the entire legal framework, it is time to move on to the practical part. In general, the problems of pellet stoves in a flat are related to the combustion fumes coming out of them. In accordance with what is legally established, it is essential to channel these gases to the roof of the building, not being able to evacuate through the facades.
In addition, that chimney must be two meters higher than the highest of the surrounding buildings, so that the gases do not pose a problem. If this assembly turns out to be too complicated or expensive, you can always resort to a pellet stove without smoke outlet as an alternative, which simplifies assembly and avoids these installation problems.
Another problem can occur in connection with the installation of a ductable pellet stove. These stoves have heat intakes that take hot air to where it is needed, through specific tubes. The problem is that, before carrying out the installation, it will be essential to check that the structure of the building is capable of withstanding this hot air traffic without deteriorating or causing a fire or any other sinister.
In parallel to the above, when installing our pellet stove it is key not to do it on wooden floors or next to walls that can be damaged by heat. If necessary, you must change its location or protect these areas with elements that prevent the heat from damaging said surfaces.
As a last section, we talk about the regulation of parameters of pellet stoves. This step is highly recommended for all pellet stoves, although it is even more important for those installed on floors. The better configured and regulated the stove is, the better its operating results and the less pollution generated. A specific regulation is not necessary for floor-mounted stoves, although given their nature, it is advisable to resort to the programmed on and off options , to save more fuel in the heating process.
