An uncommissioned stove relates to a wood burning stove that has been disassembled by a professional installer, pending maintenance or further inspection. The maintenance can involve a range of components within the installation, ranging from the stove to the flue system.
While your stove is uncommissioned, it must not be used under any circumstances. This could pose a health or fire risk and has to be recommissioned by a professional before it can be used again.
Uncommissioned Fire Stoves
While your wood burning stove is uncommissioned, it should have a warning label in clear view. This label will indicate that the appliance must not be used until a professional installer has recommissioned it, ensuring that is safe to use. The label will serve as a clear warning and would be left by the installer following an inspection that has found a fault in your installation.
Your technician installer may not always be able to provide an immediate fix to the issue your installation has encountered, due to some remedial work take some time, such as major repairs or replacements to your flue systems. With disabling your wood burning stove and marking it with an uncommissioned label, your installer is providing clear instructions that the appliance is pending maintenance and must not be used until this is completed.
Recommissioning Process
When recommissioning your appliance, your technician/installer will undertake a range of tests to ensure that your installation is safe to be recommissioned:
- Chimney integrity test (smoke test 1)
- Chimney draw test (smoke test 2)
- Flue draught test
- Flue draught interference test (depressurization test)
- Spillage on refuel test
These tests will provide assurance that your installation is working correctly and safely.
Following a Recommission
Once your installer has recommissioned your wood burner (reassembled) and is satisfied that your installation is working safely, they will supply you with a commissioning sheet. This commissioning sheet will serve as evidence that your wood burning stove was recommissioned by a professional technician. It is also important that you keep your commissioning sheet safe as it could be required should your installation require further maintenance in the future.
Why Has My Stove Been Uncommissioned?
Your technician/installer will communicate and document the reason(s) that your appliance or installation have been uncommissioned. There are a range of events that warrant uncommissioning, including:
- Flue system replacement or changes
- Appliance replacement or significant location change
- Recess damage repair
- Hearth replacements or alterations
Keeping in mind that each installation is unique, and problems can arise in a variety of ways, this list is not exhaustive, and your installer could find alternate reasons to warrant uncommissioning your appliance.
Chimney Sweeping
Your technician will advise you to have your chimney swept before your appliance is recommissioned. This will provide further assurance that your wood burner is safe and can function efficiently.