WETT Certified Inspections for Orillia
WETT Inspections are now required by most Insurance Companies prior to insuring a property with a Wood Burning Appliance. Having an inspection by a Certified WETT Inspector will ensure your Wood Burning Appliance is installed safely and is in good operating condition. With wood burning appliances, the potential for harmful pollutants to be released into your home as well as combustible materials to ignite is increased, so it is important that these appliances are regularly inspected and properly maintained.This will ensure the safety of you and your family while enjoying the ambienance of an open fire.
What is a WETT Inspection?
WETT stands for Wood Energy Technology Transfer. This is an non-profit organizational body that trains and certifies professional inspectors, who examine wood-burning appliances for installation compliance and operational safety. Therefore, a WETT inspection is a thorough, comprehensive assessment of any wood-burning appliance that is present in your home, which includes, Wood Stovs, Fireplaces, Pellet Stoves, Outside Boilers, Fireplace Inserts and Wood Fired Furnaces. A WETT inspection is necessary to make sure that your health and families safety are protected, and may also be a requirement for some insurance companies.
Your WETT Certified Inspection will be conducted by a certified, qualified inspector. The inspector will use their specialized training to inspect the important elements of a wood-burning appliance in your home. This inspection can ensure proper installation and condition, and that it complies with local regulations, building codes, and other guidelines. It is important to note that a WETT Inspection is a snap shot of the condition of your Wood Burning Appliance at the time of the inspection. The report will identify whether your appliance is compliant or non-compliant with current requirements. The Orillia WETT Inspector will observe and make a note of items that were not required when unit was installed. For expample combustion air has been required for fireplaces since around 1990, older fireplaces did not require combustion air, so technically the fireplace is non-compliant at time of inspection.
Contact the Orillia WETT Inspector for any information regarding inspections of Wood Burning Appliances.
What is Inspected?
- Chimney & Cap
- Chimney Liner or Flue Tiles
- Smoke Chamber
- Wood Stove or Fireplace Damper
- Firebox & Firebricks/Linings
- Hearth & Floor Protection
- Mantle & Clearances to Combustible Walls & Ceilings
- Heat Shield Construction for Reduced Clearances
- Proper Flue Pipe Installation & Venting
- Clearance to Combustible Exterior Items
- Chimney Foundations & Masonry
- Overall Condition of the Woodstove, Fireplace and its Chimney
Why You Need a WETT Inspection
Buying a new home with a Wood Burning Appliance? How do you know if your home is safe unless you have a professional inspection? Your new home may have a wood stove, fireplace or fireplace insert installed and the current home owners may have even had a fire going when you were at the showing. Many professional Realtors will have the Wood Burning Appliance inspected in preperation for the home sale, giving you Peace of Mind knowing the unit is installed properly and safely.
I inspected a Fireplace Wood Burning Insert for a couple of home buyers who could not have a home inspection or a WETT Inspection due to multiple offers on the property. Now they are faced with having to install a Stainless Steel liner in the clay flue tile chimney to comply with todays standards. The Fireplace Insert brick were added after the insert was in place and now the brick have to be removed around the perimeter of the insert to allow for its removal to attach the Stainless Steel liner. A simple WETT Certified Inspection would have immediately identified the chimney liner not being installed and the cost of removing and replaceing fireplace brick.
Hiring a Wood Energy Technology Transfer (WETT) Certified Professional helps to give you (and your insurance) peace of mind when it comes to your wood burning appliance.
WETT Inspection Levels
Note: Some individuals will quote American Standards to try and Charge you more money. Building Departments and Insurance Companies only require a Level 1 WETT Inspection
INSPECTION LEVEL DETAILS
LEVEL-1 INSPECTION (READILY ACCESSIBLE)
1.1 (A) DEFINITION
Readily Accessible is defined as quickly or easily reached for inspection.
A level-1 inspection does not require the use of special tools for the opening or removal of any panel, door, covering, or
system components; nor (unless at the discretion of the inspector and client) would it require the use of ladders.
An inspector should be able to inspect any moveable components of the fireplace, appliance or venting system that are readily
accessible. Examples would be components utilized during normal operation or visual inspection by the user of the system,
such as readily accessible loading doors, primary combustion chamber, ashpan doors, cleanout doors, dampers, air controls,
etc.
A tape measure, light, mirror, camera, magnet, selfie-stick and/or other basic tools should comprise (but are not limited to) the
typical tools required to perform for this level of inspection.
1.2 (A) GUIDELINES — GENERAL
A level-1 inspection includes:
1) a determination for compliance of readily accessible system components, including the proper use of required
components, their required clearances to combustibles, their proper support, as well as their condition and structural
integrity,
2) a determination for compliance of readily accessible shielding, outdoor air components, enclosures and ductwork, if
present,
3) readily accessible evidence of operating malfunction, which may include but is not limited to smoke spillage,
4) obstructions and combustible deposits visible through readily accessible cleanout doors or inspection ports.
LEVEL-2 INSPECTION (ACCESSIBLE)
2.1 (A) DEFINITION
Accessible is defined as able to be reached for the purpose of inspection, without the use of invasive methods to access areas of
the building, property or components of the solid-fuel-burning system.
Access may require the moving or removal of doors, panels, other coverings or system components, and will require the use of
ladders and common tools typically used by a WETT-certified chimney sweep or technician.
Accessible system and/or building components can be repositioned to their original location and/or condition.
2.2 (A) GUIDELINES — GENERAL
1) continuity of accessible venting system and/or ductwork components,
2) proper use and suitability of accessible venting system and/or ductwork components, supports and mechanical
connections, including proper sizing,
3) internal and external surfaces of accessible system components for damage and/or deterioration, for freedom from
combustible deposits, blockage or obstructions and for evidence of operating malfunction,
4) surroundings and/or enclosures of accessible system components for proper clearances and construction. The inspection
may include locations within attics, crawl spaces and basements that can be accessed through doors, hatches or other
openings that do not require removal of parts of the building construction (that are) considered to be permanently
attached.
LEVEL-3 INSPECTION (CONCEALED ACCESSIBILITY)
3.1 (A) DEFINITION
Concealed Accessibility is defined as not able to be accessed except by invasive methods.
Access to concealed areas would require the removal of constructed property and/or system components by invasive methods,
for the purpose of implementing a level-3 inspection. This may require the use of specialty tools and equipment, such as a
video scanning device or flue tile removal system.
It may not be possible to reposition the removed property or system components to their original location and/or condition.
A permit would be required by the Authority Having Jurisdiction when compromising structural building components.
3.2 (A) GUIDELINES — GENERAL
1) the examination of concealed areas within, around and enclosing the system components for evidence of non-compliance,
malfunction, suspected hazards and/or damage to system or building components, and
2) surroundings and/or enclosures of concealed system components for proper clearances.
3.2 (B) GUIDELINES — INVASIVE
1) drilling or cutting holes through the surface of an enclosure wall (chase) to insert a camera or video scanning device,
2) removing a thimble or breech pipe,
3) removing masonry or other non-combustible materials to expose suspected combustible material,
4) removing or cutting a section of drywall or plaster that may conceal an abandoned chimney breech hole,
5) removal of facings or flashings to expose suspected hazards or deterioration, or other invasive methods as required, to
expose concealed areas for inspection.
3.2 (C) ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION
a consent form:
1) to outline what invasive method(s) will be taken, as well as the means to access the concealed area(s), and
2) to outline the responsibilities of each party in regard to the condition the property will be left upon completion of the
level-3 inspection.
Call Roger Frost for your WETT Certified Inspection 705-795-8255
Email Roger