Vent Maintenance; Fireplace Cavity (Chase) Construction - ORTAL Front Facing Series Installation And Operation Manual

Vent Maintenance

Regular inspection of the venting system by a qualified service technician is recommended every six
months. The following maintenance routing is recommended:
1. Inspect for excessive condensation, e.g., water droplets forming in the inner lining, and
subsequently dripping from the joints. This can cause corrosion in the system.
2. Check for corrosion in areas exposed to the elements. Components with rust spots or holes must
be immediately replaced.
3. Ensure that there is no foreign material in the vents. Survey by removing the cap and shining a
light down the vent.
4. If possible, check all joints and pipes to make sure that nothing has been disturbed or loosened.
The process of building the chase can be divided into four main phases:
PHASE 1: BUILD BACK AND SIDE WALLS
•
Frame the back and side walls. (See "Building Back and Side Walls" section below for details.)
o If using wood framing or plan on putting a TV or artwork above the fireplace, cover the inside
of the walls (the side facing towards the cavity) with 5/8" Type X Drywall or equivalent and
level 1 finish.
o If using metal framing and there is no TV or artwork, inside layer of 5/8" Type X Drywall or
equivalent is not required.
•
Build the platform (if necessary) to the desired height and install inside fireplace cavity. Platform must
be stable and able to bear the full weight of the fireplace. Platform can be constructed out of wood,
concrete, metal or any other solid materials. Material does not have to be non-combustible.
PHASE 2: INSTALL FIREPLACE & VENTING, RUN GAS & ELECTRICAL
•
Install the fireplace. This can only be completed by an authorized ORTAL dealer (unless otherwise
authorized by ORTAL with written approval). See the "Fireplace Installation Instructions" section for
details.
•
Install pipe/venting. See the "Fireplace Installation Instructions" section for details.
•
Move the gas valve & receiver unit to the designated access panel location. If the fireplace will not
have an access panel, keep gas valve & receiver unit directly underneath the firebox.
•
Run gas and electric to the gas valve & receiver unit location.
PHASE 3: BUILD FRONT WALL
•
Build front cavity wall (aka infill panel):
For Metal/Non-Combustible Framing:
o Build the front wall using metal studs.
o Stand up the front wall and move into place.
o Secure front wall to the rest of the cavity structure.
For Wood/Combustible Framing:
o Build the front wall using wood studs (leaving room for min. 18" non-combustible/metal
insert directly above the fireplace opening).
o Cover the inside portion of the wall with 5/8" Type X Drywall or equivalent and level 1 finish.
o Stand up front wall and move into place.
o Secure front wall to the rest of the cavity structure.
o Build & install min. 18" non-combustible metal insert (see "Framing Requirements &
Diagrams" section for details).
•
Cover the exterior of each wall (sides and front, and back if applicable depending on your
design) with 5/8" Type X Drywall or equivalent and level 1 finish.
Ortal Installation Manual: Built-in Models, September 2018

Fireplace Cavity (Chase) Construction

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