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Expert: - 7/21/2009


Question
I have the opportunity to salvage and recover a 100 year pressed metal fireplace surround and mantle from my Grandfather's home. The firebox opening is 38" wide x 30" tall. This is larger than any prefab gel burner firebox I can find. I am an experienced metalworker and bending/welding/insulating with cal-sil well within my skill set. (I now manage the maintenance department of a large N. American Nuclear plant) Can you think of a reason , using gel fuel cans (4 in a single row) under 30-36" ceramic fiber logs in a hand-built firebox to fit the surround? I would make it about a foot deep of 16ga. stainless with an inch of 1800 degree rated cal-sil insulation on all sides, top and bottom. I would then wrap the cal-sil with 22 ga aluminum and allow a ventilated 2" space to any combustible surface. What do you think?

Answer
Karl,

You sound like you know what your doing with the unit, but I or no one else could give a blessing to the idea as these products are to all be listed to a UL standard for safety. You may have a great working safe little unit, but you would be required to have a UL field rep come and give their blessing to the work. Best of luck.

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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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