Crystal Fires Super Radiant Gas Fire

Our guide to Chimney & Flue Types

At First Choice Fireplaces we know it can be confusing to work out which chimney or flue type you have. We offer a standardised key approach to categorise our fires in a way that is easy to understand. These icons indicate the chimney or flue type that each fire is suitable for.

No Chimney or Flue

Identifying Features – A flat roof, no present chimney opening.

What this means – The easiest fire to install, these products do not require a chimney or flue.

Brick Chimney

Identifying Features – These chimneys are easily recognised by a raised stack topped with either a teracotta pot or gas terminal.

What this means – This type of chimney relies on the natural circulation of heated air to expel the products of combustion up your chimney.

Balanced Flue

Identifying Features – A horizontal flue venting directly outside.

What this means – No chimney required. Balanced Flue fires vent directly outside through a horizontal co-axial pipe (one pipe within a larger pipe). The outer pipe draws air in from the outside and the inner pipe expels combustion gases. Depending on the fire selected, the twin-walled pipe may exit horizontally through an external wall or vertically through the roof. No electric supply is required; therefore there is no sound with a balanced flue system.

Pre-Fabricated or Pre-Fab Flue (Class 2)

Identifying Features – Identified by a steel flue terminal on the roof or by the metal flue box behind the fire.

What this means – These flues create the same circulation of heated air as a brick or stone chimney.

Pre-Cast Flue (Class 2)

Identifying Features – Can be identified by a raised ridge vent terminal.

What this means – Built from concrete or clay blocks, pre-cast flues provide a rectangular sectional flue. This causes a natural circulation of heated air to expel the compustion products. These flues tends to be very shallow in depth so a slimmer fire is often required. Deep appliances however may be able to be installed with the use of either a spacer kit or deeper rebate into the fireplace.

Powerflue

Identifying Features – Requires an electricity supply, can be identified by the fan unit on the external wall (Approx 300mm square).

What this means – No Chimney Required. Powerflue fires expel the combustion gases directly outside the building through the use of an electronically driven fan unit mounted on the external wall. A sophisticated microprocessor monitors performance and automatically shuts off the fire in the unlikely event of a failure.