Fireplace Emissions

Buckley Rumford Fireplaces
Fireplace Emissions Standard
Kindling With No Grate

9/12/08

Proposed Change to E2558
Add the following language:
9.3.4.3 For fireplaces tested without grates two 1-1/2" by 1-1/2" (38mm x 38mm) the length of the depth of the crib shall be placed under the kindling crib at the ends.
Discussion
On Wednesday, 9/10 and Thursday, 9/11/08 OMNI tested a kindling crib in the E-36 low mass fireplace without a grate according to the direction set by the ASTM Masonry Fireplace Task Group. See the Task Group Direction.
The objective was to determine what, if any, modification would be needed so that the crib would burn as vigorously directly on the hearth as the kindling crib prescribed in the E2558 standard does on a grate. In other words what would it take to match the oxygen depletion level of the kindling crib on the hearth with the oxygen depletion level of the kindling crib on a grate.
We guessed right the first time - or I should say Bob Furguson guessed right. By placing two 1-1/2" by 1-1/2" sticks under the kindling crib to hold it off the newspaper, the kindling crib burned well and the oxygen depletion level fell to an average of 17.1% - the same as it did when the prescribed kindling crib was burned on the E-36 grate.
The next day the tests were repeated. All together, three tests were run as prescribed by E2558 with the kindling on the grate and three tests were run as prescribed by E2558 with no grate except that the kindling was placed om two 1-1/2" by 1-1/2" sticks placed under the crib.