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Spark Arrestors
In recent years spark arrestors
have received a mixed press from both the fire service and insurers of thatched properties,
with no definitive decision by either on whether they are a good or bad investment. If your
chimney is around the 1.8m recommended height above the surrounding thatch and is free of all
impedimenta such as slabs, ridge tiles or "T" shaped terminals, the fitting of such
a device should not be necessary. If, as is the case with longstraw, coats of thatch have
built up over the years and the height has been drastically reduced, they are worth
considering, but the best course of action is to have the height of the chimney raised.
If contemplating a spark arrestor, look for the type that fits on top of the
chimney pot. The over-riding problem with spark arrestors has always been the
ability of the owner and
sweep to keep the mesh clean and unclogged; if this is not regularly done
they become a
danger to both the property and the health of the owner.
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