WHAT ARE THE REGULATIONS FOR INSTALLING A STOVE IN A SHEPHERD HUT OR SHED?

Installing a wood burning or multi fuel stove in a structure considered ‘temporary’, such as a shepherd hut, log cabin, garden shed, summer house or yurt for example, should not be used as an excuse to cut corners or to ignore the installation guidance set out in BS8303 Installation of Domestic Heating Burning Wood or Building Regulations Technical Booklet L.

Although the installation of stoves in temporary leisure accommodation falls outside the remit of regulations it is of even greater importance for those occupying such buildings that the principles of safe and efficient installation contained within these regulations should be adhered to by the installer. In addition, because of the way tiny spaces and temporary structures are generally constructed with lightweight flammable materials, there are a number of other critical considerations which must also be addressed.

It is worth noting here that there are many how-to videos on YouTube covering the installation of stoves in shepherd huts, caravans and log cabins etc and these are likely to be the first port of call for many people. However, in The Stove Yard’s opinion there are literally only a couple of these that we would consider to offer comprehensive safe advice. Common mistakes in these videos include...

• Stoves with excessive heat output that require safe distances to combustibles that can’t be met in the confined spaces of temporary structures
• Use of flexible liner when connecting flue pipe or insulated twin wall should be used
• Lack of appropriate heat shielding, if any
• Failure to use twin wall insulated flue pipe, especially where the flue exits the roof
• Hearths, if used at all, which offer little or no protection to the timber floor beneath it
• Dangerous siting of the stove, for example directly beside an entrance / emergency escape route
• Failure to use flue fire stop supporting plates in the roof

...and a lot more besides. Below we’ve created some basic pointers, which together with the detailed Hetas Technical Note and SOLIFTEC’s at-a-glance guide, both of which you can download here, should help you to create a safe and practical installation.

Hetas Guide to Stoves and Glamping

Hetas Technical Note 23: Stoves in Temporary Leisure Accommodation

SOLIFTEC Guide to Stoves in Boats

BFCMA Installation Guidelines for Wood Burning Stoves

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