GB2520022A - Flue terminal unit and method of flue termination - Google Patents

Abstract

A flue terminal unit for locating substantially around a flue terminal on the exterior of a building, the unit having an aperture for receiving the flue and at least one side wall spaced apart from the aperture. The terminal unit has an open body comprising an open-fronted stainless steel box comprising a base or rear wall 12, upper and lower walls 14a and 14b and side walls 16a and 16b. The body base is capable to be attached to the exterior of the wall. In the centre of the rear wall 12 is a circular aperture 18 for accommodating a flue. The upper and lower walls 14a and 14b slope downwardly from the rear wall 12 at an angle of approximately 10 degrees to the perpendicular to allow rainwater to run off the flue terminal unit in use.

Description

Flue Terminal Unit and Method of Flue Termination The present invention relates to a flue termination unit and to a method of terminating a flue, and is concerned particularly, although not exclusively, with a terminal.

unit suitable for a wall mounted flue, and with a method of terminating a waLl. mounted flue of a building.

Whenever a building contains a fireplace, boiler or furnace a flue must be provided, which typically comprises a pipe or duct for conveying the exhaust gases to the exterior of the building.

In the case of a chimney, this is usually located on a roof of Lhe building. When Lhe flue is for the boiler of a central heating system it often terminates on an exterior vertical wall of the house of apartment in a small box or cowl, sometimes covered by a protective mesh guard.

In recent years an effort has been made to increase the thermal insulation efficiency of domestic buildings. In many cases this has prompted the treatment of exterior walls, by cladding Lhcm with insulating boards or tiles and then applying a rendered finish1 for improved aesthetics.

Where a flue terminates on an exterior wall which is to be renovated in this way, the boards must be applied carefully leaving a space around the flue cowl or guard. This is because safety regulations require that the operation of the flue must not be compromised, such as by encroachment of tiles which would effectively reduce the extent to which

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the flue protrudes from the wall, potentially affecting its efficiency.

However, simply leaving a clearance around the flue would be unsightly.

In the prior art, attempts have been made tc address this problem by affixing a new flue terminal, to increase its projection from the wall and thus allow for the extra thickness provided by the cladding. However this has proved problematic for several reasons. Firstly, cacti of the many different type of flue ccwl requires a specific extension piece, which must be obLained from specialisL suppliers, often at considerable cost. Depending upon the age of the installation, a ready-made extension may not be available.

Furthermore, the extension of the flue terminal may not be permitted in certain types of installation, due to the risk of leaks presented by any joint in the flue. Where an extended flue terminal is available, its installation can lead to disruption hoth internally and externally to the property, thus inconveniencing the resident.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention aim to address the abovementioned problems by providing a flue terminal unit and method of installation.

The present invention is defined in the attached independent claims, Lo which reference should now be made.

Further, preferred features may be found in the sub-claims appended thereto.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flue terminal unit for locating substantially around a flue terminal on an exterior of a building structure, the unit comprising a body, having an aperture S for receiving the flue terminal and at least one side wall, spaced from the aperture.

Preferably the body ccmprises a base member for mounting on the exterior of a structure, which base member may include the aperture. In a preferred arrangement the, or each, side wall is arranged to extend transversely from the base member, preferably away from the exterior of the structure in use.

The base member may be arranqed in use to be fixed to the exterior of the structure. Preferably the base member is arranged to be fixed to the structure using one or more fixing elements, which may comprise screws.

Tn a preferred arrangement the body is generally an open box shape, such as an open polyhedron, more preferably an open parallelepiped.

Preferably the at least one side wall is arranged in use to provide a guide edge or surface for the application to the structure of a functional or decorative element, such as a panel, board, block or coating.

According to another aspect of the present invention, Lhore is provided a method of adapting a surface of a building structure, which structure comprises a flue terminal, the method comprising mounting on the structure a flue terminal unit having a body and an aperture, such that the flue terminal is accommodated in the aperture, and adapting the surface by applying a functional or decorative element to the structure using a side wall! of the body as a guide.

In a preferred arrangement the method comprises a method of insulating a wall of a building structure+ The method may comprise applying a panel, block, board or coating to the wall of the building structure using the body as a guide.

The method may comprise rendering the wall of the building structure using the body as a guide.

The invention nay include any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein, except such a combination of features as are mutually exclusive, or mutually inconsistent.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described. By way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a flue Lorminal unit according to an embodimcnL of the present invention; Figure 2 shows in schematic sectional view a flue on an exterior wall of a building; Figure 3a shows in schematic sectional view the flue terminal unit of Figure 1 mounted around the flue of Figure 2; Figure 3b shows the flue terminal, unit in a perspective view; Figure 4 shows in schematic sectional view the flue S terminal unit of Figure 3a with cladding applied to the wall; Figure 5 shows the flue terminal unit of Figure 4 with a first render applied; and Figure 6 shows the flue terminal unit of Figure 5 with a final render applied.

Turning to Figure 1, this shows, generally at 10, a flue terminal unit according to an embodiment of the invention.

The unit 10 has an open body comprising an open-fronted stainless steel box comprising a base or rear wall 12, upper and lower walls 14a and 14b and side walls 16a and 16b. In the centre of the rear wall 12 is a circular aperture lB for accommodating a flue, as will be described below. The upper and lower walls l4a and 14b slope downwardly from the rear wall 12 at an angle of approximately 10 degrees to the perpendicular. This Moans that the upper wall 16a makes an angle of approximately 80 degrees with the roar wall 12, and Lho lowor wall 16b Makes an angle of approximately 100 degrees with the rear wall 12. The reason for the slope is to allow rainwater to run off the flue terminal unit in use.

The example shown in Figure 1 has a height and width of approximately 300 mm and a depth of approximately 130 mm.

The aperture 18 has a diameter of 125 mm.

Figure 2 shows an external wall 20 of a building schematically in cross section, prior to installation of a flue terminal, unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. A flue pipe 22 extends from an interior of the building, generally referenced 24, through the wall to an exterior. The pipe 22 ends in a cowl 26.

Figures 3a and 3b show the flue terminal unit 10 mounted on the exterior of the wall 20. The unit 10 is affixed to the wall 20 by four screws 28 which pass through pre-drilled holes in the rear wall 12 arid into the wall 20. The flue cowl 26 is received in, and passes through, the aperture 18 in Lhe rear wall 12 of the unit 10. The unit 10 is mounted so that the upper and lower walls of the unit 16a arid l6b slope downwardly away from the wall 20.

Figure 4 shows the wall 20 at a further stage of insulation. Insulating boarding 30 has been affixed to the wall 20. The boarding is secured to the wall 20 using plastic fixings 32. The boarding 30 is applied right up to the unit 10 prior to fixing with the plastic fixings 32. In the schematic sectional drawing the boarding is shown above and below the unit 10, but in reality the boarding and any subsequexib layers would subsLanLially surround Ihc unit 10.

Figuro 5 shows the wall 20 with a first coat of rendering 34 over the boarding 30, and Figure 6 shows the wall 20 with a final coat 36 of render over the layer 34.

The flue terminal unit 10 can accommodate different sizes and shapes of flues and cowls, as no intimate mating contact is needed. The flue is simply received in the aperture 13 as the unit 10 is affixed to the wall 20. The upper, lower and side walls of the unit then provide a neat straight edge against which an operative can build up the various layers of insulation, without leaving an unsightly gap. The flue itself is not obstructed in any way, and since nothing is required to be connected to the f].ue, there is no risk of infringing building regulations or compromising the flue's operation, and no engineer's report is needed.

Use of the terminal unit 10 can save considerable cost when compared with the present approach in which the first step is for an engineer to enLer Lhe property to check that the appliance, e.g. boiler is fully functioning priox Lo any work taking place. This is followed by the ordering, purchasing and fitting of a flue terminal extension piece, if one is available and then making good the interior of the wall and decor of the property Finally, the testing of the flue and analysis of the flue gases must be undertake prior to the report by the engineer.

Although the terminal unit 10 described above is generally square-shaped, it could of course be a different shape, and size. Similarly the aperture could be of a different shape and size, and the material of the unit could be other than stainless steel.

Whilst endeavouring in Lhe foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance, it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features referred to herein, and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS1. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flue terminal unit for locating S substantially around a f..ue terminal on an exterior of a building structure, the unit comprising a body, having an aperture for receiving the flue terminaf and at least one side wail, spaced from the aperture.
2. 2. A flue terminal unit according to Claim 1, wherein the body comprises a base member for mounting on the exterior of a structure.
3. 3. A flue terminal unit according to Claim 2, wherein thc, or each, side wall is arranged to extend transversely from the base member.
4. 4. A flue terminal unit according to Claim 2 or 3, wherei.n the base member is arranged in use to be fixed to the exterior of the structure.
5. 5. A flue terminal unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body is generally an open box shape, such as an open polyhedron.
6. 6.A flue terminal unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one side wall is arranged in use to provide a guide edge or surface fo the application to the structure of a functional or decorative element, such as a panel, board, bloc]c or coating.
7. 7. A method of adapting a surface of a building structure which structure comprises a flue terminal, the method comprising mounting on the structure a flue terminal unit having a body and an aperture, such that the flue terminal is accommodated in the aperture, and adapting the surface by applying a functional or decorative element to the structure using a side wall of the body as a guide.
8. 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the method comprises a method of insulaLing a wall of a building structure -
9. 9. A method according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein the method comprises applying a panel, block, board or coating to the wall of Lhe building sLructure using the body as a guide.
10. 10. A method according to any of Claims 7 to 9, wherein the moLhod comprises rendering the wall of the hul ldi ng structure using the body as a guide.