Print

[Lancealott]

Hi I am new here but not new to OWBs, nor to wood heat.  I had a Adobe that lasted just long enough for the company to disappear and then a Sequoia E-3400.  I will attempt to post a pic of the now gone woodshed and boiler.  The fire inspector could not find the reason for the fire.  He could not eliminate the boiler but could not find a problem with it either.  Best guess was electrical, he could not find anything wrong there either.  He (actually there were 2 and they were there for hours searching) said they have had a lot of rodent caused electrical fires this year.  Also that he has seen some from use of the push in wire holes on the back of outlets and switches.  They did not give me a hard time but you can be sure that the new P&M 250 (I have been told it's the first of the new designee ordered in the north east) will not be under the shed.  They highly recommended a metal car port for over the boiler.  Oh well could figure out how to post a picture.  It took about 15 minutes for a 28' by 30' shed and 5 cord of wood to disappear.  The fire department put 1600 gallons of foam on what was left of the wood pile, it was a foot thick. They were hear for a couple of hours getting everything out.  Aluminum roofing burns real well.

[slimjim]

I think I know you, welcome aboard, glad you saw the light, sorry I could not have been there to convince you sooner on the shed thing

[TheBoiler]

My system is in its own building, I am on well water so my water system is in there as well, sort of my tool shop. Perhaps I need to add sprinkler heads?

I have it set up so I can easily keep a cord in there during the winter, with a garage door to allow easy refill.

One day... I have this vision of trailers, like they have for taking baggage to aircraft, have enough of them to hold a months worth of wood, wheel them in as needed. I remember reading of one guy who made 4'x4'x4' racks, now he had a back hoe with forks, I do not.

This year as I re stock I will keep my stacks separate, say no more than 4 cords without a fire break.

[randy_1]

Just came home from bangor today and saw the remains of a wood boiler that was under a wooden roof off the back of a barn in Corinth. Let's just say I think his opinion will probably be the same as yours.. Sad site for sure...

[slimjim]

Kind of defeats the purpose doesn't it Randy, Theboiler is your unit pressurized and if so do you have non powered dump zones in case of a power outage?

[mlappin]

So whats the theory on the start of the fires? Errant coal that fell out of the door and wasn't seen or the random spark out of the stack?

I was really hoping to place a structure of some sort over the next boiler I built, nothing more than a roof really with some overhang over the back of the unit and a lot over the front. Wouldn't be centered over the unit either, more off to the right as you stand there looking at the door so you'd have lots of room to place a couple of racks to the right of it that would hold half a cord a piece. I'm thinking steel roof and covering any exposed wood on either end with barn tin or just flash any exposed wood.

After studying mine I'm pretty sure the trouble spots I have with corrosion is from external water penetration and not internal from condensation or creosote. Of course took 14 heating seasons to get to the point where it's a concern. Current placement doesn't really allow something as wide as a carport over it.

[LittleJohn]

... The fire department put 1600 gallons of foam on what was left of the wood pile, it was a foot thick. They were hear for a couple of hours getting everything out.  Aluminum roofing burns real well.

Its amazing how fast fire moves, they once did a controlled burn near town about a decade ago with a delapitated old house (part training, part rednecks having fun).  From first ignition to total engulf, was on the order of like 10 minutes, and 20 minutes after full engulf -> total collapse.

[slimjim]

Who really knows, I have seen many times that the homeowner builds a wooden structure with no consideration of fire hazard from sparks, gasoline or fuel oil stored in the area or we had one guy locally in Maine where the homeowner used gasoline to start his wood boiler a year ago, not sure he is even out of his tent at the hospital in Boston yet, also if the homeowner builds a shelter he should keep in mind that sooner or later he will want to replace the unit so easy removal needs to be considered.

[LittleJohn]

Picture of enclosure near my dads OWB, able to hold about 1/2 to 1 cord of wood, LP Generator and Main electrical panel.  PIcture is several years old, cause now it has metal siding and a roof, but u get the idea

**OWB is not in final location, it is actually turned 90 degrees so it opens toward the structure.

[mlappin]

This would have nothing around it but the OWB and at most a cord of wood.

In the summer we'd place a bench under it to relax.

Just not really feasible in my case to move it to make room for any of the metal carports I've seen. Can't go east as the hill drops off behind it. Can't go north as have a lilac bush and a telephone pole in the way. West is out of the question as already have a sidewalk there and both our pickups are parked on the west side of the walk. Can't really go south either as then you start getting pretty close to the main drive and no place to put wood then.

[TheBoiler]

Kind of defeats the purpose doesn't it Randy, Theboiler is your unit pressurized and if so do you have non powered dump zones in case of a power outage?

Not pressurised,  I do have the latter.

I did allow for a generator, then they spent an inordinate amount of money upgrading the power system locally.  Keep on thinking there must be a secret facility nearby.

[skorpyd]

I'm still planning on building a structure around mine.

I will have plenty of clearance around the chimney stack and the rest of the structure.  The front will have a sliding door  that will be large enough to R&R the OWB in the future if needed.

This will be built as a post frame structure and for me I guess the benefits outweigh the risks.

[Sprinter]

However the wood burning setup, I always plan on having a fire in the design. You just never know what fire plans on doing one day. It has a mind of its own it seems.

You can buy sprinkler heads cheap, $3 an up each. Just pay attention to the temp rating and where you plan on placing them. Several of our communities require them in any mechanical room residential and commercial.

Sorry to hear about your fire, good electrical components are important as well.

[willieG]

I'm still planning on building a structure around mine.

I will have plenty of clearance around the chimney stack and the rest of the structure.  The front will have a sliding door  that will be large enough to R&R the OWB in the future if needed.

This will be built as a post frame structure and for me I guess the benefits outweigh the risks.

mine was an old unused shed on the farm...i uprooted it and pulled it to where i wanted my OWB, poured a floor in it to store wood on and installed a sliding door on it and i have been able to have my wood dry and snowless and my arse out of the wind when firing the OWB for the last 13 years...i agree with skorpyd...the risk has been worth it (for me anyway)

[NHmtndad]

Personally, I love having my OWB in my barn. It's on a concrete slab and is in its shell as well. I keep roughly 3-4 cords inside the barn as well. It's great in the winter when there's a foot of snow on the ground and beer that's being neglected in the fridge.  Nonetheless, it's insured.