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Certified WETT Inspections for Wood Stoves, Fireplaces, Pellet Stoves and Boilers

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Certified Wood Burning Appliances

A factory built (metal) wood-burning appliance sold for use in Canada should have a CSA \ ULC listing \ certification tag affixed to it. The listing tag will indicate what testing standards were used to certify the appliance. In the absence of clear requirements from manufacturers for label consistency, WETT recommends the following:

How To Establish Product Certification

Step 1.
Locate the Listing Tag Certification Label
The listing tag certification label can be hidden in a number of locations. For a factory built fireplace, look on the edges of the firebox Appliance Certification Labelspark screens, inside the firebox or on the fireplace’s metal frame above the opening, inside the bottom fireplace louver grills, on the back shell of the fireplace or sometimes hidden behind a refractory panel inside the firebox. If you can not locate the listing tag certification label, certification can’t be established.
Step 2.
Read the Listing Tag Certification Label
The certification label will have some of the installation information, some clearance requirements and other information that is necessary to establish if it is listed for use in Canada.
Step 3.
Look for the Listing Standard it was Tested Under
Every certified appliance sold in Canada gets tested by a third party accredited lab. The appliance or equipment is tested under the specific standard it is seeking certification under. For more information on listing standards, please visit ​https://wett-inspection.com
Step 4.
Locate ULC Mark or Accredited Lab Mark
​The certification label must be recognized in Canada by the “SCC” (Standards Council of Canada). The following web page contains a list of some of the accredited labs.
Step 5.
Locate Manufacturers Information and Model Number
This information is often in a grey box with stamped letters and numbers. If the information is hard to read, try cleaning the surface, if you still can’t read the information, place a piece of paper on top of the listing tag and use a pencil to shade the paper, the information will likely produce a carbon copy onto your piece of paper that is legible. If the label still can’t be read, certification can not be established.
Step 6.
Locate the Serial Number
The serial number is important to establish certification and to ensure the manufacturer manual you will reference is for the serial number of your appliance or equipment.
Step 7.
Record Listing Tag Certification Label Information
Most inspectors prefer to take pictures that illustrate the tag and information clearly, this also provides detailed documentation if it is ever needed again in the future.
Step 8.
Locate Original Manufacturers Manual
An original manufacturers manual has the installation requirements, limitations, service requirements, trouble shooting and other important information you will need. Only the original manufacturers manual that is specific the make, model and serial number may be used.
Step 9.
Conduct Inspection to Determine Compliance
A visual chimney inspection in combined with all the other information you obtained will assist you in determining system compliance. A Level 1 inspection is all that is required by Insurance Companies and Building Department Officials.
Step 10.
Consult with Manufacturer when Information is Conflicting
Confirm that the installation manual is consistent with the information on the certification label.
Where there is incomplete, confusing or contradictory information in the installation manual, contact the manufacturer or certification agency for official documentation.
When Certification “Cannot” be Determined
Refer to the current version of CAN CSA-B365. Appliance will be treated as “Un-Certified”

ULC Standards for WETT Inspections

CSA Standard Can/CSA B366.1 ­> Central systems
­ ULC Standard Can/ ULC S610 ­> Factory­built fireplaces
­ ULC Standard S627 ­> Space heaters
­ ULC Standard S628 ­> Fireplace inserts and hearth­mounted stoves
­ ULC Standard Can/ULC S629 ­> Factory­built chimneys
­ ULC Standard S632 ­> Heat shields
­ ULC Standard S635 ­> Lining systems for existing chimneys
­ ULC Standard Can/ULC S639 ­> Steel fireplace liners
­ ULC Standard Can/ULC S640 ­> Liners for new chimneys
­ ULC Standard S641 ­> Flue pipes

Certifying a Woodburning Product

In order to have a product certified, the wood-burning factory built appliance manufacturer submits a product sample for testing with an installation manual, Engineers drawings, promotional brochures, and any other info on the product.  The lab then performs tests as outlined in the safety testing standard, reviews the installation manual and all other information for accuracy.  If the unit and documents meets the requirements, it is deemed certified, and a label for that unit is issues.  If it does not, modifications must be made and submitted for re testing.

It is a common misconception that a Chimney Technician provides certification through the means of inspection.  During a chimney inspection, a Chimney Professional will observe the wood-burning system for visible defects and compliance. A Chimney Technician may be trained and certified from a recognized organization such as WETT inc, or the CSIA but does not certify wood burning appliances.

Codes & Standards for Solid Fuel Appliances

Below is a table containing the standard code solid fuel appliances or equipment.  Wood burning appliances and equipment are subject to testing of the standard code from a third party, accredited laboratory.  If the product adheres to the standard requirements it has been tested to and the manufacturers manual is accepted, product certification is established.

These codes and standards are for fireplaces, chimneys, venting systems and other solid fuel products that have been fabricated by a manufacturer.  Canadian and Provincial codes related to fireplaces, chimneys and solid fuel appliances and equipment that have been built on site fall under the National Building Code, Provincial Building Code, National Fire Code, Provincial Fire Code, municipal bylaws, regulations, and your local Authority Having Jurisdiction requirements (your municipality or city building official).

In Canada solid fuel training and “certification” is offered by a private, non regulatory organisation – WETT (Wood Energy Technology Transfer Inc).  Some Canadian WETT Inspectors will quote United States Standards to provide a higher level of inspection at a higher price than is warranted by Canadian Codes and Regulations.

Code or Standard

​CSA B365
​

Title

​Installation Code for Solid Fuel Burning Appliances and Equipment
​

Applies To

​Covers the installation of all factory built solid fuel fired equipment up to 1m BTU/h. Used primarily for residential scale appliances such as stoves, ranges, space
heaters, furnaces and boilers.
​​ULC S627
​​Space Heaters for Use with Solid
Fuels
​Testing and certification standard for free-standing space heaters, cooking ranges and fireplaces.
CSA B366.1
​Solid Fuel Fired Central Heating
Appliances
​Testing and certification standard for central heating appliances, including combination systems, add-ons and automatic stokers.
ULC S628
​Standard for Fireplace Inserts
​Testing and certification standard for fireplace inserts and hearthmounted stoves.
ULC S610
​Standard for Factory Built Fireplaces
​Testing and certification standard for factory built fireplaces. Includes additional tests for chimneys serving these fireplaces.
ULC S604
​Standard for Factory Built Type A
Chimneys
​Formerly an all fuels chimney. Its use is now restricted to appliances using oil and gas, or appliances having a continuous flue gas temperature not exceeding 1000˚F.
​
​These requirements apply to Factory-Built Type ‘A’ Chimneys which do not require field fabrication. They are for use with gas and liquid fuel-fired residential appliances and building heating equipment, where the appliance or equipment flue-gas temperatures do not exceed 540 degrees C. They are intended for use in accordance with the National Building Code of Canada, Installation Code for Oil Burning Equipment, CAN/CSA-B139, and for Gas Burning Equipment, CAN/CGA-B149.1 and CAN/CGA-B149.2. They are intended for installation inside or outside of buildings to provide an essentially vertical conduit or passageway for conveying flue gases to the outer air from the above-described class of appliances.

ULC S629
​Standard for 650˚C Chimneys
​Factory built chimneys serving wood burning stoves, cooking ranges and central heating furnaces and boilers must be certified to this standard.
ULC S632
​Standard for Heat Shields
​Testing and certification requirements for shields intended for installation between heat producing appliances and combustible construction.
ULC S638
(Proposed)
​Standard for Glass Screens for
Masonry Fireplaces
​Glass door assemblies for masonry fireplaces. The standard has been requested anticipating that closures on masonry fireplace openings may become a mandatory code requirement.
ULC S639
​Standard for Steel Liner Assemblies
for Masonry Fireplaces
​Testing and certification standard for heat forms around which masonry fireplaces are built.
​ULC S635
​Standard for Liners for Existing Masonry and Factory Built Chimneys
​Testing and certification standard for rigid or flexible liners, usually of stainless steel. The provisions of Class III liners in the standard apply to wood burning systems. These liners may only be used in factory built chimneys certified to ULC S629.

1. Scope

1.1 This Standard covers lining systems for existing masonry chimneys, which may or may not incorporate a liner of fire-clay tile, or factory-built chimneys and vents.

1.2 Lining systems shall be classed as follows:

Class 1 — For the venting of gas-fired appliances where the temperature of the flue-gas products is 135°C or above, but does not exceed 245°C;

Class 2 — For the venting of oil and gas-fired appliances where the temperature of the flue-gas products does not normally exceed 300°C; and

Class 3 — For the venting of oil-, gas- and solid fuel-fired appliances where the temperature of the flue-gas products does not normally exceed 650°C.

1.3 Lining systems as covered by these requirements, are not intended for use with Type BH Gas Vents, or with appliances that create positive pressures within the lining system, or cause condensation of corrosive acids.

ULC S640
​Standard for Liners for New Masonry
Chimneys
​Testing and certification requirements for liners intended for installation in masonry chimneys at the time of construction.
ULC S641
​Standard for Chimney Connectors
​Testing and certification standard for flue pipes, mainly used to test double wall flue pipes.