©
EUROHEAT
DISTRIBUTORS (H.B.S) LTD. Dec 2004
E & OE Instructions Part number IN1084 Ed D
20
The Hearth and Fire Surround
Germany has a long tradition of stoves called “Kachelöfen”, which are stoves built into a tiled
structure that acts as a heat store. The insert stove installed within its brick or block housing
will behave in much the same way, using the bricks as a heat store. Although the brickwork will
never become excessively hot it will become very warm if the stove is kept burning at a high
rate. For this reason anything attached to the wall will also become very warm. This may cause
damage to oil paintings and cause accelerated ageing in photographs and we advise you to
restrict the pictures you hang on the walls of the stove housing to those which are of limited
importance.
There has been a revival of interest in all forms of real fires and fire surrounds of every possible
style and material now abound but sadly not all are built to the highest standards or with materials
best suited to the high temperatures they will be subjected to. The minimum distances given
in the drawing below will ensure the surround will be subjected to safe temperatures but it will
not guarantee that a fire surround made from unseasoned wood will not shrink. If stone is to be
used in any part of a fire surround it is important that both the shape and fixings allow for the
stone’s expansion as its temperature rises. Failure to make provision for the uneven expansion
of a fire surround will inevitably result in the stone cracking, in general the stone surround should
comprise of four or more sections.
Minimum distance from extreme of stove front frame to any combustible material is 200mm.
All fire surrounds must be suitable for a real fire.
All stone must have provision for uneven expansion.
A fire guard must be fitted if children or infirm adults are at risk of coming into contact with the stove.
200mm
200mm
90mm
