Rules to follow for chimney fires

Winter is approaching, temperatures are dropping, if you have a fireplace, now is the time to use it. However, instructions must be followed.

If you use an open fireplace, you must start by asking your town hall, because some municipalities prohibit their use due to pollution. This is the case in the metropolis of Lyon, in particular. Also take a look at the condominium regulations, if you live in a building, to make sure this is allowed. If this is the case, as a general rule, the fire can be used as a primary or additional heating source. Again, it’s not everywhere. In Île-de-France, it is prohibited to use an open fireplace as main heating. It is only possible as an extra or for pleasure. Knowing that it is a polluting pleasure, therefore consume in moderation.

If you use a closed fireplace, an insert or a stove and the co-ownership allows its use, you can use it for heating. But in all cases, there are rules to respect: you must have your appliance – chimney, stove or insert – swept at least once a year. Insurance companies sometimes require two checks. Here again, check what your contract provides and contact a qualified or certified professional, without forgetting to ask them for a certificate of their passage.

To make a good fire, you must use dry wood, ideally brought in 48 hours before the fire. For species, you can bet on oak, beech or maple, which offer good combustion and leave little residue because your fire should not cause a fire. When wood burns, it can leave deposits on the conduit which, if they accumulate, could catch fire, attack and crack the wall, even burning a beam or insulation present in the wall. Firefighters are called every day for house fires linked to chimney fires, hence the importance of choosing the right wood. We avoid, for example, burning fir trees.

To limit the risks, it is desirable to establish some sort of security perimeter around the chimney. We don’t store wood or firelighters nearby and we remember to install the firewall (or close the insert door) when we go to bed. When you start the fire, you don’t overload the hearth with logs. The idea is to increase the temperature gradually, in order to avoid a thermal shock which could damage the wall. One last piece of advice, in view of the holidays and for the same reasons: we do not burn boxes and gift wrap in the fireplace.