| BTUs -- British Thermal Unit, the primary heat | | | | Hearth -- The floor of the firebox, most |
| measurement unit used by the hearth industry. It | | | | commonly used in reference to fireplaces. More |
| is the amount of heat required to raise the | | | | generally, the foundation upon which fires for |
| temperature of 1 lb. of water by 1 degree F. at | | | | aesthetic and heating purposes are built. Differs |
| sea level. | | | | from floor protection. |
| B-Vent -- A gas-burning appliance that takes in | | | | High-Efficiency Wood-Burning Fireplace -- |
| combustion air from the home and vents | | | | EPA-approved fireplaces offering a balance of |
| products of combustion outside the home. B-Vent | | | | elegance and energy efficiency. |
| is also commonly known as natural vent. | | | | Inserts -- Heating units that retrofit into an |
| Builder Series -- Fireplaces specially designed for | | | | existing fireplace (masonry or factory-built). They |
| builders and contractors, featuring a beautiful blend | | | | burn wood, gas or pellets and offer superior |
| of elegance, efficiency and economy. | | | | efficiency. |
| Cabinet -- A fireplace cabinet is usually a wooden | | | | Mantel (Flush Mantel) -- Another finishing option for |
| finishing option for direct vent or vent-free | | | | direct vent and ventless fireplaces. They can be |
| fireplaces which are installed on the floor of the | | | | wood, marble or stone. The mantels do not |
| room and vented through the wall. They encase | | | | encase the entire fireplace, but frame it. |
| the entire fireplace and can be made for walls or | | | | Therefore they are only 1 3/4 to 2 1/2 inches |
| corners. They range from 13 to 28 inches deep. | | | | deep. Mantels are used when the fireplace is |
| Catalytic Combustor -- A device used on some | | | | installed inside the wall or on the outside wall of |
| wood burning stoves to reduce the temperature | | | | the house. |
| at which smoke is ignited. | | | | Manually Controlled -- Control the height of the |
| Catalytic or Non-Catalytic -- Catalytic wood | | | | flame at the unit only. |
| stoves and fireplace inserts have ceramic | | | | Mid-Efficient, Heat-Circulating, Wood-Burning |
| honeycombed chambers coated with a metal | | | | Fireplace -- Security's HE43 fireplace adds style |
| catalyst (usually platinum or palladium) that works | | | | and warmth to any home with 50% efficiency |
| to increase the rate of combustion. The catalytic | | | | and a panoramic view of the fire. |
| combustor burns away gases and particulates | | | | ODS -- Oxygen Depletion Sensor - A safety |
| normally emitted into the air. Catalytic wood | | | | device that activates the fire's flame monitoring |
| stoves allow people to burn wood at lower | | | | device in case excessive levels of CO² |
| temperatures for longer periods of time. With | | | | (deadly carbon monoxide), are detected. This |
| Non-Catalytic wood stoves, combustion occurs in | | | | would reduce the levels of oxygen, causing the |
| the firebox. These stoves are generally less | | | | pilot flame to become unstable and lift off the |
| expensive than catalytic wood stoves and require | | | | thermocouple tip. The fire then turns off |
| less maintenance. | | | | automatically before the situation becomes |
| Chase -- A structure built around, and enclosing, | | | | dangerous. |
| portions of the chimney and in some cases, | | | | Pellet Burning -- Made of 100% wood sawdust |
| housing the appliance. | | | | with no additives. The sawdust in pellets is a |
| Circulating Firebox -- Has louvers at the top and | | | | manufacturing byproduct otherwise destined for |
| bottom so that a fan can be installed. Louvers | | | | landfills. |
| cannot be covered. | | | | Radiant Fireboxes -- Also known as flush face. |
| Clearance -- The distance required by building and | | | | The facing (Stone, Tile, Brick) can cover above |
| fire codes between stove, smoke pipe or | | | | and below the fireplace opening. |
| chimney and combustible materials such as wood | | | | Remote Ready -- Able to turn the unit on and off |
| furniture or carpets. Clearances must be | | | | remotely via a wired or wireless remote. Remote |
| observed even if noncombustible plaster or other | | | | is sold separately. The height of the flame cannot |
| masonry materials protect the combustible | | | | be adjusted remotely. Not recommended for |
| materials, such as wood furniture or carpets. | | | | vented gas logs. |
| Direct Vent -- An appliance that draws | | | | Surround -- For this site we will define a fireplace |
| combustion air from outdoors and exhausts it's | | | | surround as a marble or tile frame between the |
| combustion products to the outdoors eliminating | | | | fireplace itself and the wooden mantel. Cabinets |
| the need for a standard chimney system. A glass | | | | seldom use surrounds. However, some |
| panel in direct vent units is critical to keeping the | | | | manufacturers do call a wooden cabinet a "cabinet |
| combustion system sealed from the home, | | | | surround." |
| maintaining high efficiency and indoor air quality. | | | | Thermostatically Controlled -- Senses the |
| Electronic Ignition -- Requires electricity to start | | | | temperature at the unit not of the room. Not as |
| the unit either 110 volt or battery. | | | | versatile as a remote ready with a thermostat. |
| EPA Regulations -- Government regulations of | | | | Variable Flame Height -- Via the remote, you can |
| wood burning appliances mandating that products | | | | increase and decrease the height of the flame |
| sold after July 1, 1992 emit no more than 4.1 | | | | and turn the unit on and off. Also available in |
| grams of particulate matter per hour for | | | | thermostatically controlled. |
| catalytic-equipped units and no more than 7.5 | | | | Vent-Free -- Gas appliance that has no need for a |
| grams for non-catalytic-equipped units. | | | | flue. Although vent-free units offer high efficiency, |
| Firebox -- That portion of the solid fuel appliance | | | | some areas may not permit their use. Please |
| where the fuel is located and where primary | | | | check with your local building official. |
| combustion occurs. | | | | |