"In our economy of abundance, fire is at the heart of the magic - in industrial plants, in automobiles, in our homes. A fuel cutoff sends shocks through the entire world economy. Whole societies become uneasy, and there is a search for relief, for new ways to feed the flame and keep it burning." (Ref. David Lyle, The Book of Masonry Stoves)

One of the most distinctive features of Temp-Cast 2000 fireplaces is the outstanding fire-viewing. When the fire is lit, it catches quickly and burns fiercely, creating a spectacular show. If a bake oven is incorporated into your fireplace design, you can see the burning gases accelerating through the gas slot, creating an exciting "spark shower" and adding to your enjoyment of the fire.

An air-wash system feeds the combustion air across the glass of the firedoors to maintain a clear view of the fire. This unique system also pre-heats the combustion air for increased fireplace efficiency, which is especially important when an outside air supply is required to bring in frigid exterior air for the fireplace.

The Modular Contraflow Design

Temp-Cast fireplaces were created from early Finnish and Swedish designs in which the fire burns up through a central firebox and secondary combustion chamber. At the top, the fire is split into two streams, which travel down inside the heat exchange channels built into either side. This opposing flow of fire and gases up the centre and down the sides is usually described as the "contraflow" action of the fireplace.

The contraflow or "Finnish fireplace" design is regarded by many as the simplest and most efficient of all European-style fireplaces and masonry heater designs.

Finnish fireplaces and other masonry heaters can be hand-built by specially trained "heater" masons. However, each custom built unit may be slightly different than the last, and relies completely on the skill of the mason and his attention to numerous critical details. If the fireplace is incorrectly or carelessly built it may not work properly and worse still, it may be unsafe. Temp-Cast fireplaces were carefully designed and tested for optimum efficiency, ease of assembly and maximum safety. Once the design was proven and tested in the field, it was modularized to simplify the assembly and allow it to be reproduced in a controlled factory setting.

The modules of Temp-Cast fireplaces are manufactured from a castable refractory material, specially designed to withstand the high combustion temperatures. They have a unique interlocking feature, so that one piece is precisely keyed to fit the next one. This allows them to be quickly and accurately erected and ensures that the completed core is structurally stable and independent of the facing material. This special keying prevents any leakage of air through the parts, and guarantees that the hot gases travel in the direction designed, not out through gaps or spaces in the modules. The interlocking feature also ensures that when the modules expand and contract, no part can be displaced and cause a safety or operating problem.

In addition, the modules themselves are precisely dimensioned, which will produce a level, plumb and square completed core. This will allow the mason to install the facing material quickly and accurately, and thereby produce a safe, effective and professional looking product.

Meticulous attention to quality control ensures that each fireplace shipped will perform to a predictable standard.

Core Assembly & Facing Materials

Temp-Cast fireplaces incorporate a "floating firebox" design, which isolates the heater core from the external masonry facing. Considerable expansion and contraction takes place in the heater, and this design prevents the movement from affecting the finished exterior.

The fireplace core modules are assembled on a prepared concrete pad, supported on a suitable block foundation and footing. A flue connection is cut by the installer for the chosen chimney and location. A mason then erects the selected facade, which serves as the decorative finish and the additional thermal mass.

Suitable facades for fireplaces include solid or filled bricks, natural stone, fieldstone, soapstone, rocks and concrete blocks covered with tile, marble or stucco. Ideally, facades should be between 4" (100 mm) and 6" (150 mm) thick. Thicker facades tend to make the heater less responsive (slower to heat up and cool down) and heating needs must therefore be anticipated farther in advance.

The facade can be carried to the ceiling if desired, but provision must be made to allow the heat from the top of the fireplace to be vented. This is easily done by providing grillwork or air spaces just below ceiling level.

Design Flexibility

The final appearance of the heater is limited only by your imagination and the skill of your mason. Brickwork can extend into wood storage boxes, shelving, benches and nooks, mantels, and cathedral arches. The heater can be freestanding in the middle of a space or designed to be part of one or more interior walls. Corner units extend this flexibility further, by forming part of an interior corner wall, or standing freely to suggest a corner divider between several rooms or areas. Chimneys can be attached on the sides or back of the fireplace, allowing additional design flexibility. With planning and imagination, your Temp-Cast fireplace can be a unique piece of functional art.

Locating The Fireplace

Whether the fireplace is to be used as decorative fireplace, an occasional zone heater, or a primary heat source, its location must be carefully considered. A central location in the living space is the ideal situation for a masonry heater, for maximum heating performance. An open floor plan design will also maximize the heating ability of the Temp-Cast 2000 - it directly heats what it can "see", so if all 5 surfaces (front, back, sides & top) are exposed to the space, they will contribute to the overall heating ability of the unit. (Whatever the chosen placement of the heater in the living space, it is important to ensure that the heater and chimney are completely within the warm envelope of the home. Refer to Section 4.)

The maximum benefit and enjoyment can be derived from the fireplace if it is fully integrated into the home and the family. Aesthetic appeal is important, but also give equal consideration to family traffic patterns and lifestyles.

Place the fireplace so that it is visible from as many parts of the living area as possible. If it divides living room and kitchen, a bake oven on the kitchen side gives form and function to that side of the fireplace. Located in an "open-plan" corner, three or more rooms can be warmed by its exposed surfaces. The fireplace walls and the chimney can act as room dividers, providing walls and heat simultaneously.

Ideally, a masonry heater should be treated as a very important part of the home, with a view that it will be a part of the every day life of the family and provide a focus for daily routines. Hopefully, the family will gather around it each evening to talk or read or to just enjoy the fire. (Perhaps competing with the television?)

Standard Models

The Temp-Cast 2000 standard fireplace is 36" (914 mm) wide by 22.5" (571 mm) deep by 77" (1955 mm) high, not including the masonry facing. Its rectangular footprint makes it most suitable for installations along a wall or in the centre of a room. The 2000 is also available with a Corner option, Bake Oven option or See-Through option and some options can be combined.

Corner Models

A Corner Model Temp-Cast 2000 is 46" (1168 mm) wide X 22.5" (571 mm) deep X 77" (1955 mm) high, without the facing material. It is suitable for installation in an inside corner, or to form the walls of an inside corner, or free standing in the centre of a room. It can be oriented so that the fire is visible from various parts of the room, which may not be possible with a standard fireplace.

The chimney can be connected to the back of the core, or to any of the four angled corner surfaces, giving added flexibility.

Bake Ovens

Temp-Cast 2000 standard fireplaces and corner fireplaces are available with a bake oven option. The oven can be installed on the same side as the fireplace doors or on the back side, allowing the fireplace to be a divider between living room and kitchen.

The bake oven is installed in the secondary combustion chamber. After the fire is out, breads, pizza, and pastries can be baked in the remaining heat. If additional heat for baking is needed, a fire can first be set in the bake oven itself to increase the temperature. An optional Bake Oven Trim Plate can be installed between the core and the facade to permit a neater finish around the bake oven door. The trim plate hides the core so that the mason does not need to bring his masonry work too close to the bake oven door frame.

See-Through Fireplaces

Often, fireplaces will divide two areas of a living room or a dining room, when fire-viewing from both sides is desired. The Temp-Cast See-Through fireplace allows this by offering a second set of fire doors on the back of the unit. (Heat storage is only slightly reduced by the extra doors, which radiate more of the heat from the fire directly into the room during the burn.) Double-Stacked Fireplaces
Where heating on two floors is required, Temp-Cast fireplaces on each floor can be the solution. Using the same footing, one is stacked on top of the other, with separate chimney flues. The lower fireplace acts as the foundation for the upper one, and they work independently.

Arched Doors

The Arched Door option allows a clear, unobstructed view of the extraordinary fires in a Temp-Cast 2000 wood-fired heater. The viewing area is 18" wide (460 mm) X 16" high (405 mm). Doors are high quality cast-iron, with an air-tight gasket, and can be ordered with 24 K gold plating. The Arched Door option complements the Bake Oven Option very nicely.

Hot Water

A stainless steel hot water coil can be installed in your heater during assembly to provide sufficient hot water for a family of four. Two hot water delivery systems are common. Passive thermo-siphon systems place the hot water tank above the heater, so that the heated water rises naturally to the storage tank. Alternately, a small re-circulating pump is used to deliver the heated water. This system requires heat sensors and a battery back-up for the pump. Other Options & Accessories

Electric fresh air dampers increase efficiency by allowing fresh air into the home only during actual combustion.

Insulating boards under the fireplace core minimize heat loss through the concrete pad or basement floor, for increased overall efficiency.

Roof top dampers are excellent efficiency options which more than repay their initial cost. The damper fits on top of the chimney & is controlled by a stainless steel cable. It keeps weather and animals out while sealing heat in.

An additional "soot" clean-out door may be required to ensure inspection and cleaning access to the bottom of both heat exchange channels, depending on installation restrictions.

Finally, an optional air supply door may be required in a basement installation without an exterior fresh air supply. This is installed just under the fire door, to direct air into the air intake slot under the door frame.

Warranty

Temp-Cast fireplace refractory parts carry a limited eight (8) year warranty. The warranty does not extend to removal or replacement of chimneys, facades or other masonry work. Metal parts, including doors and ceramic glass, are warranted for 1 year, except that damage to
glass by impact is not covered.

Cost Comparisons

In considering the cost of your heating system, the maintenance and fuel costs are important considerations. Temp-Cast fireplaces require little care beyond regular chimney inspections and rare chimney cleaning. Annual inspection and vacuuming of the base of the heat exchange channels, and periodic replacement of the door gaskets are typically all that is required. The costs of fuel wood, even if it must be purchased, are traditionally the lowest of all fuels, and affected least by influences beyond the local area. Compare wood costs with costs of gas, oil, propane and electricity in your area.

Energy Cost Calculations
(*Not adjusted for efficiency)

Section Summary

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