Superior BCF-3885 User Manual
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NOTE: DIAGRAMS & ILLUSTRATIONS NOT TO SCALE.
HOMEOWNER'S CARE AND
OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS
38" and 43" Wood Burning Fireplaces
P/N 725,024M REV. N/C 11/2001
BCF-3885 BRF-3875
BCF-4385 BRF-4375
MODELS
RETAIN THESE INSTRUCTIONS
FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
CUSTOM SERIES
The information contained in this manual applies to all model fireplaces
identified on this page. This information will help you obtain safe and
dependable service from your fireplace system. Keep this document in
a safe place for future reference.
Before you start your first fire, read this Care and Operations Manual
carefully to be sure you understand your fireplace system completely.
Failure to follow these suggestions could result in hazardous operation
or fireplace malfunction, creating a serious potential for personal injury
and/or property damage.
If you have any questions regarding the safe use or operation of your
fireplace, contact your local distributor.
U.L. Report No. MH8988
TABLE OF CONTENTS
General Safety Precautions................ page 2
General Information........................... page 2
Fuels .................................................. page 2
Gas Logs ........................................... page 2
Disposal of Ashes .............................. page 3
Softwood vs Hardwood ..................... page 3
Starting a Fire .................................... page 4
Damper Control ................................. page 4
Glass Door Operating Safety
Precautions and Instructions ........... page 4
Combustion Air ................................. page 5
Refractories ....................................... page 5
Maintenance Guidelines..................... page 6
Twice a Year Check-Up ...................... page 6
Creosote Formation and Removal...... page 6
Troubleshooting ................................ page 6
Warranty............................................ page 7
Product Reference Information ......... page 7
Replacement Parts ............................ page 7
Accessory Components ..................... page 7
Replacement Parts ............................ page 8
GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
IMPORTANT! READ AND UNDERSTAND BEFORE YOUR FIRST FIRE.
1. Use SOLID WOOD only for fuel. It is best to
use dry and well seasoned hardwood. Soft
woods tend to burn very quickly. Solid scrap
construction lumber produces excessive sparks.
DO NOT use treated wood, artificial wax based
logs, charcoal, coal, trash, driftwood or woods
that have been dipped in tar, pitch, pine tar,
creosote, etc. Wood products made with synthetic binders, such as plywood, produce
abnormally high temperatures and sputtering,
smoking fires.
2. NEVER use gasoline, gasoline-type lantern
fuel, kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, or similar
liquids to start or “freshen up” a fire in this
fireplace. Keep any flammable liquids a safe
distance from the fireplace.
3. Keep the chimney damper open while any
fire or smoldering embers are present .
4. Never block or restrict the room air intake
grille across the bottom front or the warm air
outlet grille across the top front of the fireplace.
5. Use care when selecting window treatments
for windows located near the fireplace. Avoid
using combustible flowing window treatments
such as curtains on nearby windows that are of
sufficient length to be blown in front of an open
flame when the window is opened.
6. With the fire burning, close the protective
mesh screens to keep sparks and embers INSIDE the firebox.
7. Keep any combustible furniture or decorative pillows at least 36" (914 mm) from the
fireplace opening.
8. Never leave your fireplace unattended while
it is burning.
9. Be careful adding wood fuel to the fire or
handling fireplace tools such as shovels, tongs
or pokers.
10. Never modify or alter your fireplace system
in any way. To do so may create a potential fire
hazard and void the Limited Warranty.
11. The bottom refractory can be cracked by
excessive abuse such as tossing heavy logs onto
the grate or gouging with fireplace tools. Exercise caution when adding wood to your fireplace.
12. DO NOT use a fireplace insert or any other
product not specified by Superior for use with
this fireplace.
13. If you are using your fireplace as a “decorative appliance,” such as with a permanently
installed gas log set, the fireplace damper must
be permanently fixed in the open position.
Listed “vent-free” gas log sets may be used
with the damper closed.
14. Always ensure that an adequate supply of
replacement combustion air from the outside of
the house is accessible to the fire to support
normal combustion. Fireplaces consume large
volumes of air during the normal combustion
process. In the event the home is tightly sealed
with modern energy efficient features, the optional
combustion air kit may not provide all the air
required to support combustion. The manufacturer is not responsible for any smoking or related
problems that may result from the lack of adequate
combustion air. It is the responsibility of the
builder/contractor to ensure that adequate combustion air has been provided for the fireplace.
15. Neither the manufacturer nor the seller warrants “smoke free” operation nor are we
responsible for inadequate system draft caused
by mechanical systems, general construction
conditions, inadequate chimney heights, adverse
wind conditions and/or unusual environmental
factors or conditions beyond our control.
GENERAL INFORMATION
1. The all-steel, multi-wall firebox is the heat
center of the system. It is well insulated for safe
clearance to combustibles.
2. The hearth floor and sidewalls of the firebox
are lined with a brick pattern reinforced refractory for the look of authenticity and to provide
safety.
3. The metal chimney sections extending from
the firebox top to beyond your roof are two
walled and air-cooled. The inner passage, or
flue, provides the exit for smoke and gases.
4. The flue damper is a two position (fully open
or fully closed) mechanism operated by a handle
found at the center top of the fireplace opening.
It must be open when fire is present so smoke
and gases can escape. It should be closed
ONLY when the fire is completely out – keeping
room air from being lost up the flue.
5. Closed screens prevent fire, sparks and
embers from popping out of the firebox while a
fire is burning. Pull screens back when adding
wood to the firebox.
6. Why use a fuel grate? Besides positioning
the firebed properly, it protects the refractory
floor, back and sides of the fireplace. Further, it
ensures a proper flow of combustion air into
and around the firebed. The grate must be used
at all times when burning. Your warranty may
be voided without the use of this grate.
7. Remember, your fireplace is not intended to
heat your entire home.
FUELS
Never Use Coal in Your Fireplace
Your fireplace system is not designed to be
used with coal derivative products. The combustion process of certain types of coal can
deposit corrosive materials in the fireplace and
chimney system which can lead to premature
product failure. Never use coal as a fuel in this
fireplace system.
Gas Logs
If your fireplace system was installed with a gas
line, you may wish to install one of two types of
gas log sets.
This fireplace has been tested and approved for
use with a decorative gas appliance incorporating an automatic shut-off device and complying
with the Standard for Decorative Gas Appliances for installation in vented fireplaces, ANSI
Z21.60 (1991) or American Gas Association
draft requirements for Gas-Fired Log Lighters
for Wood Burning Fireplaces, Draft No. 4 dated
August, 1993. Decorative gas appliances may
be installed in these fireplaces. Installation
must be in accordance with the National Fuel
Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1 for compliance with the
revised U.L. 127 Standard.
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NOTE: DIAGRAMS & ILLUSTRATIONS NOT TO SCALE.
CAUTION: WHEN USING A DECORATIVE
GAS APPLIANCE, THE FIREPLACE
DAMPER MUST BE SET TO THE FULLY
OPEN POSITION.
These fireplaces have been tested and approved
to ANSI/IAS/AGA Z21.11.2 for use with an
unvented gas appliance having a maximum rating of 26,000 BTU (for the BRF-3875 and
BCF-3885 models) and 32,000 BTU (for the
BRF-4375 and BCF-4385 models) and complies
with the Standard for Factory-Built Fireplaces,
U.L. 127, when installed with unvented gas log
sets. The limit may be increased to 40,000 BTU
providing that minimum combustible mantle
heights were increased to at least 18 inches
when the fireplace was installed.
Prior to installing any gas log set, (Vented or
Unvented) refer to the fireplace installation
instructions for verification of mantle heights
and placement of combustible materials around
the firebox opening. NEVER INSTALL AN
UNVENTED GAS LOG SET WITH A BTU RATING GREATER THAN 26,000 BTU (BRF-3875
AND BCF-3885 MODELS) AND 32,000 BTU
(BRF-4375 AND BCF-4385 MODELS) IF THE
COMBUSTIBLE MANTLE PROJECTIONS ARE
LOWER THAN 18 INCHES ABOVE THE FIREPLACE OPENING. Vented gas log sets do not
have restrictions placed upon their BTU rating.
Wood Fuel Pointers
Wood is a wonderful renewable fuel source.
Normally it burns clean, leaving only a minimum
of waste ash, provides comforting heat and can
provide a variety of aromas and visual images.
You will want to know which woods are best for
use. Sometimes you may want a quick, short
fire to offset a morning chill. Soft woods are
preferable in this case. Other times you would
want more slow burning and a uniform heat
output. Hardwoods are preferable for this use.
The amount of heat available from the logs will
be about equal on a weight basis. However,
logs are generally not weighed so the amount of
heat will depend on:
1. The type of wood used.
2. How dry it is.
3. How many logs you put in.
4. The size of the logs.
DISPOSAL OF ASHES
Ashes should be placed in a metal container
with a tight fitting lid. The closed container of
ashes should be placed on a noncombustible
floor or on the ground, well away from all
combustible materials, pending final disposal.
If the ashes are to be disposed of by burial in soil
or other wise locally dispersed, they should be
retained in the closed container until all cinders
have thoroughly cooled.
SOFTWOOD VS HARDWOOD
Softwoods contain about 15 percent highly
flammable resin which generates creosote soot
in the chimney flue. Burning softwood exclusively may not be as desirable nor as safe as
burning denser hardwoods. Many experienced
fire-builders use small amounts of softwood
kindling and newspaper in conjunction with
starting a fire with split hardwood logs. Here are
some guidelines to remember:
1. Softwoods produce fast warming and shorter
fires. Hardwoods burn less vigorously, have
shorter flames and produce steady, glowing
coals.
2. As a general rule, denser woods contain
more potential heat per pound. Most softwoods
offer moderate heat value per pound.
3. Different woods vary widely in flame heights,
flame intensities, smoke characteristics and in
sparking. Most hardwoods do not spark.
4. Most freshly cut “green” wood will not burn
well and will smoke. Green wood can be from
10 to 40 percent less efficient than air-dried
seasoned wood.
5. Moisture and resin found inside unseasoned
wood cells will build up pressure under heat
and explode as sparks.
6. Most wood needs to be seasoned 9 to 12
months to reduce the moisture content and
produce good steady fires. When moisture
content is reduced from 60 to 20%, the gain in
heat potential is nearly 7%.
7. Proper storage of wood, especially during
seasoning, is essential. We recommend that
you:
c. Store wood where it will not be excessively
exposed to weather, such as under a tarp or
under a roof.
d. Do not stack wood directly against the walls
of your home.
8. Be a knowledgeable wood buyer. There is a
difference in cord sizes. A standard cord stack
of logs is 4 ft. high by 8 ft. long by 4 ft. deep or
the equivalent of this cubic footage, (
Figure 1
Standard
Cord of
8'
Wood
4'
4'
Figure 1
A face cord is the same height and length as a
standard cord but the depth is only the length
of the logs (12, 18 or 24 inches). A face cord
can contain as little as 25% of the wood found
in a standard cord.
If you buy by the ton, remember that wood
becomes lighter as it dries. When buying green
or wet wood, ask for some extra poundage to
allow for the extra water you will be getting.
9. When comparing woods of the same moisture content and same species, we find most
woods have approximately the same heating
potential per pound.
However, most wood is sold by volume, not by
weight. To determine the best heating source,
look at the density of various wood types.
(Density is the weight for a given size.) The
higher the density, the more potential heat
output. A standard cord has a volume of 128
cubic feet. This figure also includes the air
space between and around the wood. The actual volume in a standard cord is between 60
and 100 cubic feet; depending on how tightly
the wood is packed.
).
The last statement means that one big log
weighing 10 pounds has as much heating potential as 10 pounds of twigs. However, air
cannot get at the solid log to feed the fire so the
solid log will burn slowly. While you would get
the same amount of heat out of either fire, the
smaller the pieces of wood and the more air
space around them, the faster the fire will burn.
a. Never store wood on the ground. This will
cause rotting and insect infiltration. Raise wood
on flat rock or scrap wood.
b. Stack wood loosely to allow air circulation.
NOTE: DIAGRAMS & ILLUSTRATIONS NOT TO SCALE.
Assuming that you are comparing two standard
cords of different species but the same volume
and moisture content, the denser species will
provide more BTU’s. The table of wood species/
densities reveals more helpful guidelines.
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