Thatched living

Thatch fires can be caused by a number of factors, these can include: ejected embers, chimney fires, failures in chimney brickwork/mortar, electrical faults or external factors like fireworks or sky lanterns. The thatch is designed to repel water which makes extinguishing these fires difficult, therefore prevention is essential. See our Thatched Living Pack for guidance.

Chimney safety

Poorly maintained chimneys can deteriorate to the point where smoke and hot gases can escape from the chimney into the upper rooms, the roof space, or directly into the thatch.

• Sweep your chimney at least twice a year. Tar and soot built up can lead to chimney fires resulting in burning materials being emitted from the chimney.
• Failure in chimney brickwork or pointing may set fire to the thatch directly by ejecting burning material. Have the brickwork inspected by a registered engineer every three years.
• Fires should be lit using firelighters and kindling only, paper or card can be lifted out of the chimney which could land on the thatch.

Regular sweeping of chimneys will remove soot, bird nests, cobwebs and other blockages. Having your chimney swept by a professional registered chimney sweep will remove creosote which can help to prevent a chimney fire.

You can find a local chimney sweep by visiting the National Association of Chimney Sweeps website.

Heating your home – open fires and wood burners

If you’re using a wood-burning stove, ensure that it’s installed and checked by an approved installer as they can provide advice and guidance regarding its operation and safe working limits. Introducing too much air (over firing) into a stove can increase the velocity of fire gases travelling up the flue, which increases the risk of ejecting an ember from the chimney top.

For heat appliances, ensure you use an approved HETAS registered installer.

Your Maintenance Checklist

• Is a working smoke alarm and Carbon monoxide detector fitted on every level of your home?  Find out more about our free Safe & Well service.
• Do you test your smoke alarm works once a week?
• Have you regularly had your chimney inspected and swept?
• Do you only burn seasoned wood?
• Do you check all tradespeople are registered engineers and are aware of potential fire risks?
• Do you use fireguards with open fires?
• Have you got a salvage plan?

Your Insurance Policy

Always check with your insurance provider about your level of cover and any extra precautions they require you to carry out.

Not following your policy could have devastating financial consequences. Remember you may have two separate insurance policies with different companies, one for the building and one for contents. Ensure you check both policies and make sure any valuables are listed.

If a fire occurs – get out, stay out, call 999…

• Keep all exits clear.
• Have a plan B. The front door is usually your first option, but have a plan B, if plan A is blocked.
• Keep door and window keys accessible.

Is your Thatch property in a hard to locate location?

In an emergency, identifying precisely where help is needed is critical. If you cannot describe exactly where you are, we recommend you download the what3words app for iOS and Android or visit the online map at what3words.com. This has divided the world into 3 metre squares and given each square a unique combination of three words. The system works offline, making it ideal for use in areas with an unreliable data connection.
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