GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ACRONYMS
A
AFUE
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, a testing standard
for rating heating appliances. All heater rated
Vermont Castings appliances meet AFUE standards.
Airwash
Adesign feature of Vermont Castings wood stoves,
by which incoming combustion air enters the firebox
above the front glass, and shields the glass from the
flame, thus keeping it cleaner.
B
British Thermal Unit (BTU)
Loosely defined as the quantity of heat required to
raise the temperature of one pound of fresh water
through one degree F. The most commonly used
measurement to gauge the heating capacity of all
heating appliances.
Burner
The essential part of a gas appliance, where the air
and gas combine before the combustion phase.
Burner Pan
Used with gas log sets, the burner pan is a metal tray
(shaped like a dustpan) that holds sand or vermiculite
and a burner tube.
B Vent
Double-wall galvanized metal outer pipe with an aluminum
inner. Used for naturally vented gas appli-
ances.
C
Cast Iron
Amaterial used in many stoves and decorative fireplace
fronts. Molten metal is poured into molds. Cast
iron is noted for its beauty, durability and heat transfer
capabilities.
Catalytic Combustor
Adevice incorporated into wood stoves to reduce
smoke emissions by encouraging the complete combustion
of particles contained within the smoke
through a chemical reaction between the hot smoke
and noble metals such as paladium and platinum that
coat the catalyst
Ceramic Burner
An exclusive feature of Vermont Castings gas stoves
and fire-places, which creates the most wood-like
flame and offers unmatched durability.
Ceramic Fiber
Amaterial used to make gas logs. The ceramic material
is able to withstand very high temperatures, and
can be designed to feature a red-glow when heated.
CSA
CSAInternational help to develop test standards for
fuel burning appliances. They are the parent test
agency for the combined American and Canadian
Gas Associations (formerly combined as IAS) and
they are an independent test agency accredited by
the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Products approved by CSAare generally approved
for sale throughout North America.
Chimney
Aportion of the venting system, through which flue
gases are vented to the outdoors.
Chimney Connector
Metal pipe that connects a wood stove to a chimney,
commonly called stovepipe.
Clearances
Aminimum distance, composed only of an air space,
that must be maintained between the surface of a
heat source such as an appliance or vent pipe and
combustible surfaces.
Combustion Air
Since a fire needs oxygen, this term refers to the air
introduced into an appliance to ensure complete and
efficient combustion of fuel.
Combustible Material
Any burnable material that is susceptible to high temperatures
and risk of burning (i.e. drywall, wood,
paper, etc.)
Convection Heat
Heat by moving heated air. Often aided by fans.
Cord
Ameasure of firewood, equal to an amount measuring
4 feet x 4 feet x 8 feet.
D
Damper
Avalve, usually a moveable metal plate, for controlling
the flow of air or smoke and draft. Found in wood
stoves and fireplaces.
Decorative Gas Appliance
Avented gas appliance whose primary function is
aesthetic, not heat producing.
Direct Vent
Asealed combustion system where all combustion air
is drawn from outside of the building , and all flue
gases are exhausted to the outside. No inside air is
used for combustion. The direct vent system is
sometimes referred to as a balanced flue or sealed
combustion system. Often consists of a two-part coaxial
pipe, one fitting inside the other. The incoming
combustion air enters through an outer pipe, and the
exhaust gases exit through the inner pipe. In some
cases (like direct vent fireplace insert applications
vent pipes pass through a fireplace damper) co-linear
pipes, meaning side-by-side, are used.
Draft
The difference in air pressure at the same elevation
between the inside and the outside of a chimney,
chimney connector, or appliance. The term draft is
sometimes used to denote the rate of combustion
airflow into a fuel burning appliance, or the rate of
flue gas flow as it is exhausted up the chimney. An
appropriate draft pressure (I.E. not too much and
not too little) is critical to the safe, clean and efficient
performance of every stove or fireplace.
Whether the stove or fireplace is burning wood or
gas. Draft pressure can be measured in the vent
pipe with an inclined manometer that reads in inches
of water column.
E
Emissions
Smoke from wood burning. Since smoke is in
essence wasted fuel, clean burning designs have
been developed, such as the catalytic combustion
system, to drastically reduce emissions from wood
stoves.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
AU.S. agency that has set performance standards
for all wood stoves.
ETL
Energy Testing Laboratories specializing in efficiency
testing on behalf of the Gas Appliance
Manufacturers Association (GAMA)
F
Factory-built Fireplace
Aprefabricated metal fireplace, considerably easier
to install and more economical. Commonly called
zero-clearance fireplaces.
Freestanding Stove
Wood or gas heating appliance normally on legs or
a pedestal.
Fireplace
Any enclosure, open in the front, for burning fuel.
Wood burning fireplaces may either burn wood or
be fitted with gas logs, or certain fireplace inserts.
Gas fireplaces contain a burner apparatus and artificial
logs.
Fireplace Insert
Wood or gas appliance designed to be installed
partially or fully into the firebox of an existing
masonry or factory-built fireplace, and which vents
into the fireplace chimney.
Flex Connector
Avent liner that can be stretched and fitted
between gas appliance and termination point. A
common application is for connecting a stove or
insert through a damper into the chimney.
G
Gas Logs
Used in existing fireplaces, gas logs sets, which
consist of cement or ceramic fiber logs and a gas
burner, are an economical way to add a gas fire to
a home.
Grate
Asteel bar container which elevates wood or gas
logs off the floor of the fire box.
GAMA
Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association
H
Hearth Extension
Non combustible floor protection extension beyond
the opening of a fireplace or stove. The term is also
used to denote the floor protector under or around
any wood stove.
Heat Exchanger
Often incorporated in the upper parts of a stove or
fireplace, it is designed to safely absorb more
useable heat from the combustion process and
deliver it to the room.
Heat Shields
Refers to a non combustible protector used around
appliances, or chimney connector, to reduce clear-
ances.
L
LP
Liquid petroleum, usually called propane, a fuel for
gas appliances. 1.52 times heavier than air,
propane has an average heating value of about
2500 Btu's per cubic.
M
Mantel
Ashelf over and above the fireplace opening. Wood,
cast iron, brick, stone may be used.
Millivolt (mV)
Unit of electricity (equal to one one-thousand of a
volt direct current), that in conjunction with the pilot
flame, thermocouple and thermopile will operate
the valve on certain gas appliance.
N
Natural Vent
Aventing method by which the exhaust from a gas
fire "naturally" rises up a flue attached to a fireplace
or stove that uses air from within the home for combustion.
Often used synonymously with B-vent.
Natural Gas (NG)
Afuel used in most gas burning appliances. Natural
gas is lighter than air about .65 times the weight of
an equal volume and offers an average heating
value of about 1000 Btu's per cubic foot. North
America's most prevalent fuel for home heating.
Negative Pressure
Condition in a building where the inside pressure is
less than the outside pressure. This is often caused
by vented water heaters and furnaces in addition
with kitchen and bathroom fans that draw inside air
out of the house faster than air can infiltrate around
doors and windows in tightly constructed homes
Also sometimes referred to as depressurization, this
can adversely affect the performance of naturally
vented stoves and fireplaces
Non-Combustible Material
Any material that is not susceptible to burning at
high temperatures (i.e. slate, marble brick, concrete,
ceramic tile,etc.)
O
Outside Air Control
Alever that will open or close a fresh air supply on
a fireplace or stove.
Oxygen Depletion System (ODS)
Apilot device used with all vent free stoves, fireplaces
and logs that shuts the heater off if the oxygen
level in the room reaches 18%. Ususally
referred to as simply an ODS pilot.
P
Piezo
An ignitor used to light standing pilots or burners
without the use of a match. Abutton is depressed
and delivers a blue spark, which ignites the incoming
gas.
Pilot
Asmall flame used to ignite the gas at the main
burner. May be standing (constantly burning) or
intermittent (on demand for heat).
Propane
Aterm commonly used for LPgas.
R
Radiant Heat
Akind of heat, by which objects are heated (and not
the air around them).
S
Solid Fuel
Wood or coal.
Secondary Air
Air drawn into a firebox at a strategic point to ignite
by-products of combustion from either wood or gas,
ensuring more complete and efficient combustion.
Silica Sand
Avery fine white sand used with natural gas log
sets. Gas ignites while passing through it, giving the
flame its desired flickering effect.
Standing Pilot
Small flame used to ignite a burner And to generate
a small electrical current that operates the gas con-
trol.
Stovepipe
See Chimney Connector.
T
Termination
Avent or chimney cap that exhausts flue
gases.
Thermocouple
Two dissimilar metals, which, when heated, produce
a small electrical charge called millivolts. Situated
near the pilot of gas appliances. Acts as a safety
device to shut off the gas valve if the standing pilot
has blown out or has grown weak.
Thermopile
Apile of thermocouples, which when heated, produce
a small DC current (also called a thermogener-
ator). Athermopile produces more current than a
thermocouple, which is used to power the main gas
valve open and closed
Thimble Sleeve
Ametal tube used to connect wood stove pipe into
a masonry chimney.
U
UL
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. An independent
testing agency that helps to creat new test standards
and is recognized as an authority on solid fuel
burning equipment and electrical devices.
V
Vermiculite
Alightweight material used with propane gas logs.
Gas ignites while passing through it, giving the
flame its desired flickering effect.
Vent Free Heater
Agas heater that does not require a flue system.
W
WH
Warnock Hersey, a division of Intertek Testing
Services (ITS) and an independent testing agency
with offices around the world. Warnock Hersey are
accredited by the Standards Council of Canada and
the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
Some of Vermont Castings wood stoves have been
tested and certified by Warnock Hersey to ULand
CSA standards.
Aterm often used to generically describe all factory-built
fireplaces. The terms refers to a quality of a
factory built metal fireplace whereby enough insulation
is incorporated so that the base, back, and in
some cases sides, can safely be placed in direct
contact (zero clearance) with combustible floors
and walls.
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