Combustible material and calorific power
The combustion process has been optimised
from a technical point of view, with regards to
the design of the hearth and the relative air sup-
ply, as well as that pertaining to emissions.
Please support our commitment in keeping the
environment clean by observing the information
explained below regarding the use of combusti-
ble materials which do not contain nor produce
harmful substances.
As for combustible material, use only natural,
seasoned timber or wood briquettes. Firewood
which is damp, freshly cut or stored in unsuitable
conditions, has high water content, therefore, it
does not burn well, produces smoke and little
heat.
Use only firewood that has been seasoned for at
least two years in a dry and ventilated environ-
ment. That way the water content will be 20%
less and therefore, you will save on combustible
material since seasoned firewood has calorific
power that is reasonably higher.
Never use liquid fuels such as gasoline, alcohol
or anything similar. Do not burn waste.
Radiation range
Do not place any combustible material within
the radiation range emitted through the glass
door.
Initial start-up
The paint with which the hearth is covered is sub-
ject to "ageing" until it reaches its operating tem-
perature for the first time.
This can cause unpleasant smells, however, in
this case, see that the room where the hearth is
installed is adequately ventilated. This occurren-
ce will disappear after the first few times it is lit.
Burn hazards
The external surfaces of the FLAT fireplace beco-
me hot, especially the door that is made of cera-
mic glass. Do not touch these as you risk getting
burnt! Warn children about this hazard. Children
are to be kept away from the hearth when it is
on anyway.
Air grilles
Be careful not to close or block the warm air
outlets. This causes the internal part of the cove-
ring to overheat, which is a hazard.
Operating the hearth with the door open
When the hearth is used with the door open, you
must constantly keep an eye on the hearth. Hot
embers can spark out of the hearth.
Adding combustible material
When you wish to "add firewood" it is recom-
mended you use a protective glove as the han-
dle can become hot if the fireplace is used for a
long period of time.
Open the door slowly. This way you will avoid
causing the air to swirl as this may cause smoke
to be emitted.
When should firewood be added? When the
combustible material is finishing and all that is
left are the embers.
20
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
Operating the fireplace in mid-season
To draw in air for combustion and smoke
exhaustion, the FLAT fireplace needs a draught
from the fireplace/chimney flue. An increase in
the temperature outside causes the draught to
decrease. When the temperature outside exce-
eds 10 °C, check the draught in the fireplace
before lighting the fire. If the draught is weak,
light up the fire in "start-up mode" by using
igniting material that is small in size. Once the
draught within the fireplace increases and is
suitable you can add more combustible mate-
rial.
Air inflow in the room where the hearth
is installed
The FLAT fireplace can only function properly
if in the room where it is installed there is a suf-
ficient inflow of air for combustion. Before
lighting the fireplace, ensure there is a suffi-
cient inflow of air. If the appliance is equipped
with a valve for outside air to enter, open it and
leave it open for as long as the fireplace
remains on. The devices related to air supply
for combustion must not be altered.
If the air volume is not sufficient and the type
of premises in which the fireplace is installed is
not sufficiently ventilated, the additional air
inlet of 150 cm2 mentioned earlier on, is
required to be installed.
Lighting a cold hearth
1. Ensure the bed of ashes is not too high. The
maximum height is 5 cm from the bottom
edge of the door.
A bed of ashes that is too high, poses the risk
of embers to fall out of the hearth when the
door is opened to add firewood.
2. Pull the lever that adjusts the air valve into
the "on" position. The air for combustion will
flow in intensely towards the firewood in the
hearth in order to quickly reach a good level
of combustion.
3. The firewood must be placed in the hearth
without cramming it too much. Place fire-star-
ters between the wooden logs and light them
up. Fire-starters are practical when lighting up
combustion material.
Attention: Wooden logs that are big in size do
not light up well in a cold hearth and release
harmful gases.
Never use combustion material such as gaso-
line, alcohol or anything similar to light up the
hearth!
N.B. Seasoned wood has a calorific power of about 4 kWh/kg, whereas freshly cut firewood has a calorific
power of only 2 kWh/kg. Therefore, twice as much is required of the latter to obtain the same calorific power.
Seasoned for a very long time
Seasoned for two years
Seasoned for 1 year
Freshly cut firewood
ATTENTION: If too much combustible material is placed in the hearth or unsuitable combustible material
is used, this may provoke an over-heating hazard.
4. Now close the door of the hearth and
monitor it for a few minutes. If the fire should
go off, open the door slowly, place another
fire-starter in the middle of the wooden logs
and light it up.
5. If the fire does not require more firewood
to be added, when this fire dies down push
the lever that adjusts the air valve into the
"maintenance" position. Do not implement
this during combustion as when the lever is in
the "maintenance" position, the inflow of
combustion air is completely blocked. In case
of a sudden inflow of oxygen (e.g. caused
when opening the door of the hearth), the
"gases that are still present" in the hearth and
on any surfaces where heat is drawn in, can
react violently when atmospheric oxygen
enters.
Adding firewood to a hot hearth
Using the glove supplied, slowly lift the door
and add the desired amount of firewood in
the hearth, placing the wooden logs on the
embers. In this way, the firewood warms up
and consequently lets off any water content
as vapour. This in turn decreases the internal
temperature of the hearth. The volatile sub-
stances released from the combustible mate-
rial require sufficient air supply for this stage
of emission to take place rapidly (which is cri-
tical from a technical point of view) and for
the temperature required for a good level of
combustion can be reached.
Another suggestion:
When lighting up the fireplace, always use
the smaller wooden logs as these burn quic-
ker and therefore, the hearth reaches the
right temperature in less time. Use the larger
wooden logs when adding firewood to a hot
hearth.
Some types of wood briquettes expand once
they are placed in the hearth (i.e. the heat
causes them to increase in volume).
Always place the firewood at the far end of
the hearth, almost touching its back wall so
that if it slides down it does not fall against
the door.
Removing the ashes
You can remove the ashes with a small sho-
vel or a vacuum cleaner for ashes. Place the
ashes in NON-COMBUSTIBLE containers.
Bear in mind that the residues can even light
up after more than 24 hours after combustion.
Firewood water
Calorific power
content g/Kg
kWh/kg
100
4,5
200
4
350
3
500
2,1
Greater consum-
ption of firewood
as a %
0
15
71
153