Thatched Properties
A thatched roof is always at risk from fire. When a fire takes hold of a thatched property the damage is devastating.
The most common causes of fires in a thatched buildings are electrical faults, lightning affecting the television aerial, stray sparks from the chimneys, discarded cigarettes and garden bonfires.
Do you live in a thatched property?
- It's important to insulate the chimney flue to prevent the heat from transferring into the thatch layer. This is especially important when a solid fuel or wood burner is installed as they burn at higher temperatures than conventional open fires
- Make sure you have your chimney swept regularly by a qualified chimney sweep. A chimney in regular use should be swept twice a year
- Avoid burning softwoods which can cause a build-up in your chimney
- Have your chimney inspected by a qualified chimney engineer
- If you have a spark arrestor fitted, make sure you clean it regularly. This should be done every three months on chimneys in regular use and the arrestor should be taken down to clean
- Fit a bird guard to deter birds from building nests in chimneys
- Develop a fire plan for your home
- Make sure you have smoke alarms installed throughout your home. If you have a loft space, an interlinked smoke alarm should be installed which is linked to at least one other within your home
- Take extra care when using blowtorches or heat guns (if plumbing or painting etc.)
This document is designed to be filled in and kept in a safe place so that firefighters have access to all of the information they need about your property. In the event of a fire in your home, this information will help them to tackle the fire quickly and efficiently.
A useful guide for anyone living in a thatched property. This information pack contains advice on how to prevent a fire from occurring in your home. We recommend you keep this with the Prevention Guide and pass all documents to the new owners in the event you move house.
Download our Safety Guides to stay safe
We're encouraging anyone living in a thatched property to download our Thatched Property Safety Guide and Prevention Guide.
This information will help you to prevent a fire in your home and provide firefighters with all the information they need to know in the event of a fire.