8
Chapter 6
I N S T A L L A T I O N M A N U A L |
6
FIRE SAFE INSTALLATION
To install a gas fireplace as safely as possible, several installation
preparations need to be made. This overview can be used to assure the
fire safety of a conversion of a fireplace.
6�1
FIRE SAFETY DEVICE SET-UP
Install the device such that there are no flammable materials around the
device or chimney. The device must never be placed against a back wall
of flammable materials.
Flammable materials, such as wood, can combust at a temperature of
85°C. At high temperatures this can happen within several minutes (over
200°C) or at lower temperatures (more than 85°C) this may occur over a
period of weeks.
A gas fireplace can achieve temperatures of over 200°C. Therefore one
should use only non-flammable materials around the fireplace and in
the cove.
It is important to follow the installation regulations below carefully. When
the regulations are insufficiently- or not provided with the aspects of fire
safety, the instructions according to NPR 3378-20:2010 are leading.
6�1�1
PROTECTION OF WALL AND CEILING
There are two kinds of walls/ceilings that can be distinguished,
respectively;
Type 1 is the non-combustible category. Walls/ceilings in this
group are made of mineral building materials (gas concrete,
bricks, lime sandstone etcetera.) of more than 10cm thickness.
For installations with these type of walls / ceiling please refer to
CHAPTER
CHAPTER
6.2.2
6.2.2
for more regulations.
•
Type 1 is the Combustibles category. Walls/ceilings that are made
of – or contain flammable building materials, and all walls on which
flammable objects (e.g. built-in furniture or wooden panels) are
mounted on the side of the wall that is turned away from the fireplace.
For these types of installations please refer to
CHAPTER 6.2.3
CHAPTER 6.2.3
.
6�2
ASSEMBLY REGULATIONS
6�2�1
GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULATIONS
•
Load-bearing walls and ceilings must be covered in a protective fire
resistant plate.
•
Never use flammable materials around the fireplace or cove. The
minimal distance between the device and non-flammable materials
must be at 50 mm to ensure a convection air flow, also see
section
14.3.4
. The frames around the fireplace take into account this
distance.
•
Non-combustible materials may be installed to a zero clearance to
the outer faces of the appliance outer frame face, given they not
cover or prevent the removal of the glass panels or other parts of
the fireplace that need to be removed during maintenance.
•
The entire weight of the walls must be borne by a structure other
than the fireplace.
6�2�2
ASSEMBLY REGULATIONS FOR NON-FLAMMABLE MATERIALS
(
Figure 6.1
| and
Figure 6.2
|)
•
Make sure there is a good air ventilation in the cove. The
temperature that leaves through the ventilation grilles must not be
higher than 85°C. Therefore one should always make sure there are
enough ventilation grilles in the upper and lower parts of the cove.
6�2�3
ASSEMBLY REGULATIONS WITH FLAMMABLE MATERIALS
For reference see
Figure 6.3
| and
Figure 6.4
| on the next page.
•
Cover the walls/ceilings with a non-flammable, fire resistant plate,
according to EN 13501-1:A2
•
Place a non-flammable, fire resistant plate in front of the first one at
a distance of 20mm or more.
•
Make sure that the two plates are not attached to each other by
screws or nails. Due to their conductivity these metals can cause a
heat bridge throught which a fire may occur over time!