16
Summary
1.
WARNING:
Fireplace and chimney systems will only draught prop
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erly when they are installed according to the instructions, in an
appropriate location and with the proper chimney height. Install
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ing the fireplace according to the instructions, choosing an ap
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propriate location, and choosing an appropriate chimney height
are the responsibility of the designer and the building contractor.
Tightly insulated and sealed homes, two story interior
spaces and high vaulted ceilings can cause negative air pressures
within the house which can impair drafting performance. HVAC
return air ducts near the fireplace opening will adversely affect
the fireplace drafting performance.
It is the responsibility of the designer, the building
contractor and their mechanical contractor to determine that the
building’s internal air pressures are conducive to positive fire
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place drafting.
Avoid placing any fireplace in an area near tall trees, tall
buildings, or high land masses. These structures can reduce am-
bient air flow pressure as well as produce down draughts, either
of which can impair fireplace drafting performance.
Earthcore Industries L.L.C. does not warrant drafting
and is not responsible for it.
2. Standard EPA qualified fireplace and Fire-Lite Fireplace
Curing Instructions:
It is critical that the Isokern masonry elements in the
firebox and smoke dome assembly be dry before firing of the
unit. Moisture left in the components from exposure during stor
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age and shipping, as well as moisture from the installation phase,
must be eliminated before the unit is put to its intended use.
The first step in reducing the ambient moisture is to be
sure that the completed fireplace rest totally in a dried-in setting
for a minimum of 28 days after construction of the unit is com
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plete.
The next step in curing the fireplace is to be sure that
the first five or six fires are of short duration.
The first fire of the unit can take place once the mini
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mum twenty-eight day drying period has passed. This fire should
be especially short.
Start the first fire slowly with a small amount of paper
and kindling (small dry wood splits or twigs) and a maximum
load of four to six pounds of dry firewood, estimated to be no
more than two or three logs each of about three inches (3”) to
four inches (4”) diameter.
The first fire should burn for no more than thirty to sixty
minutes and then allowed to go out. Do not refuel the fireplace
during the first lighting.
A cooling off period of twenty-four hours, at a mini
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mum, should follow the first fire.
The second fire should be the same as the first fire.
The second fire should burn for no more than thirty to
sixty minutes and allowed to go out. Do not refuel the fireplace
during the second lighting.
A twenty-four hour cooling off period must be
observed following second lighting.
After first and second fire, continue use of the unit with three
or four small fires of short duration (sixty minutes or so) and
small fuel load.
After these first five or six small fires of short dura
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tion normal use of the fireplace can proceed. For normal use
the maximum recommended fuel load is twelve to sixteen
pounds of dry firewood at a time. This fuel load is consid
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ered to be approximately three to five cured hardwood logs
of about three inches (3”) to six inches (6”) in diameter. As
the fire burns down, refueling should be only one or two logs
added at a time.
Important:
Do not burn construction debris or trash of any
kind in the Fire-Lite fireplace.
Whereas it is not uncommon for construction debris
and refuse to be burned in a fireplace by site personnel on
a project that is under construction, this activity must be
avoided.
It is the responsibility of the building contractor
to insure that the required dry-in period is met and that the
required lighting sequence is performed by the owner or by
the owner’s agent.
3. Log grates are required for burning solid fuel in the
Isokern fireplace.
Grates allow for easy air flow up through
the burning logs thus creating a more complete and efficient
burning of the fuel.
4. How to Build a Fire:
First set the fireplace damper in the full open posi
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tion. Begin laying the fire by placing several pieces of wad
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ded up paper directly on the log grate. Place kindling (small
splits of dry pine or other dry softwood) on top of the paper,
enough to loosely cover the paper. Next arrange several
small, dry hardwood or softwood logs or log splits on top of
the kindling layer.
Finally, arrange two or three larger hardwood logs
(oak, hickory, etc.) or log splits on top of the stack.
Ignite the paper at the bottom of the stack. The burning
paper will ignite the kindling which will, in turn, set the
remaining fuel on fire.
Be sure to stack all firewood in such a way that it
will settle into the log grate as the paper and kindling layers
are burned away. Additional logs can be set onto the fire as
each fueling burns down.
Ideally, fuel logs should be of a hardwood species
that have been air dried for one year or longer. Use of cured
or uncured pine logs and uncured hardwood logs for fuel
should be avoided. Pine logs and uncured hardwood logs
will tend to smolder and burn at relatively low temperatures
producing high levels of soot and creosote.
Important:
Do not throw, toss, jam, kick or otherwise force
logs into the fireplace.
