GiJima Woodfired Experience
Maintenance and Installation
BRAAI & FIREPLACE MAINTENANCE AND INSTALLATION:
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Rotating cowls must be greased twice a year. Not greasing the cowls will relate in water leakage and the fireplace smoking.
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All steel exposed above roof level will corrode and should be treated accordingly. Paint with Heat Resistant Coating available from Gijima Woodfired Experience. S/steel parts will discolor when heat is applied.
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When build-in braais or fireplaces are installed an expansion gap of 20mm should be left between the brickwork and the unit.
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All junctions and cowl boxes must be fixed with rivets or self-tapping screws
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All seems on flues, junctions and cowl boxes must be sealed with heat resistant silicone
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Silicone wire should be used to connect the light fitting.
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Gijima Woodfired Experience does not take the responsibility of any water leaks down the inside of the flue due to incorrect cowl installation.
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Any water leaks that may occur should be reported to the relevant installer directly by you, their contact numbers can be obtained from us.
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All freestanding Braais and Fireplaces are supplied standard with 2 m flue. Any additional flue required to ensure the fireplace working optionally are for the clients own account [unfortunately it is not always possible to advise telephonically the length of flue required]
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Fireplaces and braais can be painted with Heat Resistant Coating.
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Please note that it will seem as if the fireplace is smoking the first time when lit. This is quite normal; it's the paint burning in. The fireplace will also give off a chemical smell, this will disappear after the first couple of hours.
WARRANTEE:
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All products supplied by Gijima Woodfired Experience carries a factory warrantee, this warrants that the firebox will be free from defects in workmanship or materials under normal use and service for a period of 1 year from date of original purchase by the original purchaser.
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This warrantee does not extend to any loose parts for instance flues, cowls, grates, grids, etc.
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This warrantee does not cover rust
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This warrantee will not apply if: The customer does not produce documentary evidence of the date of purchase or if it is apparent that the damage occurred because the firebox was not operated under the normal conditions under which it was intended that the firebox should be operated.
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Gijima Woodfired Experience will not be liable for any consequential loss or damage arising out of or in connection with the use or operation of the firebox or resulting from a breach of this warrantee. Nor will we be liable for any loss or damage occurred during installation.
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How to decide on the correct Braai?
When looking to buy a build-in or freestanding braai you will need to consider the following factors to determine the correct braai for your needs.
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TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL
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When looking at material you need to consider whether the braai will be indoors or outdoors. If the braai is going to be outside especially the coastal areas you need to consider an s/steel like 3cr12, 304 or 316, instead of mild steel on braai’s. This will ensure a longer life for the product.
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HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU CATER FOR
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Sizing on your braai will determine not only for how many people you would be able to braai for but also what accessories can be used and in what combination they can be used. Various accessories are available and you should consider what you would like to do with the braai before choosing the correct product. Standard sizes that are available are 800mm, 1000mm, 1200mm & 1500mm.
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WOOD OR GAS OR A COMBINATION
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Most South Africans prefer to braai with wood or charcoal but that is now changing over to gas. Often it is required to do a quick steak in the middle of the week; this is where the gas option comes in handy. Making wood fires and waiting for coals takes up to much time. We have a special range of Combo build-in braai’s which houses both a wood and a gas section which all works on one chimney and can be used individually or as a unit.
Chimney Principles
The terms flue and chimney are often used interchangeably. The flue is the working part of the chimney,conveying the products of combustion safely to the atmosphere. The chimney includes the shaft within which the flue is housed. A flue works under negative pressure drawing the product of combustion from the appliance.
A successful “chimney draw” is dependent on the following principles:
- The difference in air pressure between the appliance and the top of the chimney. (created by the height of the chimney)
- The difference in temperature between the appliance’s exhaust gas and the outside temperature.
- The quality of insulation along the length of the chimney.
- The route of chimney. (The straighter and more vertical the chimney the better).
It is essential to choose a flue diameter that matches the output from the appliance. An adequate air supply is also required for the appliance to operate safely and efficiently
Stainless Steel Flexible Liners
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Flexible liners are used to reline an existing chimney.
Care must be taken when selecting a flexible liner.
There are two types of flexible liners:
- Single skin liners for use with gas appliances and
- Twin skin liners, manufactured from overlapping strips of high grade stainless steel to give a smooth sealed flue-way. These liners should be used with wood and multi-fuel appliances.
Single skin liners must never be used with wood or multi-fuel applications.
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Chimney Position
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The ideal location for a chimney is on the inside of the building.
That way it can benefit from being kept warm. Chimneys situated
outside the building can be affected by cold weather causing poor up draught and condensation, particularly if they are
un-insulated. It is therefore important that a cavity wall is continued around a lined masonry chimney or a factory made
insulated chimney system is used for external applications.
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Connection to the Chimney
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For open fires a suitable throated front lintel and gather must be installed above
the fire opening, so that the front,back and sides slope up smoothly into the
flue opening in the chimney at an angle no greater than 45° from the vertical.
Flat surfaces or shelves must be avoided as these can cause turbulence and
smoky fires. Most flue and chimney manufacturers provide standard gather
and fireplace components. Precast fire chambers or Firechests are also available
for standard and larger fire openings.
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Bends in the Chimney
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Both the Regulations and the Standards recommend that bends in the
chimney be avoided, as a straight vertical chimney performs better. If bends
are necessary there must be no more than four in the length of the chimney.
The angle of the bend should be no greater than 45° from the vertical, with
the exception that 90° factory made bends or tees may be treated as being
equal to two 45° bends. Where System Chimneys are used, always use
the standard offset components which are available from the chimney
manufacturer. For stainless steel chimneys the distance between bends must be no greater than 20% of the total chimney length. It is recommended that a vertical rise of 600mm should be allowed immediately above the appliance before any change of
direction. An inspection hatch is required between each offset.
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Chimney Heights and Termination
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The minimum chimney height recommended for minimum performance of wood burning and multi fuel appliances is 4.5 m from the top of the appliance to the top of the chimney. It is best to position the chimney,
so that it goes straight up as near to the roof ridge as possible.
Fuel Burning
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A chimney operates on the principle of having a natural up draught. One factor in creating the up draught is maintaining a warm flue gas temperature, of between 150°C and 450°C. Burning wood or multi fuel slowly with insufficient air supply, particularly on stoves or closed appliances must be avoided. Low flue gas temperatures will cause condensation and greatly increases the risk of producing excessive tar and corrosive soot deposits.
This is a common problem, particularly when burning wet wood or coal and should be avoided. If soot and condensate deposits are allowed to accumulate in a flue, the deposits can ignite causing a chimney fire. These deposits can also be very corrosive and if they are not regularly removed can cause corrosion of the metal parts of both the chimney and the appliance. When burning wood it is important to ensure that it is dry and well-seasoned.
Regular Inspection
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The chimney should be swept regularly to remove soot and tar. At the very least the chimney should be swept at the start of the heating season. It is not recommended that the appliance is over fired, (allowed to burn fiercely and out of control), or chimney fires be started in an attempt to clean the chimney. Deposits of soot and tar will be greatly increased if unseasoned wood is burnt. Should a chimney fire occur, the chimney and appliance should
be checked for damage before using them again. It is also good practise to check at least every year or two the exposed parts of a chimney, flashings and terminals for
signs of damage. Just like the outside of a house chimneys can suffer from the wear and tear of extreme weathering. If at any time smoke or fumes are apparent or suspected from the appliance, chimney or flue, seek advice immediately from the installer or chimney expert in case there is a blockage or failure. Do not use the appliance or chimney until they have been thoroughly checked for safety and soundness. The escape of fumes can be dangerous .
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