Spark arrester for a chimney: types, how to make and install it on a bathhouse pipe with your own hands

In addition to its advantages, individual heating has a significant drawback - the risk of fire. The risk of fire increases significantly when the combustion process reaches high temperatures and fiery sparks fly out of the chimney with great force.

A spark arrester on the chimney will help solve this problem - the device prevents the spread of dangerous sparks. The device has a simple design, so it is quite possible to make and install it yourself.

We will tell you how the spark arrester works, describe the features of different models, and provide step-by-step instructions on how to manufacture and fasten the element. The information presented will help you complete all the work yourself, saving money on purchasing a finished product and calling a specialist.

What is it and what is it for?

The spark arrester is designed to extinguish sparks flying out of the chimney when fuel burns in a stove/fireplace.

Usually it is mounted directly on the chimneys of solid fuel stoves, the chimney pipe of a bathhouse, or a special glass for attaching deflectors. This installation is a special nozzle with a metal mesh cylinder and a protective visor on the top.

Main models

The elements of the chimney that ensure the elimination of hot incandescent particles are different. At home, as a rule, two types of spark arrestors are used:

Stainless steel casing, which is a mesh structure. You can do it using improvised means.
Deflector. In addition to extinguishing solid hot particles, it improves traction by redirecting the wind flow. Protects the stove device and bathhouse from a dangerous phenomenon - backdraft as a result of strong winds.

The damper in the form of a casing is the most popular, since its design is quite simple.
Holes are made in the pipe or a special nozzle in the form of a mesh is attached to it. The disadvantage of this design is the frequent revision of the spark arrester device. Perforated mesh quickly becomes clogged, as combustion products settle on their surface. The higher the degree of contamination, the less draft in the pipe. The spark arrestor, made in the form of a casing, is subject to frequent cleaning. On sale there are assembled casings for extinguishing sparks. Their advantage is their easy connection to the chimney pipe. More modern devices are spark arresting devices - deflectors. Externally they look more aesthetically pleasing. When using deflectors, the draft in the chimney is not reduced. Such absorbers are equipped with mesh and perforation. Their distinctive feature is the presence of narrowing points, which allow increasing traction inside the spark arresting element. Depending on the location of the narrow sector, there are various models of dampers, many of which are very similar in appearance to the casing, but are more aerodynamic. The disadvantage is that it gets dirty quickly and requires frequent cleaning, especially when using resinous logs as fuel.

Principle of operation

The principle of operation is to limit the free movement of sparks flying out of the chimney. A special design repeatedly redirects the movement of particles that encounter various obstacles.

When hitting a metal mesh with the smallest cells, the sparks are broken, the speed of their movement decreases along with a change in direction of movement. Upon subsequent collision with a metal structure, the particles are extinguished without leaving the chimney.

These filter obstacles do not interfere with the free movement of gas.

Materials

Traditionally, metal chimneys have been used for many decades. But the metal differs greatly depending on the specific type or even grade. Steel and copper varieties are often used. Their walls are not as thick as when using other materials. Therefore, a matching internal section means slightly less coverage.

High-quality metal does not have the effect of oxygen diffusion. It is also supported by the low coefficient of thermal expansion. In domestic buildings, prefabricated brick pipes are often created. High-quality brick can easily withstand heat up to 600 degrees and even higher. It is also sometimes used in serious industrial boiler houses.

However, stainless steel sandwich pipes have become very widespread. The idea is very simple: one pipe is inserted into another, and the gap separating them is filled with fireproof, heat-resistant insulation. Most often it is stone wool, a little less often it is perlite sand.

Kinds

There are many varieties of such units. They differ in shape, size and the element itself responsible for extinguishing the spark.

Structurally, these devices may also differ. The following types of spark arresters are most often used in individual heating:

spark arrester-casing;
spark arrestor deflector.

Manufacturing a device based on the type of deflector

Deflector-type spark arresters are more difficult to make with your own hands, but they are more effective than mesh models. Fine mesh often gets clogged, and large mesh sometimes allows sparks to pass through, so they are less popular among stove makers.

When making a spark arrester, you can take a Grigorovich deflector or another type as a basis. A more common design is the Tsaga deflector type with the addition of an apron to catch sparks:

Before starting work, you need to cut out a template of spark arrester elements from thick cardboard and to do this, first of all you need to measure the chimney pipe. More precisely, its diameter.
The inner part of the structure can be made from a piece of pipe of a suitable diameter so that it fits onto the chimney. If it is difficult to find such a pipe, you will have to bend a sleeve from a stainless steel sheet with your own hands.
The upper edge of the sleeve should have a larger diameter. If it is made from a finished pipe, one edge will have to be rolled out. The length of the inner sleeve reaches the middle of the outer casing.
The casing itself is made from a piece of larger diameter pipe or similarly bent from stainless steel sheet. It is put on the sleeve, secured with stainless steel plates and rivets.
An apron is attached 60 mm below the casing. It resembles a curved saucer with a funnel facing up onto which sparks will fall. The size of the apron must exceed the diameter of the casing, otherwise sparks will fly past it. It is made from a fragment of stainless steel sheet, inside of which a hole is cut to the size of the inner sleeve of the spark arrester. The apron placed on the sleeve is spot welded.
A cover is installed over the top of the casing. Its dimensions should be smaller than the diameter of the pipe. For ease of calculation, you can use the drawing and data from the table.
The parts are connected with rivets, having previously drilled them. If desired, you can make stiffening ribs that will strengthen the structure.

At this stage, the spark arrester is ready; all that remains is to put it on the bathhouse pipe and secure it firmly.

Advantages and disadvantages

Speaking about the advantages common to all designs, it is worth noting the unimpeded exit of smoke from the pipeline and the preservation of the original draft. In the case of spark arresters-deflectors, the thrust indicator increases.

The option in the form of a casing or mesh cap is characterized by the simplest and cheapest assembly scheme, as well as the simplest installation.

There are some shortcomings here. For example, this type does not have a deflector umbrella, which prevents precipitation from entering the chimney. The second flaw of such a spark arrester is the absence of a partition that changes the movement of gases along the axis.

Types of smoke removal systems

In addition to dividing pipelines by material, smoke exhaust systems are classified depending on other factors.

Domestic

The most popular type of design. It is a pipe that rises vertically from the stove and passes through the ceiling and roof. To protect the premises from fire, internal pipelines are made of two walls, between which thermal insulation is located.

External

This type of chimney is installed when it is necessary to preserve the beautiful appearance of the premises and remove the pipe. The pipeline departs from the stove, leads through the wall to the street, and only from there rises upward with the help of an elbow. Does not require making a hole in the ceiling or roof.

Single wall

Such tubes are not used for assembling chimneys separately. They are installed inside casings made of different materials. Advantages:

ease of installation;
low price;
if any part of the chimney breaks, it is easy to replace it;
Soot slowly accumulates on the walls.

The main disadvantage of single-wall steel tubes is the formation of rust.

Double-walled

Such tubes are two metal cylinders of different diameters, between which there is a layer of insulation. They are installed without protective covers and are reliable, durable, and durable. Rust does not form on their surfaces.

Do it yourself or order a device?

Custom spark arresters are a fairly common option. If you trust the contractor, you can count on a good service life and complete serviceability. But this does not always happen, especially if the manufacturer decides to save on material.

If you decide to make your own spark arrester, it may take you longer. At the same time, you will be able to fully control the process, from the selection and acquisition of materials to design nuances.

Tips for choosing

When choosing, you should pay attention to the dimensions of the pipeline, the type of construction and the quality of the material. The diameter of the devices is usually 80-550 mm. The dimensions of the canopies depend on the dimensions of the tubular structures that are placed on the chimney.

The most commonly recommended products are stainless steel. Lack of corrosion, durability and affordable price are the main advantages of this solution.

Popular models

There are simplified shell-like options and solutions with a deflector function. Among the latter, the following popular modifications can be distinguished:

TsAGI;
Grigorovich's apparatus.
Round Volper.
H-shaped device.
Vane.
Disc-shaped.

Alternative methods of protection against sparks

In addition to installing a cap, there are other ways to protect against sparks:

The first method is the simplest. The end of the chimney is welded tightly, and then many holes are drilled from the top ends. This can be done even by installing a prepared pipe on an existing one.
The next method is to weld a metal mesh to the end of the chimney. This option has a significant disadvantage: the mesh quickly becomes clogged and will need to be changed soon to maintain good traction.
If there are strong winds in your area, then install a good deflector on the head of the pipe; it will prevent the formation of reverse draft.
Another way is to reduce cravings. This is not the best option, but it can increase the temperature of the pipe and the number of sparks emitted. For this purpose, additional elbows are created on the chimney.

To prevent sparks from flying directly upward due to high draft, a jumper is made on the chimney pipe, which moves part of the pipe to the side. That is, an artificial bend of the pipe is created with a well for sparks in the middle (see photo below). A small hatch is made in the well for cleaning.

Homemade spark arrester for a sauna boiler

Step-by-step production and installation of a spark arrestor with your own hands

Let's consider a step-by-step option for manufacturing a spark arrester with a deflector umbrella, consisting of a body, a mesh structure and a deflector cap.

Required materials and tools

To assemble such a spark arrester yourself, you will need the following tools:

measuring instruments (centimeter tape, level, etc.);
screwdriver, clamps, pliers and hammer;
rivets in a set or welding machine;
metal scissors, grinder, drill and drill bits.

Consumables are selected purely individually depending on the type of device.

Drawing and diagrams

Here is an example of assembling a simple spark arrestor based on a general basic drawing.

Let us identify the main components and at the same time tell you how to make them:

A cylindrical pipe is a glass that will be placed on the chimney pipe. For manufacturing you will need a metal sheet. We cut out a rectangle from it with a length equal to the length of the circle lying at the base (Fig. 2).

You can calculate the required dimensions using the formula: “L = π × D”, where L is the length, π≈ 3.14, and D is the required cylinder diameter. We carefully bend the resulting strip using a pipe, for example, into a cone, align the edges, drill several holes on them and fasten them with rivets.

Metal mesh is a network with cells. It is best to purchase a ready-made stainless steel mesh base. The cylinder based on it is made according to the same scheme as the glass.
Protective cap-umbrella - the main thing here is to correctly cut the cone pattern. To do this, we calculate the required radius of the workpiece using the formula: “C = √ (h² + (D/2)²)”, where C is the length of the side component of the cone, h is the required height, D is the diameter. Carefully roll the finished cut out reamer into a cone (Fig. 3)
Racks for connecting parts into a single structure are made of the same sheet metal. (Fig. 4) The length of the racks is determined by the dimensions of the structure, taking into account the required margin at the bottom (approximately 20 mm for 1-2 rivets for fastening to the glass). It is better to place these elements at an angle to the vertical - from the pipe to the edges of the umbrella.

Now about the assembly. We attach the stands to the “glass” pipe with 1-2 rivets. We insert a mesh cylinder into the space between the support posts so that it fits slightly into the lower pipe and rests against the cone. Now we expose the fungus - we bend the mounting pads of the racks so that they fit snugly against the inside of the cone. We drill through holes through the posts and umbrella, after which we finally fix the entire structure.

Size calculation

Before starting work, you need to measure the dimensions of the chimney, according to which sketches of the device will be displayed.

It is important to pay special attention to the diameter of the plug - the cross-section should be slightly larger than the diameter of the chimney.

It is equally important to determine the correct size of the cells - they should not be more than 5 mm.

Installation video

Installation features

Proper installation depends on the size of the device parts. If there is the slightest discrepancy between the diameters, it will not be possible to install a spark arrester on the pipe. A welding machine is used to connect individual elements. The joints resulting from welding must be thoroughly cleaned. For final fixation you will need rivets or brackets.

How else can you extinguish sparks from a chimney?

A spark arrester for a bathhouse pipe is not the only device for increasing the safety of a bathhouse.

Extinguishing options:

— use of factory filters;

- complex shape of the chimney.

Factory filters come in different sizes. The main difficulty is choosing the right size product. For example, a user comes with a parameter of 20 cm, but in fact a few millimeters are not enough.

Next begins the long preparation process. Some try to scratch the structure and thereby damage its walls. Extension is also an effective way. Many people recommend seals from popular brands.

The problem is that the shelf life of such a design is greatly reduced. For example, on certain days the sauna furnace begins to work at its maximum. All the heated air instantly rushes to the top.

The pressure in the pipe is growing at an unprecedented rate. Since the load is temporary, there is bound to be a weak link. For example, the sheet will wear out on one side of the chamber. Then even a characteristic sound may appear.

You can try not to pay attention to it, but the spark can still break out. To solve the problem, you have to completely remove the structure. This is the most difficult stage, because after a certain time it takes its seat. Most often you have to choose a product and it becomes even more deformed.

Maintenance and care

The complexity of maintenance depends on the selected device model. In general, for all options, proper operation of such a device comes down to periodically cleaning the grid from soot.

If we are talking about a deflector with a “skirt”, you will need to periodically check that insects, leaves and other small debris are not blocking the openings for removing rain and melted snow.

Application

The most critical situations in terms of the possibility of triggering a fire, the required locations, and the organization of installation of spark arresters are set out in PPR-2012, an official document regulating the fire safety regime in Russia:

The management of enterprises and organizations is obliged to ensure the good condition of spark arresters/extinguishers installed on heating, process equipment, and smoke removal system shafts in case of fire.
It is prohibited to operate tanks, special vehicles for transporting flammable liquids, flammable liquids, gas cylinders, and other dangerous goods that are not equipped with spark arresters that are in good condition.
Chimneys of mobile drying units used for preparing grain crops must be equipped with spark arresters.
It is prohibited for vehicles not equipped with spark arresters to enter the territory of a gas station during refueling and fuel receiving operations.

In general, the management of motor transport, agricultural enterprises, heads of local administrations of settlements where stove heating of residential buildings and outbuildings predominates is obliged to organize monitoring of the presence and serviceability of spark arresters, because This is what determines whether fires will break out in the jurisdiction for such a reason.

In turn, each owner of a private residential/country house, bathhouse/sauna must ensure the safe operation of heating/kitchen units/facilities - stoves, fireplaces, boilers, barbecues, barbecues, because any such device that processes solid fuel, emitting hot combustion products into the atmosphere, poses an increased fire hazard. This is especially true for owners of residential and ancillary buildings made of combustible building materials, as well as in the presence of such buildings, as well as roofs made of flammable materials in neighboring areas.

This applies to both the construction of new buildings and the operation of existing buildings, especially since the costs of purchasing and installing spark arresters on chimneys are not so significant, and maintenance, which consists of periodically/if necessary cleaning of grids/grids from accumulated soot and ash, is not presents particular difficulties.

A spark arrester for a barbecue, barbecue, bathhouse, summer kitchen or country house is an example of how a fairly simple technical device can not only make living and outdoor recreation comfortable, but also ensure the safety of people.

A spark arrester certificate is mandatory documentation, along with a technical passport and installation and operation manuals, attached to the finished factory product upon sale.

Buying homemade products or making your own spark arresters on the advice of “gurus” from the Internet is fraught with both loss of money, time and nerves, and failure to achieve the set goal due to the products’ non-compliance with the design requirements of the standards, the quality of the parts and materials used.

Expert advice

Distance from chimney to spark arrester

The mounting height of the cone must be within the minimum permissible values so that the design does not disturb the draft and at the same time prevents debris and precipitation from entering the pipeline from the outside. To calculate the required parameters, we recommend using the following table:

D, mm (chimney diameter)	W,mm (visor width)	H,mm (height to chimney)
120	240	144
140	280	168
200	400	240
400	800	480
500	1000	600

Is it worth covering the pipe with bricks?

A metal chimney pipe for a potbelly stove does not require special protection from external influences, but due to the visual effect and possible contact with a hot pipe, enterprising owners often line the pipeline with bricks.

But the construction of a chimney using brickwork is prohibited - such structures are not suitable for this heating system; only a galvanized pipe for a potbelly stove is suitable for this role, it will provide good draft, it is easy to clean and check for defects. Simplicity of installation and easy maintenance are the main advantages of this hood.

How does the spark arrestor element of a chimney pipe work?

The spark arrester has a simple but effective design. It is a nozzle for a chimney, which has a mesh on the sides and a cone on top, providing reliable protection from foreign objects. The spark arrester is installed on any type of chimney. The operating principle of this device is quite simple:

During the heating of the furnace, the solid fuel material burns. The result is smoke and gas. It is known from physics lessons that air masses rush upward along a free path. In the case of a bath, the formed substances pass through the chimney channel, trying to escape out. In this case, the smoke plumes may contain unburned combustion products, which, like sparks, lead to a fire.
In the presence of a spark arrester, smoke with hot particles “rests” against the first and main barrier in the form of a protective cone.
The sparks' direct passage into the air is closed. They head to the sides, where another obstacle in the form of a net awaits them. Hot particles under pressure seep through the cells, losing the accumulated thermal potential.

The whole principle of operation of a conventional spark arrestor consists of three simple steps that protect owners from fire. You can make such a device yourself without spending a lot of money.

Installation procedure

To install the spark arrester on the chimney, you need to climb onto the roof. It is better to do this work together. During installation, be sure to use personal protective equipment, otherwise you may inhale smoke. What you need to know when installing:

The mesh of the device quickly becomes contaminated with soot and needs regular cleaning. Therefore, the features of installation and operation are closely related.
For safety reasons, the structure must be removable and cannot be welded to the pipe. The device is inserted inside the chimney and secured with a clamp of a suitable size. If you need to clean it, it can be easily removed. This is the easiest installation method, but not reliable.
If the device is fixed with stainless rivets, then holes are first made on it and on the pipe. The distance between the rivets is made uniform.
In order to install a spark arrester for a chimney correctly, the cross-section of the device and the pipe must match each other.

If the fuel used contains a large amount of resin, the metal mesh will have to be cleaned frequently. In addition, the mesh quickly deteriorates if it is made of low-quality material. To avoid having to climb onto the roof every time to replace it, the product must be made of wear-resistant, high-quality material

A spark arrester on the chimney will help to cope with this problem - the device prevents the spread of dangerous sparks. The device has a simple design, so it is quite possible to make and install it yourself.

A spark extinguisher placed on the chimney will be a real godsend, especially if the house or bathhouse is located next to a forest. After all, hot sparks in windy weather can easily cover a 300-meter distance to a nearby pine tree.

And this is a direct threat of fire, from which you should insure yourself and your property by installing a protective device on the chimney.

Why do you need a spark arrester?

A device for extinguishing sparks is necessary if materials were used for the roof that can easily catch fire if a spark hits them. Of course, such a decorative coating is not the best choice. But in practice, safety is often neglected in order to implement an original design idea.

A spark arrester is needed if there is a bathhouse, sauna or other structure in the local area where it is planned to heat up to a high temperature. The wood from which the walls of the bathhouse are made can easily catch fire from an accidental spark.

It’s good when a heat-resistant material is chosen for the roof, which can withstand repeated collisions with fiery sparks

And of course, when the house is equipped with a private heating and hot water supply system. Here the boiler will be heated to a high temperature to meet the heat and hot water needs. You can't do without installing a spark absorber here.

When the boiler heats up, intense heat is generated, and sparks easily fly out into the street through a straight chimney, forming a breathtakingly terrible spectacle

The structure and principle of operation of the spark arrester

The device for extinguishing sparks has a simple structure and a clear operating principle. Depending on the model of the spark arrester, its structure and appearance will differ.

But, in all options, the common feature will be the presence of a metal element made of mesh or a solid sheet. Also, there is a base on which all other parts are attached and a cover that prevents the free flight of sparks.