Thatching Advisory Services

Thatching Advisory Services is a private company in the United Kingdom that provides advice on thatched roofs, with a particular focus on fire safety. It has operated for more than 45 years and is based in Seaton, Devon, in south-west England. Its website is thatchingadvisoryservices.co.uk.

Because it is a commercial firm rather than a membership association, it differs from bodies such as the National Society of Master Thatchers. It is included here because it is a widely known source of thatch-related guidance in the UK.

Areas of advice

• General thatching advice for owners, buyers, architects and insurers on thatch materials, condition and maintenance.
• Fire safety for thatched buildings. The company publishes guidance on fire barriers for existing thatched properties and for new builds and extensions.

Fire protection products

The company supplies fire-protection systems used with thatch, including fire boards and fire-wall membranes installed beneath the thatch, insulation batts, fire-retardant sprays and a chimney monitoring system that warns of overheating. It also supplies an intumescent joint sealant.

Why fire safety matters for thatch

Thatch is made of dry plant material such as water reed or straw. Fires in thatched buildings are uncommon, but they can spread quickly once the roof ignites and are hard to put out, because fire travels inside the thick layer of thatch. Common causes include chimney sparks and heat transfer through chimney walls, electrical faults and work involving open flames. Measures commonly recommended in the UK include:

• regular chimney sweeping and inspection;
• correct chimney height and spark arrestors;
• fire barriers between the thatch and the roof structure on new or re-thatched roofs;
• care with outdoor fires, fireworks and hot works nearby.

Building regulations, insurers and local fire services may set their own requirements, and listed building consent may be needed for changes to historic thatched roofs.

Neutral note

Product choices for thatch fire protection vary, and owners usually take advice from a thatcher, building control and their insurer.