Osburn OB04002 - Manual (Page 51)

Stratford Fireplace Installation and Operation Manual
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8 THE VENTING SYSTEM
8.1 GENERAL
The venting system, acts as the engine that drives your wood heating system. Even the best
fireplace will not function safely and efficiently as intended if it is not connected to a suitable
chimney.
The heat in the flue gases that pass from the fireplace into the chimney is not waste heat. This
heat is what the chimney uses to make the draft that draws in combustion air, keeps smoke inside
the fireplace and safely vents exhaust to outside. You can think of heat in the flue gas as the fuel
the chimney uses to make draft.
8.2 SUITABLE CHIMNEYS
Your wood fireplace will provide optimum efficiency and performance when connected to a 6-inch
diameter chimney.
8.3 MINIMUM CHIMNEY
HEIGHT
The top of the chimney should be tall
enough to be above the air
turbulence caused when wind blows
against the house and its roof. The
chimney must extend at least 1 m (3
ft.) above the highest point of
contact with the roof, and at least 60
cm (2 ft.) higher than any roof line or
obstacle within a horizontal distance
of 3 m (10 ft.).
8.4 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CHIMNEY AND THE HOUSE
Because the venting system is the engine that drives the wood heating system, it must have the
right characteristics. The signs of bad system design are cold backdrafting when there is no fire in
the fireplace, slow kindling of new fires, and smoke roll-out when the door is opened for loading.
8.4.1 WHY THE CHIMNEY SHOULD PENETRATE THE HIGHEST HEATED SPACE
When it is cold outside, the warm air in the house is buoyant so it tends to rise. This tendency of
warm air to rise creates a slight pressure difference in the house. Called ‘stack effect’, it produces
a slightly negative pressure low in the house (relative to outside) and a slightly positive pressure
zone high in the house. If there is no fire burning in a heater connected to a chimney that is
shorter than the warm space inside the house, the slight negative pressure low in the house will
compete against the desired upward flow in the chimney.