Recommendations for use and assembly
Recommendations
• The premises where the chimney is installed must have sufficient ventilation to allow air renewal and ensure the flue draws.
• Avoid use of liquid fuel lighters. It is preferable to use special solid tablets for chimney lighting. Before lighting, check that the flue regulation plate is open.
• The hearth installation must leave an air chamber around the firebox to allow for dilation. The decoration or wood must not be allowed to rest directly on the firebox.
• Metal tube must be used to extract smoke throughout the flue route. Fibrocement, PVC and aluminium must not be used on any of the stretches.
• Avoid altering the recommended diameter of the tube, using 90º coupling pieces and connecting several hearths to the same flue. It is recommendable for the flue to be at least 4 m. high, standing at least 50 cm. above the highest part of the roof.
How the fireplace works
How the fireplace works
In order for a chimney to work correctly – draw well – several factors must come together, some of them fixed, such as implementation and construction characteristics of the chimney and other variables such as the wind direction, interior/exterior temperature…
The smoke chamber and the draw regulator: located at the top of the hearth are essential elements to achieve the maximum performance from the chimney. Their function on one hand is to regulate combustion and on the other to avoid direct descent of cold air from outside.
The section and length of the flue are related to the size of hearth installed. Correct sizing and assembly of the flues is one of the keys to achieving optimum operation of the chimney without smoke flow-back.
The usual chimney top is normally sufficient in most cases. In the case of prevailing wind or swirl, the use of specially designed chimney tops is recommended.
Components
Components
• Hearth or firebox: protected chamber where the fire is lit, with construction features aimed at holding the fire and preventing smoke flow-back. The material used to build it may be metal or refractory ceramic.
• Flue: installation to extract the smoke from the hearth. Usually metal tube lined on the outside with laid brick.
• Chimney top: external finish to the flue. Its design should aid smoke extraction and prevent rain entering.
• Decoration: the ornamental part lining the hearth. Materials such as marble, brick, quarry stone or wood are used. It is also called lining, front-piece or hearth opening.
