Weep hole insert

An insert for a weep hole opening in a wall, said weep hole insert comprising:

• a generally tubular body defining an air flow conduit extending therethrough, along a first axis, from a first open end of the body to a second open end of the body, the tubular body being formed from a plastics material that has a first melting point;
• a first grate comprising a perforated body, wherein apertures of the perforated body are configured to permit air flow through the grate but to inhibit passage of embers and sparks through the grate, and wherein, in an operative configuration, the perforated body extends across the conduit to permit air flow through the conduit via the apertures but to inhibit passage of embers and sparks through the conduit;
• and
• at least one elastically compressible member that extends from the perforated body and which, in the operative configuration:
• engages between the perforated body and an interior surface of the tubular body to releasably secure the perforated body to the tubular body in the operative configuration,
• is elastically compressed from an expanded configuration to a compressed configuration by a distance of at least a wall thickness of the tubular body at its point of engagement by the elastically compressible member,
• the elastically compressible member:
• comprises a metal that has a second melting point, the second melting point being higher than the first melting point, and
• comprises a metal with sufficient elasticity to elastically return to the expanded configuration when exposed to a temperature above the first melting point,
• such that, in the operative configuration and upon melting of the tubular body at its point of engagement by the elastically compressible member, the elastically compressible member elastically expands, through the melted tubular body, by at least the wall thickness of the tubular body at its point of engagement by the elastically compressible member.