Escape 1800 Insert Installation and Operation Manual
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PART B - INSTALLATION
6 Pre-Installation Masonry fireplace requirements
The masonry fireplace must meet the minimum requirements found in the building code
enforced locally, or the equivalent for a safe installation. Contact your local Building
Inspector for requirements in your area. An inspection of the fireplace should include the
following:
1. CONDITION OF THE FIREPLACE AND CHIMNEY:
The masonry fireplace and chimney should be inspected prior to installation, to
determine that they are free from cracks, loose mortar, creosote deposits, blockage, or
other signs of deterioration. If evidence of deterioration is noted, the fireplace or
chimney should be upgraded and/or cleaned prior to installation.
Masonry or steel, including the damper plate, may be removed from the smoke shelf
and adjacent damper frame if necessary to accommodate the insert’s chimney 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
building code.
2. INSTALLATION INTO AN EXISTING FACTORY-BUILT ZERO-CLEARANCE
FIREPLACE:
It is possible to install a wood insert into an existing factory-built zero-clearance
fireplace. However, there currently exists no UL or ULC standard specific to that type
of installation. The factory-built zero clearance fireplace must be listed; that is, safety
certified by an accredited certification agency such as UL/ULC, Omni or Intertek). It
must be suitable for use with solid fuel and nothing in the owner’s manual must
specifically prohibit the installation of a fireplace insert. When in doubt, check with the
fireplace manufacturer. The installation of the zero-clearance fireplace MUST be
thoroughly inspected by a qualified person to ensure that it still meets the
manufacturer’s specifications. The chimney must be at least 1" (25 mm) larger in
diameter than the stainless steel liner that will run from the insert flue collar to the top of
the chimney termination.
Never remove parts intended to insulate the zero-clearance fireplace from combustible
material. Only readily detachable parts that are easily replaced, such as damper parts,
screens, and doors, are to be removed from the fireplace. These parts should be
stored and available for reinstallation if the insert is ever removed. Removal of any
parts which render the fireplace unfit for use with solid fuel requires the fireplace to be
permanently labeled by the installer as being no longer suitable for solid fuel until the
removed parts are replaced and the fireplace is restored to its original certified
condition. Also, any air vents, grilles, or louvers that allow air circulation around the
fireplace must not be removed or blocked.
