When it comes to obtaining information without a warrant, Canadians reacted strongly to the idea. Fully 57 per cent disagreed that Internet providers should be forced to "provide a 'back door' to make communications accessible to police." Over 60 per cent disagreed that telecommunications and Internet provides should be required to "give subscriber data to police, national security agencies and the Competition Bureau without a warrant" or that they should be required to disclose people's names, addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail and IP addresses and local service provider identifiers without a warrant.

Law-enforcement databanks allow officers anywhere to check if a person is dangerous or a fugitive. Databanks such as the Canadian Police Information Centre lists criminal convictions, warrants and other important interactions with police. Also flagged are "emotionally disturbed persons" and those who are HIV-positive. But there is, increasingly, much more to police databanks, with almost anyone who has a police encounter being entered into one. It is hard to muster worry that a convicted killer or child molester is flagged in a police computer, but what about you being embedded there for complaining about a noisy party or reporting stolen property?

Part of the C-30 buried deep in section 34 is some scary powers given to "THE INSPECTOR!" The inspector - remember, this is anyone the minister chooses - is also empowered to copy anything that strikes his or her fancy. The inspector may "reproduce, or cause to be reproduced, any information in the form of a printout, or other intelligible output, and remove the printout, or other output, for examination or copying."  Oh, and he can even use the ISP's own computers and connections to copy it or to email it to himself. He can "use, or cause to be used, any copying equipment or means of telecommunication at the place." In short, there's nothing the inspector cannot see or copy. "Any" information is up for grabs.

Harper is going to re-introduce the Bill under a new name, which will probably reflect some obscure purpose which they will trot out as the main purpose of the bill.  Canadians will not be easily fooled by this tactic and hopefully rail against their elected members of parliament to bow to the electoral needs and requirements rather than just doing as Harper tells them.  It is time for Canadians to stand up for themselves and to their elected officials to ensure our freedom and privacy is protected.

The Bill is even written is such a way as to be obsure and obtuse. Section 23 l Personal information, as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, that is provided under subsection 16(1) or 17(1) is deemed, for the purposes of subsections 9(2.1) to (2.4) of that Act, to be disclosed under subparagraph 7(3)(c.1)(i) or (ii), and not under paragraph 7(3)(i), of that Act. This section operates despite the other provisions of Part 1 of that Act.

Masonry chimneys. When chimney fires occur in masonry chimneys, the 2100 degree temperatures, and the extreme pressure's that result, often crack the terra cotta clay flue tiles which line the chimney. Chimney fires are NO ordinary fires! They frequently melt dampers and chimney caps, and can actually "melt" mortar! Flue tiles expand until they crack when subjected to such extreme temperatures. These cracks then provide a pathway for flame under intense pressure to reach the combustible wood frame of the house. Enough heat can also be conducted through a perfectly sound chimney to ignite nearby combustibles. Even if a first chimney fire doesn't seem to have harmed a home, the structure may be so weakened that a second fire will burn it down.

In the past, most installers placed inserts in the fireplace without any chimney connections. This method, in some cases, allowed creosote to build up inside the fireplace, presenting a potential fire hazard. To prevent this, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) now requires that inserts be installed with at least (minimum) a positive connection to the chimney.

Where an insert or hearth-mounted stove is installed in a masonry fireplace, (a) except as provided in Item (b), masonry or steel shall not be removed from the fireplace to accommodate the appliance; (b) masonry or steel, including the damper plate, maybe removed from the smoke shelf and adjacent damper frame if necessary to accommodate a flue liner, provided that their removal will not weaken the structure of the fireplace and chimney and will not reduce protection for combustible materials to less than that required by the National Building Code of Canada.

Forget the word "smoke". Think: flue gas. Flue gas mostly consists of steam, vaporized creosote, and the other carbon based by-products of combustion. As the flue gas exits the fireplace or wood stove, it drafts upward into the relatively cool flue where condensation occurs. Like hot breath on a cold mirror, the cool surface temperature of the flue causes the carbon particles in the warm vapor to solidify. This resulting carbon based condensation that materializes inside the flue is creosote.

Creosote is easy to identify as it is usually black in appearance. It can be the fine black dust called soot, (1st stage creosote); or porous and crunchy, (2nd stage: see photo on left); or it can be tar-like: drippy and sticky, until it hardens into a shiny glaze, (3rd stage). All forms of creosote can occur in one chimney system. Whatever form it takes, creosote is highly combustible. If it builds up in sufficient quantities - and ignites inside the chimney flue: the result is a volcanic chimney fire.

For a WETT inspection of your woodstove, fireplace, insert, pellet stove or space heater you can contact the WETT Inspector at www.wett-inspection.com to schedule an inspection. WETT inspections are provided to Barrie, Orillia, Midland, Penetang, Rama, Lagoon City, Newmarket, Bradford, Alliston, Angus, Everett, Thornton, Cookstown, Stayner, Innisfil, Lefroy, Alcona Beach, Wasaga Beach and most of Simcoe County. Your wood burning appliance will be inspected by a WETT Certified Inspector with over 7 years of WETT inspection experience.

For Your Certified Wett Inspection

Call Roger Frost 705-795-8255
Toll Free 888-818-8608
Email roger@napoleon.cc

A chimney fire occurs when a creosote or soot build-up ignites and burns inside the chimney and stove pipes. A loud whooshing noise or glowing stovepipe are possible indication of a chimney fire. There are several types of chimney fire extinguishers available, and one should always be kept on hand for this type of emergency. The cost is very inexpensive compared to the possible consequences.

Not all chimney fires are bright lit events that attract neighbors and passersby. Some chimney fires burn quite slowly especially if deprived of oxygen. The slow burning fires can still reach high temperatures that can damage the chimney and any combustible parts of the house that are nearby. The mortar can fail between bricks and stones giving fire and heat full access to your home.

Chimney fires can damage more than just the chimney on your home. If a chimney fire occurs it can catch the roof, any walls near the chimney, or any other part of the home. Once a chimney fire occurs the chimney flue must generally be completely replaced. The chimney fire will have cracked the flue tiles because all though the flue is made to vent the products of combustion, it is not meant to hold an actual fire, which is much hotter.

If a chimney fire does occur, immediately shut off the air supply by closing all dampers and air openings on the stove or glass doors of the fireplace. If the fire in the stove or fireplace can be extinguished safely, put it out as quickly and safely as possible. Flare type chimney fire extinguishers, called Chimfex, are avaiable at your local hearth shop. A dry chemical fire extinguisher also works well in putting out a wood fire. Never throw water on a stove fire as it could cause a large burst of steam and also possible burns. When working around a wood stove or fireplace a good pair of fireproof gloves are a must.

Chimney fires do not occur in clean, intact, properly installed chimneys. Have a professional chimney sweep clean and inspect your appliance at least once a year. More frequent cleanings may be required, based on the type of wood burned, the type of appliance, and the frequency of use. In general, an older, uncertified woodstove, or any appliance that is used frequently, will require more than one cleaning per year.

Have your chimney inspected by a WETT Certified Professional who is trained to check for problems before a chimney fire happens to you. WETT Inspectors or Licensed Chimney sweeps will inspect and report on the condition of your chimney. You should have your chimney cleaned every year to help prevent the buildup of harmful creosote and also to check for any cracked or damaged flue tiles. The Barrie WETT Inspection Service provides this service to Simcoe County and area.

The pellet stove has changed in appearance over the years from a simple, boxy workhorse design, to a decorative heating appliance. Pellet stoves can be either free-standing units or fireplace inserts vented into an existing chimney. Most pellet stoves are constructed using large, conductive, steel or cast-iron pieces, with stainless steel to encase circuitry and exhaust areas.

There are many different options when it comes to purchasing a pellet stove heating system for your home. The best way to utilize the efficiency of a pellet stove without installing a new pellet stove itself is by installing what is called a pellet stove insert. This insert works with an existing fireplace in your home in order to provide heat for a room or even an entire house. Pellet stove inserts can be a good choice because they burn cleaner, can have their temperature regulated and they use a blower system to heat a room. They are also fairly easy to install, making them an affordable option for many people.

Pellets are considered to be a renewable fuel source for several reasons. Corn is quickly and easily grown every year. Making corn in to pellets also uses the waste products that are produced when corn is processed in to food or animal feed. Wood waste can also be used in the manufacture of pellets, so trees that are cut down are used for other items, but then the sawdust and waste and saved and used alone or in combination with corn to make a pellet for the stove. In certain cases, paper is even being tested as a pellet. The paper is taken from recycled materials or paper scraps that would normally not be used for anything else.

Although you can use pellets to run a whole-house heating system, the fuel is more commonly used to feed fireplace inserts and freestanding stoves serving as supplemental heating appliances.

First, consider how the heat from your wood stove will move around and through the living space you intend to heat. While central heating systems (including indoor and outdoor wood furnaces) use pumps and fans to distribute heat throughout the building, wood stoves radiate heat directly into the space around them.

Although some stoves come equipped with fans, and some stove users install fans to help distribute the warm air, the air warmed by the stove's radiant heat rises through natural convection, through open stairwells, ceiling grates and other spaces between levels of a dwelling, gradually displacing cooler air to warm those areas farther from the stove.

Follow manufacturer's instructions
Although it makes sense to locate the stove or stoves in the rooms where people spend the most time, your home's design may not permit a woodstove installation in one of them. Each wood-heating appliance will have specific requirements for safe distances ("clearances") between the stove/stovepipe and the room's walls and other combustible materials.

To comply with state and local codes, follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation and maintenance of your stove. If you bought a second-hand stove that came without an owner's manual, contact the manufacturer to get one for your model. If you can't locate a manual, or you have any questions about safe woodstove installation procedures, call your local fire department or building inspector for help.

Prevent backdrafting
"Backdrafting" occurs when a woodstove puffs smoke into the living space instead of up and out the chimney. It's always a bad sign. Wood smoke should never enter your living space. An inadequate or clogged chimney can cause a backdraft.

Like all fuels, wood needs oxygen to burn. A woodstove needs air for combustion and also for the draft, to keep combustion gases (smoke) going up the chimney. Typically, woodstoves draw their combustion air (sometimes also called "makeup air") from inside the house.

Well-insulated homes that contain other vented appliances such as kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans, clothes dryers, water heaters, and furnaces, may not always have enough inside air available to allow efficient operation of woodstoves. When other power-vented appliances switch on (see diagram to the left ), they can overcome the natural draft of the chimney and pull wood smoke down and out through the stove into the living space.

Consult your stove vendor or a heating and ventilation professional experienced with wood heating systems if:

You have difficulty getting a wood fire started or you can't keep a fire going.
You smell smoke or get soot on your walls.
Your carbon monoxide detector keeps sounding alarms.

SITE is a set of standardized guidelines recommended by WETT for the inspection and evaluation of wood-burning and other solid fuel burning systems. This chart identifies what each inspection level includes, its purpose and process. An inspection at any level
may include more but not less than that outlined in the “SITE Chart and Guidelines”.

To find out more valuable information on WETT Inspections visit  WETT INSPECTON'S for all the information you will need when installing a wood stove, fireplace or pellet stove

The Ontario Fire Code requires homeowners to maintain the safety of their chimneys and inspect them at least once a year. Consulting a WETT (Wood Energy Technical Transfer) Certified chimney sweep will ensure the present and future owners' safety, and help relieve the liability issues for all parties involved.

Many insurance companies in Canada are requiring Wood Energy Technology Transfer (WETT) inspections, an inspection of wood burning appliances, before issuing insurance. A WETT-inspector will visually inspect the safety of any wood-burning appliances.

Many insurance companies in Canada are requiring Wood Energy Technology Transfer (WETT) inspections, an inspection of wood burning appliances, before issuing insurance. A WETT-inspector will visually inspect the safety of any wood-burning appliances. Call the Barrie Home inspector for all your wood burning inspection requirements.

The Orillia Home Inspector is WETT Certified and has been providing WETT inspection services since 2005. Let the Orillia Home inspectors expertise and training protect your home and investment. Whether purchasing a new home with a fireplace or wood stove or installing a new wood burning appliance call the Orillia Home Inspector.

Looking to find the best <a href="http://www.wett-inspection.com">WETT Certified Inspectors in Barrie</a>, then visit www.wett-inspection.com to find the best advice on WETT Inspections. Your best <a href="http://www.barrie-home-inspector.com">WETT Certified Inspectors in Barrie, Alliston or Orillia</a>are available for all your wood stove, fireplace and pellet stove inspections.