"Project Dumbass"

[MR GUS]

Whilst messing around & ripping out for replacement the wooden cover that formed a cover for the old, long gone open fireplace & protruded into the next room (as a cap & general shelved area)...

I'm wondering the safety / legality of heat vent / vent vent to another room (these obviously go back to back).

Therefore what is to stop me placing an adjustable weight bearing vent that could & would allow warm air into the back room for some low level heat?

the vent would be horizontal, or would tat be a no no even with an intumeescent seal in the event of a fire outside of the cast stove?

..thought I'd delay actual work by asking this, woul;d be handy, sensible even  

Or do I have to cover it over entirely in my favourite hardibacker & tile it?

[biff]

hi gus,
     i think you are refering to back to back fireplaces,? on the normal run of things back to back fireplaces have totally seperate flues and firebacks and are kept apart with a minium of 9" solid brickwork or blockwork as well as their individual firebacks,
     the sensible thing to do is to block off the opening but leave a vent 6" up from the floor, this provides a suitable draught to whish away any damp or sooty smells left over from the time it was used as a fireplace.you can fit a vent with a sliding grill and close it during stormy weather but keep it open in normal times.the vent also help to dry out and send the moisture left over from rain or hail skywards,so a vent really is a must.
                                                                                                               biff