General Gas Fireplace Information
Styles
There are generally three different types of natural gas fireplaces
-Gas insert fireplace- made to insert into an approved wood burning fireplace
-Zero-clearance fireplaces – made to be installed and then framed around, dry walled, tiled, bricked, etc around to finish the exterior of the fireplace off.
-Free standing gas fireplaces- usually a stove style
Venting Types
There are generally three different types of venting methods which all the above fireplaces could be either type.
-Conventional, Natural or B Vent all refer to the same thing. These take air from inside the room for
combustion and then exhaust out a single chimney through the roof.
-Direct Vent- has one vent for exhaust to outside and one vent for combustion air brought in from the outside as well.
The glass window on the fireplace is sealed from the fireplace.
These can be vented through the roof or out the side of the house into a proper termination cap.
-Power Vent - available on some models which is basically a fan which forces the exhaust out the chimney.
With these the chimney can sometimes travel down thru the floor and out the side of the home.
Types of Glass
-Tempered Glass – Glass similar to tempered glass in an automobile.
These do not radiate much heat and can also shatter into hundreds of pieces should they break.
These types of glass are generally found in builder’s fireplaces and lower end installations.
Most fireplaces with tempered glass are classified as decorative.
-Ceramic Glass – Glass that is actually clear porcelain. This glass really holds and projects radiant heat outwards.
Looking at the glass feels like looking up at a hot sun. Ceramic glass can radiate 10 times as much heat as tempered.
These usually come with retail and higher end fireplaces. These fireplaces are usually classified as heaters or furnaces.
Types of Heat
-Radiant heat- this is projected through the glass window-ceramic glass does it ten times better.
-Convection – heat is drawn through the bottom of the fireplace through an air-to air heat exchanger and
circulated out the top grill of the fireplace. This can also be fan assisted. A good heater rated fireplace will still
heat an area very well without the fan running. A fan just speeds up the heating of a room.
A lot of builders fireplaces (in most new homes unfortunately) have tempered glass, low output burners and no or
poor heat exchanger. Adding a fan might help but if the fireplace is not generating much heat the fan will be of little use.
Installation
It is very important that fireplaces be installed by a qualified installer. Most gas fireplace manufacturer’s state in their
installation manual that if you cannot prove the installation was done by a qualified installer their warranty is null and void.
A do it yourselfer can attempt an install but there are many potential problems that can occur.
If the venting is done incorrectly it can have very serious consequences.
Unless you know exactly what you are doing you shouldn’t be playing with peoples lives.
Homeowner’s insurance might not cover you if the installation is not done by a qualified installer.
Is it really worth the few hundred dollars you might save?
Inspections
In The City of Calgary all gas lines and gas fireplaces must be inspected and approved.
Random inspections are not done. Every single fireplace is to be inspected at the rough in stage and
also after the fireplace is finished. Protech Plumbing looks after obtaining the permit and also booking the inspection.
We have direct access to The City of Calgary online permitting server to apply for permits and to book inspections.
The inspector inspects
- gas line for proper sizing and approved piping practices
- pressure air tests
- venting systems – looks for proper sizing, clearances from combustibles, proper vent termination and
termination clearances, proper sealing of venting
- checks for proper clearances from framing and any combustible materials around fireplace
- checks for approval for high altitude- a Calgary requirement
- checks to make sure it is CGA(Canadian Gas Association) approved
- Upon final inspection makes sure any mantle clearances are within minimum manufacturer requirements.
- Checks to make sure a carbon monoxide detector is installed within 5 meters of any bedroom
or sleeping area – a requirement in Alberta
- Looks for any instances of poor workmanship
Protech’s gasfitters have an excellent reputation with all Calgary and surrounding area gas inspectors.
We do over 5% off all the 14,000 gas permits issued in Calgary each year and we are proud to say we have much less than a 1 out of a hundred jobs not approved.
These are usually as a result of a different interpretation of the gas code. Not all inspectors interpet the code exactly the same.
Some failures are a result of a small infraction by an installer that didn't work directly for us, but the responsibilty of the appliance still fell under our permit.
Regardless the issue is resolved or corrected as quickly as possible.
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