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Expert: - 6/1/2009


Question
i have a martin industries fireplace less than 10 yrs old. the rear refractor wall has a horizontal crack in it (not big enough to see thru). I've been told by my local chimney sweep that i can just use a heat shield or fireback. if i use a shield or fireback, should i still replace the refractor or 'seal' it with some type of high temperature fire-resistant sealant (does that exist?)?

Answer
Jim,

Great question. One important thing to remember when servicing your "Martin" factory built fireplace, is that it is a listed system. That means that all parts for the fireplace were tested for safety together. Adding a heat shield can do a number of things that will not be favorable to your system. The heat shield is not a listed component of your fireplace system, it will alter the position of the listed wood grate forward, it can prevent the damper from functioning properly, it reflects more heat forward of the rear wall than the unit was tested for and in a nut shell should not be installed.

Lets talk about the crack in the rear wall refractory. Hairline cracks will happen even if you replaced the wall with a new listed part. The panels purpose is to reduce heat exposures to the steel rear of the firebox and to reflect heat into the living space. Having not seen your fireplace myself, I can only opine on what you discribe.What you describe sounds like something that may be left alone for now, or as you asked, in your question, patched with a high heat product.

I would recommend having your system inspected to the NFPA-211 standard by a competent fireplace inspector. Please feel free to use the links at the bottom of my home page at www.brooks-hearth.com and find an inspector in your area that performs these type inspections. Good luck and thanks for asking.

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Randy Brooks

Expertise

Inspection of Masonry, Pre-cast Tilt-up, and Factory Built Fireplaces as well as Free Standing & Insert, Gas, and Wood Appliances. We also provide Hearth Fire Loss Investigations, Litigation Support, Consulting Services, Flue Sweeping, Installation and Repair. Additionally, I’ve been a chimney sweep for 23 years, service and install hearth appliances as well as being recognized by the Superior Court of California as an expert witness.

Experience

Brooks Chimney Sweeping Since 1989 Ojai, CA Owner / President www.brooks-hearth.com

Organizations
NCSG, MEMBER,(National Chimney Sweep Guild), Member since 1990, Board of Directors representing Region 6, (CA, NV, AZ, UT, OR, WA, ID, WY, MT, AK and HI,) 2004-2011, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. CSIA, BOD (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Board of Directors, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Secretary, 2005-2006, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. HPBA, MEMBER, (Hearth, Patio, & BBQ Association,) since 2002. NFPA Member, (National Fire Protection Association) Since 2009. Technical Committee member for the 211 Standard.

Education/Credentials
California State Licensed Contractor, C61-D34, #750710. http://www2.cslb.ca.gov C.S.I.A., (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Certified Chimney Sweep, #2580. Held since 1990 re-certified in ‘93, ‘96, ‘99, ‘02, ‘05, '08,'11. http://www.csia.org F.I.R.E. (Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Certified Inspector, #FP-006. Held since 2000, re-certified in ’03, ‘06. http://www.f-i-r-e-service.com Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Advance Expert Consulting & Witness, certificate, ’05 N.F.I. (National Fireplace Institute,) Certified Gas & Wood-Burning Specialist, #133851. Held since 2002, re-certified in '05,‘08. http://nficertified.org

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