IMPORTANT

WARNING - FAKE CE APPROVED SOLID FUEL
CAST IRON STOVES / WOOD BURNERS

This guide is to highlight the fact that many vast majority of cast iron multi fuel and wood burning stoves being sold on Ebay are NOT actually CE and BS approved when they ARE stated as being so. CE / BS and Heat Efficiency Testing Certification is now a LEGAL REQUIREMENT for all stoves being fitted into dwellings BUILT FROM AND AFTER 2002 and has been so for the last couple of years.

My bug-bear is not with those selling unapproved stoves - ie secondhand or otherwise. After all it's like buying a car with no MOT or tax - it's not illegal to sell it ... but it is the purchasers responsability to make sure it has these for driving on the road. My bug-bear is those selling stoves stating they ARE approved if they are not !

These testing certificates and compliances are issued for consumer safety and to meet new required HEAT EFFICIENCY REGULATIONS (stoves must test to over 65% efficient)

Stoves FITTED to dwellings prior to 2006 did not require these approvals. If you are fitting a new or second hand stove into your home you are legally required to fit a stove tested to new regulations.

Should you purchase and fit a cast iron stove WITHOUT CE and BS Certifications of compliance, house insurance will be invalidated in the event of an fire (stove related or otherwise), the house may not pass a survey, HETAS registered engineers should REFUSE to fit in properties built post 2002 and it should also fail Building Control Inspection (should you fit it yourself).

The vast majority of engineers will refuse to fit a non approved new or secondhand stove and are perfectly within their right to do so.

Many Ebay sellers marketing stoves as being CE and BS approved are actually selling OLD or NON APPROVED stock under false pretences.

Some Ways to Help Identify Stoves Falsely Listed as CE / BS Approved

• For Sale in auction only format or at low cost (most are under £300.00 - most of these sellers are DESPERATE to shift their old stock) -

• Lack metal data plates on the rear of the stove

• No stove manual

• Stoves advertised as CHEAP TO CLEAR

• No pot belly stoves currently meet CE and BS Approvals to my knowledge as these are not SEALED AIR TIGHT APPLIANCES.

Full stove manual is required by law. It will state manufacturer, model name and identification, BS and CE approval / compliances and stove ratings.

 If there is no stove manual provided, the stove is NOT approved. ASK if it has a manual. If in doubt, also ask to see a copy of the TEST CERTIFICATE, stating model and testings to required standards. Stove manual should be kept in a safe place for reference at all times.

ALARM BELLS - No metal data plates on the rear of the stove. The stove must carry metal identification of Compliance approval plates - normally on the rear of the stove. If these plates are not present, the stove is NOT approved. Ask for photographic proof before purchase that these plates are present.

** We have been approached by importers to supply them with 'data plates'. The only 'data plate' we can buy or sell is for FLUE data, for later fitting to record installation details. This is a DIFFERENT kind of data plate. CE data plates are special, and are supplied ALREADY FITTED at the works  - you can't buy just a plate aftermarket.**

If buying a cheap stove - ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU BUY.... Private sales are always a case of buyer beware.

Search for planning portal to download a copy of the current building control regulation documents free. We have this available by request on email too. Building control requirements must be met for the fitting of stoves. Minimum air gaps and clearances from combustable surfaces, flue projection heights from roof etc are all equally important.

See our other ebay guides

See our Ebay Shop

See photo below showing metal plate 3/4 of the way down on stove back on Right hand side

We are working methodically through all our auctions to make sure they state all new certifiable approvals if and where required. If, by an chance we've missed one or you would like clarification over current approval status, please ask and our qualified HETAS engineer will be happy to advise.

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