How to do it
Constructing a fireplace and building in a fireplace insert requires great care. The future owner should ask a few basic questions that will be invaluable in easing the entire course of construction and, after completion, will assure the expected result in the form of inexpensive and attractive home heating.
Selection of the right output of the insert
In selecting a fireplace insert, one of the most important criteria is the output. For our fireplace inserts, we can calculate at least an approximate output necessary for heating a residential space. However, it should be stressed that the output figure is simply for orientation, since the actual output depends primarily upon the climate in the area where the building is situated, and on its own heat-insulation properties. This data should be available in the project documentation of your residence. If you do not have such documents available, our website can give you a calculation for output Simplified calculation.
For a precise output figure, we recommend having a survey of your residence performed by qualified experts who can visit all of the interior spaces and calculate heat loss for each individual room, and then propose a precise output figure for the fireplace insert and the individual radiators.
Preparation of construction (professional firms recommended)
First of all, it is necessary to prepare everything that is needed for constructing the fireplace, such as preparing the site, materials and equipment, so as not to lead to excessive delays in construction. Another major reason for making good preparations is the technological approach, i.e. the use of the correct materials for stoves and fireplaces (glues, plasters, mortars). For every fireplace insert it is also possible to purchase a special support stand to assist in the positioning and height setting for the fireplace insert.
Further preparation should concentrate on the area of the chimney and the floor on which the stove base will stand. The floor should not be of inflammable materials. The best foundation for building a fireplace is a concrete or other non-inflammable floor slab. If there is an inflammable floor surface below an added fireplace, the entire section below the fireplace should be removed or at least insulated such that the temperature never exceeds 50°C while the fireplace is in operation. If the fireplace is installed above a cellar or on an upper floor, it is necessary to ensure that the floor can bear its weight.
The position of the fireplace is set immediately at the time of the construction of the house: by means of the positioning of the chimney. Attaching the fireplace to the chimney is performed through the use of a flue that leads the combustion gases directly into the chimney. The flue should be as short as possible, as well as having the smallest possible number of bends: bends result in greater draft losses.
Connecting the fireplace insert – diagram
How to build the external masonry, connection points
General information
Building the exterior masonry of a fireplace is highly demanding in terms of knowledge of correct materials. Before starting assembly, it is absolutely necessary to have a good knowledge of Czech construction standards. Installation of a fireplace insert should always be entrusted to qualified professionals.
Connecting the water pipes
All connection points must be equipped with removable connectors for easy disassembly. Two connection points are supplied, so that the fireplace insert can be connected from the left or from the right. The connections are always colour-coded for hot and cold water.
Building the masonry surround
The first necessary step is to insulate the rear wall of the space inside the fireplace surrounds. Using insulating slabs, we can create the entire surround including the foundations. Insulation slabs are building material and insulation in one; the slabs are glued together using the special glues Rudokit NT 1350 or VS-K 1200 Flamin. Of particular importance is retaining a minimal distance between the walls of the insert and the insulation elements of the fireplace surround, as well as between the insert and the insulated walls of the room (minimum of 5 cm along the sides and to the rear of the insert).
Connecting the flue
The flue should be correctly connected to the inlet nozzle, preferably at an angle of below 45°. The connection can have an angle of up to 90°, but the 45° angle is preferable for lesser pressure loss. The diameter of the piping should not be smaller than the smoke duct from the fireplace insert. If it is, then the reduction must be smaller by one diameter than the diameter of the orifice, and must be located as far as possible from the connection with the insert itself.
The upper part of the fireplace
The airway (the upper section that covers the smoke chamber and where the air can be heated) must be of fire-resistant materials, e.g. steel plates, fireproof calcium-silicate slabs, which also have the function of insulation. The next part is the covering of the walls behind the insert with an insulating layer. A grill for the emergence of warm air must be placed at a height minimally 50 cm from the ceiling. Likewise, the ceiling around the fireplace should be made of fire-resistant materials.
security requirements for assembly
With your purchase of a fireplace insert, you will receive a Service Manual, in which all of the security instructions for installation as well as use are detailed.
Assembly must be performed by a licensed technician, who assumes all responsibility personally for the correct work, as well as adherence to all local regulations concerning national and EU standards. (see the Installation Guidelines)