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2.4
Materials
The body of this fireplace, which is most of its weight, is carbon steel. Should it ever become
necessary many years in the future, almost the entire fireplace can be recycled into new products,
thus eliminating the need to mine new materials.
The paint coating on the fireplace is very thin. Its VOC content (Volatile Organic Compounds)
is very low. VOCs can be responsible for smog, so all the paint used during the manufacturing
process meets the latest air quality requirements regarding VOC reduction or elimination.
The air tubes are stainless steel, which can also be recycled.
Moulded refractory panels are mainly composed of silicon dioxide, also known as silica, a
product processed from a mined mineral. It is most commonly found in nature in the form
of sand and clay. Disposal at a waste management center is recommended. The steel mesh
contained in some refractory bricks can also be recycled.
The door and glass gaskets are fibreglass which is spun from melted sand. Black gaskets
have been dipped into a solvent-free solution. Disposal at a waste management center is
recommended.
The door glass is a 5/32" (4 mm) thick ceramic material that contains no toxic chemicals. It is
made of natural raw materials such as sand and quartz that are combined in such a way to form
a high temperature glass. Ceramic glass cannot be recycled in the same way as normal glass, so
it should not be disposed of with regular household products. Disposal at a waste management
center is recommended.
2.5
Zone Heating
This fireplace is a space heater, which means it is intended to heat the area it is installed in,
as well as spaces that connect to that area, although to a lower temperature. This is called
zone heating and it is an increasingly popular way to heat homes or spaces within homes. Zone
heating can be used to supplement another heating system by heating a particular space within
a home, such as a basement, a family room or an addition that lacks another heat source.
Houses of moderate size and relatively new construction can be heated with a properly sized
and located wood fireplace. Whole house zone heating works best when the fireplace is in the
part of the house where the family spends most of its time. This is normally the main living area
where the kitchen, dining and living rooms are located.
Locating the fireplace in this area will give the maximum benefit of the heat it produces and will
achieve the highest possible heating efficiency and comfort. The space where the most time is
spent will be warmest, while bedrooms and basement (if there is one) will stay cooler. In this
way, less wood is burnt than with other forms of heating.
Although the fireplace may be able to heat the main living areas of the house to an adequate
temperature, it is strongly recommended to also have a conventional oil, gas or electric heating
system to provide backup heating.
The success of zone heating will depend on several factors, including the correct sizing and
location of the fireplace, the size, layout and age of your home and your climate zone. Three-
season vacation homes can usually be heated with smaller fireplaces than houses that are
heated all winter.
Installation and Operation Manual - St. Clair 3000
Page 13
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