Charnwood LA Firefront MkII Installation Instruction

CHARNWOOD

L.A. Firefront MKII

Operating

and

Installation Instructions

Bishops Way, Newport, Isle Of Wight, PO3O 5WS, U.K.

Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Email: [e-mail] Internet: www.charnwood.com

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE

CHARNWOOD L.A. FIREFRONT MkII

GENERAL POINTS

Before lighting the fire check with
the installer that the work and checks
described in the installation
instructions have been carried out
correctly and that the chimney has
been swept, is sound, and free from
any obstructions.

WARNING There must not be an
extractor fan fitted in the same room
as this appliance as this can cause the
appliance to emit smoke and fumes
into the room.

The chimney should be swept one
month after installation to clear any
soot falls which may have occurred
due to the difference in combustion
between the appliance and the open
fire.

When using the fire in situations
where children or infirm people are
present please use a fire guard to
prevent accidents. The fire guard
should be manufactured in
accordance with BS 6539.

FUELS

A wide variety of fuels may be used.
However, only approved smokeless
fuels may be used in smoke control
areas.

Smokeless Fuels

Most smokeless fuels may be burnt
on this appliance including the
following:

Ancit,
Anthracite Large Nuts,
Centurion,
Extracite,
Maxibrite,
Phurnacite,
Sunbrite Doubles,
Welsh Dry Steam Coal (Large Nuts).

Small sizes of fuel will tend to fall
through the grate unburnt and should
therefore be avoided.

The above fuels are all suitable for
use in smoke control areas.

Coal

Coal doubles, trebles and cobbles may
be burnt. Do not use coal singles or
coal dust.

When burning coal keep the
secondary air inlet open all the time.
Do not smother the fire when
re-fuelling - load it in two stages,
allowing flames to appear above the
firebed between stages.

5

0

4

3

2

1

Control
Knob

Air Inlet
Damper

Fig. 1. Thermostat Control

Wood

Only dry, well seasoned hard woods
should be used. The wood should be
cut, split, and allowed to dry for at
least one, and preferably two, years
before use.

Peat

Peat should be well dried before use.
Burning wet peat will give heavy tar
deposits and reduced outputs.

PETROLEUM COKE IS NOT

SUITABLE FOR USE ON THIS

APPLIANCE, ITS USE WILL

INVALIDATE THE GUARANTEE

At first you may find it helpful to try
several fuels to find the most suitable.
If you are unable to obtain the fuel
you want ask your supplier, or an
approved fuel distributor to suggest
an alternative.

DOOR OPERATION

Use the spanner type tool to open and
close the doors. Turn the knob on the
right hand door anti-clockwise to
open and clockwise to close. When
closing the doors do not push on the
enamel with the tool as this can chip
the enamel, instead push the doors on
the door knobs.

LIGHTING

Place some paper and dry kindling
wood or fire lighters on the grate and
cover with a small amount of fuel.
Turn the thermostat control knob to
the maximum setting and light the
paper or fire lighters. Close the doors
and allow the fire to burn until the
fuel is well ignited then load with
more fuel and adjust the thermostat
to the required level.

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Open

Secondary Air
Control (shown
closed)

Fig. 2. Secondary Air Control

On initial lighting, the appliance may
smoke and give off an odour as the
silicon paint with which the firebox
is painted reacts to the heat. This is
normal and will cease after a short
time. In the meantime the room
should be kept well ventilated.

Before relighting the fire, clear the
grate, and empty the ashpan.

CONTROLLING THE

FIRE

The rate of burning and hence the
output is controlled by the control
knob on the left hand side of the
appliance, shown in Fig. 1. The
number at the top of the knob is the
number at which it is set.

There is also a manual secondary air
control which is located above the
door opening as shown in Fig. 2. To
adjust the setting, open the doors and
use the door opening tool to move the
flap to the desired position. This
control should be in the closed
position when burning any of the

recommended smokeless fuels except
for anthracite, or homefire which
should be burnt with the secondary
air inlet open. The secondary air
inlet should also be kept open when
burning coal, wood or peat.

RUNNING THE FIRE

WITH THE DOORS

OPEN

The fire may be run with the doors
open on occasions when an open fire
effect is required. The more reactive
fuels, like homefire, coal, wood and
peat will burn better when the doors
are open than fuels like phurnacite,
sunbrite and ancit.

For safety reasons do not leave the
fire unattended with the doors open
and if the fuel tends to spit then use a
spark guard which complies with BS

3248.

ASH CLEARANCE

The ashpan should be emptied
regularly before it becomes too full.
The most convenient time to remove
the ash is just before de-ashing the
fire since the ash will then be at its
coolest. Use the tool provided to
remove the ashpan.

Never allow the ash to accumulate in
the ashpan so that it comes in contact
with the underside of the grate as this
will seriously damage the grate bars.
Ensure that the air inlet damper is
not prevented from closing by spilled
fuel or ash.

Care should be taken to ensure that
ash is cool before emptying it into
plastic liners or bins.

To make ash removal easier there is a
special Charnwood ash carrier
available. This may be purchased
from your supplier or, in case of
difficulty, from ourselves.

Use a poker to clear the firebed of
ash.

REFUELLING

Keep the firebox well filled (the fuel
may be sloped up from the front
firebars), but do not allow fuel to
spill over the top of the front fire
bars. Take care that fuel does not
project over the front fire bars or
damage to the glass may be caused
when the doors are closed. If any
pieces of fuel have been inadvertently
loaded onto the top of the throat
plate, then remove them using the
scraper tool.

OVERNIGHT

BURNING

Empty the ashpan, if necessary, and
then clear the firebed of ash. If the
fire is very low then it may be
necessary to add a little fuel and turn
the air control up to maximum for a
brief period until the fire is burning
brightly before filling with fuel. Turn
the air control to a low setting. Some
experimentation may be necessary to
find the setting most suitable for the
particular fuel used and the draw on
the chimney.

For overnight burning the fire doors
must be closed.

To revive the fire, empty the ashpan
if necessary, poke the fire, and turn
the air control knob to maximum.

Throat Plate

Fig. 3. Throat Plate

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When the fire is burning well load on
more fuel as necessary and turn the
control knob to the desired setting.

THROAT PLATE AND

FLUEWAY CLEANING

It is important that the throat plate,
(shown in Fig. 3.) and all the
appliance flueways are kept clean.
They should be cleaned at least
monthly, and more frequently if it if
found necessary.

The throat plate and flueways may be
cleaned with a low fire still burning.
Use the scraper tool to scrape any
sooty deposits to the front of the plate
until they fall off into the fire. Check
that all soot deposits have been
removed from the back of the plate, it
may sometimes be necessary to let the
fire out and remove the plate to clean
it thoroughly.

More soot will be deposited on the
throat plate and in the flueways if the
appliance is run at low levels for long
periods. If this is the case then more
frequent cleaning will be necessary.

CLEANING AND

MAINTENANCE

The appliance is finished in vitreous
enamel. To clean the surfaces simply
wipe over with a dry cloth. Abrasive
pads and scouring cleaners must not
be used as these will damage the
finish. Care should be taken not to
knock the enamel with hard objects
as it will chip.

The glass in the doors is a special
ceramic glass which will withstand
the heat of the fire. Before cleaning
the glass open the doors and allow
them to cool. Clean the glass using a
damp cloth and then wiping over
with a dry cloth. Any stubborn
deposits on the glass may be removed
with a proprietary fire glass cleaner
or ceramic hob cleaner. Some
deposits on the glass may be burnt off
simply by running the fire at a fast
rate for a few minutes. Do not use

abrasive cleaners or pads as these can
scratch the surface which will weaken
the glass and cause premature failure.
Aerosol spray cleaners should not be
used near the appliance whilst it is
under fire.

If the fire is going to be out of use for
a long period (for instance in the
summer) then to prevent condensa­tion, and hence corrosion, the
thermostat should be left at the
maximum setting and the main doors
left ajar. It is also advisable to sweep
the chimney and clean out the fire.

After long periods where the fire has
been out of use, the chimney and
appliance flueways should be cleaned
before lighting.

For the fire to operate correctly it is
important that the door seals are in
good condition. Check that they do
not become worn or frayed and
replace them when necessary.

CHIMNEY SWEEPING

The chimney should be swept at least
twice a year.

First remove the front firebars and
the throat plate. Then sweep the
chimney ensuring that soot is
removed from all horizontal surfaces
after sweeping.

After clearing any soot from within
the fire, replace the throat plate and
the front firebars.

Different types of sweeps brushes are
available to suit different flueways.
For standard brick chimneys a wire
centre sweeps brush fitted with a
guide wheel is recommended. For
prefabricated insulated chimneys the
manufacturers instructions with
regard to sweeping should be
consulted.

TROUBLE SHOOTING

Fire Will Not Burn.

Check that:
a) the air inlet is not obstructed in

any way,
b) chimneys and flueways are clear,
c) a suitable fuel is being used,
d) there is an adequate air supply into
the room,
e) an extractor fan is not fitted in the
same room as the fire.

Fire Blazing Out Of

Control.

Check that:
a) the doors are tightly closed,
b) the air control knob is turned
down to the minimum setting,
c) the air inlet damper is closed (at
the bottom left of the appliance), and
that it is not prevented from closing
completely by a piece of ash,
d) a suitable fuel is being used,
e) the door seals are in good
condition.

Fume Emission.

Warning Note: Properly installed
and operated this appliance will not
emit fumes. Occasional fume from
de-ashing and re-fuelling may
occur. Persistent fume emission is
potentially dangerous and must not
be tolerated. If fume emission does
persist then the following
immediate actions should be taken:

A) Open doors and windows to
ventilate the room.
B) Let the fire out and safely
dispose of fuel from the appliance.
C) Check for flue or chimney
blockage, and clean if required.
D) Do not attempt to relight fire
until cause of fume has been
identified, if necessary seek
professional advice.

The most common cause of fume
emission is flueway or chimney
blockage. For your own safety these
must be kept clean.

Freezing

Do not light the fire if there is any
possibility that any parts of the
heating system may be frozen.

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Chimney Fires.

If the chimney is thoroughly and
regularly swept, chimney fires should
not occur. However, if a chimney fire
does occur turn the control knob to
the minimum setting, and tightly

close the doors of the appliance. This
should cause the chimney fire to go
out in which case the control should
be kept at the minimum setting until
the fire in the appliance has gone out.
The chimney and flueways should
then be cleaned. If the chimney fire

does not go out when the above
action is taken then the fire brigade
should be called immediately.

After a chimney fire the chimney
should be carefully examined for any
damage. Expert advice should be
sought if necessary.

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INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE

CHARNWOOD L.A. FIREFRONT MkII

GENERAL POINTS

The Charnwood L.A. Firefront is
intended to be fitted into open
fireplaces either with an existing
fireback or with an existing
backboiler.

It will fit both 400 and 450mm (16
and 18") fire openings and may be
used with tapered or rectangular
boilers or firebacks.

There are some specific requirements
for the fire surround and fire opening
which must be met in order to allow
a satisfactory installation. These are
shown in the section titled "Hearth
and Fireplace" - please check them
carefully.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

PRECAUTIONS

Please take care when installing the
appliance that the requirements of the
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
are met.

Some types of fire cement are caustic
and should not be allowed to come
into contact with the skin. In case of
contact wash with plenty of water.

No asbestos is used in this product,
however, if there is a possibility of
disturbing any asbestos in the course
of installation then appropriate action
must be taken.

There must not be an extractor fan
fitted in the same room as the fire as
this can cause the appliance to emit
fumes into the room.

There must be an adequate air supply
into the room in which the appliance
is installed totalling at least 100
square cm. (16 square inches) to
provide combustion air. This is
particularly necessary if the room is
double glazed.

In addition to these instructions the
requirements of BS:8303 and
BS:6461 Pt 1&2; 1984 must be
fulfilled. Local Authority Bylaws and
Building Regulations regarding the
installation of Solid Fuel burning
appliances, flues and chimneys must
also be observed.

CHIMNEY

In order for the appliance to perform
satisfactorily the chimney height
must not be less than 4 metres
measured vertically from the outlet of
the appliance to the top of the
chimney. The chimney should
preferably be 175 mm (7 inches) or
200mm (8 inches) internal diameter
or square with sides of 175mm or
200mm internally and MUST NOT
BE LESS THAN 150mm (6
INCHES) INTERNAL DIAMETER
OR 150 x 150mm INTERNAL
SQUARE.

Before installation the chimney must
be swept and checked, it must be in
good condition, free from cracks and
blockages, and should not have an
excessive cross sectional area (e.g.
greater than 250mm x 250mm). If
you find that the chimney is in poor
condition then expert advice should
be sought regarding the necessity of
having the chimney lined. If it is
found necessary to line the chimney
then a lining suitable for Solid Fuel
must be used.

If it is found that there is excessive
draw in the chimney then a draught
stabilizer should be fitted.

HEARTH AND

FIREPLACE

The appliance must be installed in a
fireproof hearth and fireplace. Please
ensure that the fireplace is suitable

For Overall Sizes Of
Hearth See The
Section Titled "Hearth".

25 mm Max.

( 1" )

Fig. 4. Limiting Dimensions

Of Hearth

The shaded area on the face of
the surround is the minimum flat

Dim. A:
Max. 470mm (18 1/2")
Min. 405mm (16")

Dim. B:
Max. 575mm (22 2/3")
Min. 555mm (21 3/4")

area required.

650 mm

B

A

660 mm

Fig. 5. Limiting Dimensions Of

Surround And Opening

for the higher temperatures that will
be reached compared to an open fire.
If reconstituted stone or marble is
used then ensure that the binder will
withstand temperatures up to 400°C -

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this will rule out most conglomerate
marbles.

The fireplace must conform to the
dimensions shown in Figs. 4 & 5. A
standard tapered lintel must be fitted
above the fire opening to protect the
back of the fire surround.

The Firefront relies on the seal
between the unit and the fireplace - a
smooth sealing surface 50mm (2")
wide must be provided around the
fire opening. If necessary by
rendering or fitting a metal frame.

The fire must be situated at least 300
mm (12 inches) from any combustible
material. The positioning of the
appliance and the size of the hearth
are governed by building regulations
for Class 1 appliances. These
building regulations state that the
hearth must extend in front of the
appliance by at least 300 mm (12
inches) and to the sides of the
appliance by at least 150 mm (6
inches). If in doubt as to the
positioning of the appliance expert
advice should be sought either from
the supplier or the local building
inspector.

PREPARATION OF

FIREPLACE

The hearth, surround and opening for
the appliance must conform with
Figs. 4 and 5. The flat area around
the opening must be a minimum of
650 mm wide and 660 mm high.
Ensure that the hearth and the base
in the opening are flat, level, and at
right angles to the surround.

Before fitting the L.A. Firefront
remove the front of the existing fire.
On high output boilers the boiler
damper should be removed but any
boiler doors may be left in place
provided it will be possible to remove
them for cleaning after the Firefront
is fitted. Place the Charnwood
Firefront in the opening and check
that it will fit correctly. Try fitting
the Charnwood grate and the ashpan,
note if any brackets on the existing

boiler need removing. Ensure that the
clamping plate can be fitted. Remove
the Charnwood Firefront from the
opening. Any brackets on the front of
the boiler that interfere with the grate
or ashpan will need to be carefully
removed. If necessary the clamping
plate may be modified to suit the
installation, but any modifications
must not prevent the plate from
functioning correctly.

FITTING THE FIRE

If the Firefront is being fitted into a
450mm (18”) fireplace then fit 2 M6
x 35mm bolts to each side of the
Firefront, into the holes provided, to

Mineral Wool
Insulation

Clamping Plate

Fig. 6. Clamping Plate

and Insulation

keep it central in the fire opening.
The bolts must be fitted so that
25mm protrudes from each side.

Ensure that the throat plate brackets
are not fitted at this stage - it will not
be possible to fit the clamping plate if
they are fitted.

Offer the Firefront up to the fireplace
so that the sealing flange comes
within 5mm of the surround, ensure
that the Firefront is central in the
fireplace and mark the hearth
through the holes in the base of the
side flanges. Remove the Firefront
and drill the hearth at the points

(Rock fibre
not Glass fibre)

marked using an 8.0 mm masonry
bit. Place the plugs provided in the
hole.

Run the sealing rope around the
firefront, behind the sealing flange
and apply fire cement. Fit the
appliance into the opening ensuring
that it is central.

Lay the insulation provided on the
clamping plate. Fit the clamping
plate and insulation into the fire front
so that the bottom comes underneath
the top of the fire front, see Fig. 7.
Loosely fit the two clamping bolts.
Loosely fit the two tensioning bolts,
pulling the clamping plate towards
the front of the fire.

Push the base of the fire tight up
against the fire surround and fit the
two screws through the base of the
side sealing flanges.

Tighten the tensioning bolts and

then tighten the clamping bolts.

Ensure that there is sufficient gap
between the clamping plate and the
boiler or fireback - the gap must not
be less than 60mm (2-1/4”), make
any adjustments or modifications to
meet this requirement.

Smooth the fire cement around the
sealing flange making sure that it
makes a good seal. Remove any
excess fire cement. Inside the
Firefront seal the sides and bottom to
the boiler, hearth and fire surround
using fire cement.

THERMOSTAT

Before lighting the fire check the
cold setting distance of the
thermostat.

With the control knob at the
minimum setting the flap should be
closed as shown in Fig. 8. To adjust
the distance slacken the locking nut
and adjust as necessary. When set
correctly re-tighten the locking nut.
Ensure that the flap opens and closes
freely as the knob is turned.

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Clamping Plate

Insulation

Clamping

Bolts
Tensioning

Bolts

Throat Plate

Fig. 7. Typical Installation

ASSEMBLY

Bolt the two throat plate brackets
onto each side of the fire using the
M8x20 bolts, ensure that the nuts are
outside the firebox, see Fig. 7. The
brackets are handed and must be
fitted so that they angle in towards
the centre of the fire.

Fit the throat plate, ensure that it can
be lowered and raised easily. Push
the throat plate as far back as it will
go.

Fit the front grate, it should rest on
top of the existing fire grate.

Fit the front firebar, ensure that the
raised parts on the front of the front
grate engage with the recess at the
bottom of the front firebar.

Fit the side panels, hood and top grid
onto the appliance. Instructions for
this are enclosed with the panel pack.

Fit the plastic bung in the hole in the
Right Hand Side Panel.

Flap to be just closed
with knob on minimum

Locking Nut

Thermostat Flap

Fig. 8. Thermostat Setting

COMMISSIONING

On completion of the installation and
after allowing a suitable period of
time for the fire cement and mortar to
dry out, the fire should be lit and
checked to ensure that smoke and
fumes are taken from the appliance
up the chimney and emitted safely.
Also check all joints and seals.

On completion of the installation and
commissioning please leave the
operating instructions with the
customer and advise on the use of the
fire and any controls on the system.

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