Can I revive this thread to ask about complying with building regs generally?
I know some areas are more permissive than others.
I know of some rocket heaters built in the UK, but not official approval status.
I will give 5 examples from the USA that I know about.
I would like to ask others to give examples where something "like" a rocket has been permitted, approved, insured, inspected, or otherwise been given the blessings of some local authority.
1) Portland, OR now has a 1-week approval process, for rocket mass heaters very much as described in the Evans/Jackson book.
donkey32.proboards.com/thread/285/rmh-permitting-codeUnfortunately they added an outside-air or balanced mechanical ventilation requirement, to make up for leaving out the chimney. In my experience, chimneys are MUCH easier to get working properly than outside air feeds, and I wish they had not added this un-proven option at the last minute.
I know of at least one RMH in Portland which has been inspected, prior to this standard, and was generally well thought of, and remains in use. (I don't know if it's been officially permitted since the new standard came into effect).
2) Vermont does not enforce IRC outside of metro areas like Burlington, and at least one rocket mass heater has been built there legally as a result (2011-12). I do not know about inspection/permitting.
I hear the same for rural counties in Wyoming, some other Western states, but not verified.
Some counties have regs on the books but don't enforce them; in that case, I would not consider it an approved/legal project, just an easy place to stay under-the-radar.
3) An owner of a cabin in MN received verbal approval from his insurance agent in 2012, and built and used a temporary rocket mass heater for several years there. He removed it again before selling the place. Not sure if it would have passed a claim, but the cabin remained insured under this process.
4) An owner of a new barn/apartment outbuilding on a farm in upstate NY submitted a permit application for a "pole barn and Rocket Mass Heater," was inspected, and approved.
5) Inspectors were called to Cob Cottage Company at one point on a neighbor complaint. After enjoying coffee on the rocket bench, the inspection commenced. "Well, it's not a fireplace, so I don't see how you'd have a problem with foundation requirements. And it's not a wood stove, and you don't have combustible walls, so I don't think there are any clearance issues. I don't see any problem here."
Other examples:
In Oregon and Alaska, masonry heater builders have been building the "sidewinder" masonry cookstove, which has a modified batch-box interior, but a very simple cube-like brick exterior appearance, with a mass bench or bell option. I believe Max, Lasse, Kiko, and Donkey have all been involved in development.
I'm told they can be approved under R1002 and ASTM E-1603 as masonry heaters. How many examples have actually been permitted officially so far?
Other certified heater masons build small cookstove-islands, contraflow heaters, and other designs with rocket-like elements. the MHA has played with J-style fireboxes at annual gatherings.
There is some resistance to using the metal barrel, or even a custom upgraded equivalent, as hybrid metal-and-masonry heaters seem to have gone out with the current regulatory tightening.
Puzzlement continues over how to include the J-style firebox under the existing masonry heater codes. It is not that they are forbidden - it is that hearth requirements and closure doors all seem to assume a cupboard-like door where the opening is vertical and the fuel goes in horizontally. Nothing with a down-feed opening is described, and interpreting clearances from the given descriptions might create CYA trepidation for the inspectors. Perhaps we need a J-style feed with a small door/cleanout, and a "cooktop" that can be used as the practical main door.
Outside the USA:
- In BC, an owner (Pat) recently wrote about his successful approval for the Vortex stove he built. This was an official W.E.T.T. inspection, not as casual as #1 and #5 above.
This is probably not a rocket, but very similar to the sidewinder - where do we draw the line on it being a "real" rocket example?
- Karen and Flemming Abrahamsson build many kinds of masonry heater, and have built rocket variations for exhibitions. They are based in Denmark but work in other regions too, and support owner-builders.
What is the most rocket-like heater that they have officially had inspected or approved?
How many examples can they share?
- In the Netherlands, Sjang wrote us about working on masonry heaters using a modified rocket design. I don't know if I'd call it a rocket as such - it's like a round-bellied batch box, or simple box-style contraflow with a chimney-like neck on the firebox - but he is building in high-end homes, presumably with approval.
- Leslie brought back pictures of owner-built J-style fireboxes with cooktops (no visible barrel) from northern Europe; I don't know if they have official approval.
How many success stories can we gather, from owners and contractors?
Since legal approval is not required everywhere, there are four ways your story could meet my challenge.
It must involve something "like" a rocket stove - solid-fueled, clean-burning.
It probably has thermal mass storage, and a vertical firebox element (the heat riser) to really be a "rocket mass heater."
If you intended a rocket mass heater, but to meet local regulations you chose a similar compromise design - like a contraflow kit or something - please tell us those stories too.
1) Legal approval or passed inspection - this would include both DIY and certified masons, UL-listed cores, etc.
2) Insurance approval - you have home insurance, your insurer knows about your stove/heater, and has agreed to maintain the policy.
(A grim bonus if your insurance has paid a fire claim since this arrangement was reached - not related to your heater, of course.)
3) Emissions and performance tested - you have quantifiable data suggesting your model COULD be approved and SHOULD be approved under local clean-air requirements, clearances, etc. May be certified, or working toward certification, or just preliminary testing.
4) Exemptions - this would include temporary permission, humanitarian exemptions (only way to heat or cook), or any special arrangement that involves regulatory cooperation and paving the path to approval.
