As air enters the firebox, it is pre-heated and directed towards the glass at the top of the front door. The constant washing of warm air over the glass helps keep soot and creosote from building up on the glass of wood-burning appliances.

A device or partition in a solid fuel appliance (eg. a wood-burning fireplace), used to direct air and heat.

A partition inside a solid fuel appliance (eg. a wood-burning fireplace) to control the direction of combustion air, flames or flue gases.

British Thermal Unit is the amount of energy it takes to heat one pint of water one degree Fahrenheit.

A coated ceramic honeycomb used on some stoves and high-efficiency fireplaces to reduce flue gas emissions.

A structure built around and enclosing portions of the chimney that are exterior to the house.

The lab-tested distance that is calculated and measured as a minimum distance an appliance – or part of the appliance – can be placed adjacent to a combustible surface, INCLUDING drywall.

A direct vent system using a smaller pipe within a larger pipe. The inner pipe exhausts gases and the outer pipe is for fresh air intake.

A direct vent system using two separate liners. One is for exhaust gases and the other for fresh air intake. They run together through an existing chimney system.

Material made of or surfaced with wood, compressed paper, plant fibres, plastics or other material that can ignite and burn, whether they are flame-proofed or not. Drywall and fire-resistant drywall, for instance, are combustible material.

The distribution of heat by air.  Warmed air rises and circulates.

A wood-burning appliance with a separate fire chamber and intended primarily for cooking. Cookstoves include an oven and often have optional water reservoirs and warming shelves.

Deposits of condensed wood smoke in the chimney resulting from incomplete combustion.

A moveable or rotating plate used to control flow of air, smoke and draft.

A type of electronic pilot ignition. It ignites the gas directly at the burner from a spark.

A venting system where all combustion air is drawn from outside and all flue gases are vented to the outside.

The pressure difference between warm inside air and cool outside air.

Return of heat into the room vs heat venting out the chimney/vent.

Unburned gases and smoke left after combustion that are vented outside the house.

allow for installation at a later date, although they are just as often used for new construction. A factory-built fireplace, often called a Zero Clearance Fireplace, is made up of a firebox enclosed within a steel cabinet, and a steel chimney or flue. They are built in such a way that they can typically be installed just inches away from combustible materials (hence the zero clearance). Most have glass doors, insulated walls, air-cooled pipes, and blowers that can move the heat produced by the fire into the room.

A factory built chimney is one that is manufactured in a factory and assembled on site. They are not of solid construction like masonry chimneys and contain air space (the chase) between the flue and the exterior walls of the chimney. Prefabricated chimneys offer an economical, non-masonry option for adding a chimney to an existing home.

A passageway such as a vent or chimney system for moving flue gases (or the exhaust emissions) from fireplaces to the outdoors.

An open flame appliance that uses fabricated logs over a burner to provide a realistic and dramatic flame.

A seal used to create an air tight barrier. Found around glass, doors, and various components of wood and gas fireplaces, stoves & inserts.

A metal frame used to hold burning logs in a fireplace, usually constructed of heavy steel or iron.

Venting that uses natural draft.

Traditionally, “hearth” refers to the floor of a firebox where a fire is built, and sometimes the floor extending in front of the firebox. Today, “hearth” is often used in reference to the fireplace and stove industry.

A non-combustible surface extending in front of and beyond each side of the firebox opening.

A non-combustible floor protector that a wood-burning stove is set on.

A non-combustible protector used around appliances, smoke pipes or chimneys to protect combustible material from heat. Heat shields are often either built into or available as options on most wood stoves.

Type of electric (intermittent) ignition system used to ignite main burner.

Otherwise known as an Intermittent Pilot Ignition System, or IPI, it is an electronic ignition switch that lights the pilot or burner at the flip of a switch or use of a remote, meaning the pilot flame does not need to burn 24 hours a day.

This is an improper air-to-fuel mixture, or inadequate temperatures, resulting in less-than-complete burning of fuel.

A measure of the thermal conductivity of a material, or how easily heat passes across it.

Small, thin dry pieces of wood used to start a wood fire.

Indicates that the equipment used in fireplace construction meets recognized safety standards and is included in a list published by a recognized testing laboratory or inspection agency.

An ornamental facing that surrounds the firebox, usually consisting of legs, breast and shelf. Mantels can be manufactured with materials such as wood, plaster, stone or concrete.

Is constructed on site of masonry and fire clay material; construction is according to specified code.

Material that – used as intended – will not ignite, burn, support combustion or release flammable vapours when subjected to fire or heat.

A small flame used to ignite the main burner. May be constant or intermittent.

Also known as Resistance Value, this is the capacity of an insulating material to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power.

The transfer of heat via radiant energy.

Direct vent systems are self-contained combustion systems where all combustion air is drawn from outside and exhaust is vented to the outside.

Term used to describe wood that has been allowed to dry before used for burning.  Seasoning takes 6 – 12 months.

Soft black or brown velvety deposits of carbon particles. Soot originates in oxygen-poor flames.

Originally referred to as factory-built fireplaces, zero clearance fireplaces are made up of a firebox enclosed within a steel cabinet, and a steel chimney or flue. They are built in such a way that they can typically be installed just inches away from combustible materials (hence the zero clearance). Most have glass doors, insulated walls, air-cooled pipes, and blowers that can move the heat produced by the fire into the room. Unlike traditional masonry fireplaces, which are built on site, zero clearance fireplaces are designed to allow for installation at a later date, although they are just as often used for new construction.