Jargon Explained

Flue Types

Chimney - Class 1

The conventional brick chimney - clearly defined by a chimney stack and pot on the roof of a property.

Pre-Cast - Class 2

Hollow concrete flue blocks create a flue up through the property usually terminating with a ridge vent on the roof.

Pre-Fabricated - Class 2

A metal flue box situated behind the fire connects to a series of metal flue pipes run up through the house terminating with a pipe and terminal through the roof.

Power Flue

Where no chimney or flue is available. A quiet but powerful fan situated on an outside wall expels the flue gases from the fire. Mains electricity required.

Balanced Flue

Where no chimney or flue is available. The fire vents directly outside through a horizontal twin wall pipe. These fires are glass fronted. No mains electricity is required.

Convector Gas Fire

Convector gas fires give a more rapid and even heat distribution throughout the room. Convected heat occurs when a fire actively draws in cold air from the room, passes it through a heat exchanger to warm it up before sending it back out to the room as warm air.

Slide Control

A slide control enables you to turn the fire on/off and higher or lower without having to bend down. The slide control is normally located on the top left or right of the side of the fire.

Air Vent

Usually, if a fire has an input of 7KW or more an air vent will be required to be installed somewhere in the room to aid combustion.

Flame Supervision Device

A safety device that monitors a pilot and cuts off the gas supply to the main burner if the pilot is extinguished.

Flueless or Catalytic Gas Fires

A flueless fire does not require a chimney or flue. A catalytic converter (as used in all modern cars) is mounted in the fire this converts the harmful gas Carbon Monoxide to Carbon dioxide and water vapor.

Fret (Fire Front)

This usually sits in front of the fire and is available in many different finishes.

Trim

This is the frame that runs round the outside of the fire. The trim comes in many different styles and finishes.

Gas Input

The amount of gas used by an appliance usually quoted in Kilowatts per hour on maximum setting.

Maximum Heat output

The maximum heat output of a fire usually quoted in Kilowatts per hour.

Inset Fire

Fires which fir into an opening.

Outset Fire

This is a fire that sits in front of a wall.

LPG

Liquid Petroleum Gas. Some properties, usually located in the country, do not have a gas supply and therefore use LPG.

Oxygen Depletion Sensor (ODS)

This is a device which is fitted to all modern gas fires. It cuts of the gas supply to the fire if there is a harmful build up of Carbon Monoxide.

Radiant Gas Fire

This is were the fire radiates heat.

Efficiency

The efficiency is calculated by dividing the output by the input and multiplying it by a hundred. The higher the percentage the more efficient the fire.