No-one seems to be particularly interested in whether the Chimney Balloon is approved or not. Years ago, British Gas technicians took some away from an exhibition where we were showing but we never heard anything back; The Oxfordshire Fire Service also asked us about it years ago, had a sample, and we heard nothing more.  In the 17 years since, no-one has bothered with us again and we haven't 'lost a customer' because of the safety feature (it shrivels within 30 - 45 seconds of a fire being lit and falls out of the chimney).  In reality, it falls outside any regulation and legislation because it is not a permanent feature or fitting.  It cannot carry an 'EC' mark because there is nothing with which it must comply.  The following is an extract from the current UK legislation:

 

THE GAS SAFETY (INSTALLATION AND USE) REGULATIONS 1998

 

Flue dampers

32. - (1) Any person who installs an automatic damper to serve a gas appliance shall -

            (a) ensure that the damper is so interlocked with the gas supply to the burner that the burner operation is prevented in the event of failure of the damper when not in the open position; and

            (b) immediately after installation examine the appliance and the damper to verify that they can be used together safely without constituting a danger to any person.

        (2) No person shall install a manually operated damper to serve a domestic gas appliance.

        (3) No person shall install a domestic gas appliance to a flue which incorporates a manually operated damper unless the damper is permanently fixed in the open position.

You will not that this refers to "automatic" or "permanent" dampers. The chimney balloon in none of these.