Wood fire Specifications

National Environmental Standards

National Environmental Standards came into effect throughout New Zealand in 2005, imposing a minimum 65% efficiency and maximum 1.5gm emission requirements on all wood fires installed on properties with a land area of less than two hectares. Properties of two hectares or more are exempt from this National Environmental Standard. This effectively creates two wood fire markets, and as a consequence Metro are manufacturing a range of product for each;

ECO Metro’s

Designed for properties less than two hectares, ECO Metro’s surpass the requirements of the National Environmental Standard. Utilising advanced combustion technology ECO Metro’s have a more complex firebox design which operate at higher combustion temperatures, but offer shorter burn times than their LTD Metro equivalents.

LTD Metro’s

Designed for properties two hectares or more, LTD Metro’s retain features like overnight burning and genuine wetbacks while still meeting internationally accepted efficiency and emission standards.

Note – Some regional councils have imposed emission requirements which take precedence over the National Environmental Standard, while some other councils within New Zealand have imposed or are considering adopting bylaws relating to environmental issues. If in doubt talk to your Metro retailer.

• Test certificates for all Metro ECO fires are on www.metrofires.co.nz
• All ECO Metro’s “without wetbacks” can be installed on any property size New Zealand wide. Nelson & Christchurch have specific zones restricting the installation of wood fires for homes that have not had an existing wood fire previously installed (see your Metro retailer)
• All ECO Metro’s “with wetbacks” can be installed within New Zealand on any property that is two hectares or more in size. Most ECO models can be installed with a wetback in clean air zones, some restrictions apply to some models/regions.
• All LTD Metro’s “with or without wetbacks” can be installed anywhere in New Zealand providing the property is two hectares or more.

Direct Vent Metros

New to the Metro range are the larger ECO Metros which incorporate the very latest Direct Vent [DV] technology.
These “DV” Metros offer two significant advantages;

• All air consumed during combustion enters the appliance near the bottom/rear of the firebox, this enables both the primary and secondary air supply to be pre-heated to very high temperatures before entering the firebox. This air supply is ducted over the rear face of the firebox, then through preheating tubes fitted into the firebox’s secondary burn chamber, resulting in emission and efficiency levels detailed in the chart above.
• Metros with the “DV” technology also offer the option of connecting the air supply to outside the home. laboratory testing confirms a typical woodfire producing 10kW’s of heat at 67% efficiency consumes 8.4 litres of air per second burning fuel with a 17% moisture content, equating to around one “roomful” of air every hour. By connecting the air supply to outside the home the Metro consumes air drawn in from outside the home rather than using the heated air from within the home, saving fuel and further increasing the overall efficiency of the Metro.

There are three Direct Vent kits available – DV WALL KIT ducts through an outside wall, DV FLOOR KIT ducts through the floor directly behind the Metro and the DV CEILING KIT ducts into the wall cavity and up into the ceiling cavity.

Insert Specifications

Pre Installation

Metro fireplace inserts are tested to/comply with AS/NZS 2918:2001 incorporating appendix “E” when installed in accordance with the installation and operation manual supplied with every Metro wood fire. Prior to installing your Metro fireplace insert into a masonry chimney, it is important that certain clearances and other requirements are complied with as detailed below :-

Chimney – The masonry chimney must be swept and checked for: -

• Cracks and general overall condition, with repairs carried out if necessary by a suitably qualified person.
• Cavity dimensions to ensure the fireplace insert will fit, it is usually necessary to remove fire bricks from the lower masonry chimney cavity.
• The base of the masonry chimney cavity on which the Metro fireplace insert will rest must be level, if not, it should be levelled using mortar.
• If an ash removal door exists in the base of the chimney it should be sealed shut to prevent air entering the cavity.

Mantel

If a timber or combustible mantelshelf exists above the fireplace insert opening, it should be a minimum distance above the top of the Metro’s fascia, minimum distances are:

• Metro LTD Insert = 460mm
• Metro ECO Insert = 340mm
• Metro ECO Smart Insert = 475mm
• Metro LTD Mega Built-In = 500mm

If less than the above minimum specified, a deflector or heat shield will be required to be fitted under the mantel. (REF AS/NZS 2918:2001)

ECO Insert Fan

On properties less than 2 hectares, the Metro ECO Insert must be installed with Metro’s ECO Insert fan which is a single speed, thermostatically controlled device. Within the Christchurch City Council region the ECO Insert fan must be permanently wired and therefore requires the services of an electrican. Fitting instructions for the fan are supplied with the fan module.

Floor Protector Requirements

A floor protector must extend from behind the fascia the distance specified in the table below, and 200mm to each side of the door opening. Please Note – Floor protector requirements differ for the four models listed;

LTD Insert: Requires an insulated floor protector and the forward projection is dependant on the height of the fireplace insert above the combustible floor. The schedule of projections listed for heights of 0mm to 41mm+ can be achieved by the thickness of the floor protector, raising the insert or a combination of the two. [Recommended construction is “tiled eterpan” with a combined thickness as specified]

LTD Mega Built-In: Requires a “minimal” insulating floor protector [recommended construction is “tiles on 6mm thick eterpan”, although any non-combustible material fixed to the 6mm eterpan is suitable including glass or steel/aluminum sheet etc]

ECO Insert: Only requires a non-insulating “ash-hearth” floor protector [recommended construction is “tiles on 6mm thick villa board”, although any non-combustible material fixed direct to the combustible floor is acceptable including glass or steel/aluminum sheet etc]

ECO Smart Insert: The ECO Smart Insert requires an insulating floor protector with a recommended construction of tiles on 26mm thick eterpan. The forward projection is dependent on the height of the fireplace insert above the combustible floor, which is detailed below.

Flue Systems

It is recommended all Metro wood fires be installed with the Metro ECO Flue System which comes complete with detailed installation instructions. All Metro ECO Flue Systems include Metro’s vertical discharge cowl which improves draft and performance.

Vented Zero Clearance Cabinet

The function of the Metro Vented Zero Clearance Cabinet (VZCC) is to enable the Metro LTD Insert and ECO Insert Fireplace to be installed into a timber framed wall. The VZCC therefore replaces the more traditional masonry chimney at a fraction of the cost. Detailed instructions for the VZCC are available from your Metro retailer.

At the time of printing the Metro ECO Smart was not tested with a VZCC option. This is likely to be available later in 2010. Please ask your Metro Retailer on the progress of this if you require this model with the VZCC option.

Freestanding Specifications

Minimum clearances shown are in mm, with a Pioneer double flue mounted shield fitted. All Metro wood fires comply with AS/NZS2918:2001. Specifications were correct at the time of printing, but may alter and those detailed within should be used only as a guide. Refer to the installation and operation manual supplied with every Metro, or if in doubt, consult your Metro retailer.

Clearance reductions

AS/NZS 2918:2001 allows for a reduction in minimum clearances as detailed in tables 3.1 and 3.2 of the standard which your Metro retailer will be able to advise you on. Pioneer has also tested certain model Metro’s with “side extensions” fitted to the Pioneer double flue mounted shield, to achieve a reduction in clearances, details are;

• The LTD Wee Ped installed with a Pioneer double flue mounted shield with side extensions fitted can have side clearances B and G reduced by 80mm if installed into an alcove which does not project forward of the Metro.
• The ECO Euro Ped, ECO Xtreme Ped and ECO Euro Trad installed with a Pioneer double flue mounted shield with side extensions fitted reduces minimum corner clearance E from 170mm to 110mm. In this situation use the LTD Metro equivalent for measurements E, D, K & L. (i.e use LTD Euro Ped chart for ECO Euro Ped for E, D, K & L).
• The LTD Wee Rad and LTD Wee Ped rear clearance (H) and overall floor protector depth (I) can reduce by 50mm providing a wetback is not fitted and therefore maintenance access is not required.

Floor Protectors

Freestanding Metro wood fires do not require an insulating floor protector, as they are tested and comply with the minimum floor protector requirements of AS/NZS 2918:2001. Note:

• Minimum floor protector sizes are specified in the clearance chart above.
• A floor protector can include ceramic tiles with grouted joints, a sheet of toughened glass, panel steel or any other non combustible material laid directly onto a wooden floor.
• If being installed onto a concrete or non combustible floor, no floor protector is required.

Flue Systems

All Metro freestanding wood fires should be installed with the energy efficient Metro ECO Flue System which comes complete with detailed installation instructions. All Metro ECO Flue Systems include Metro’s vertical discharge cowl which improves draft and performance. It is mandatory to install a Metro ECO Flue System with Free Standing Metro wood fires installed in the Christchurch City Council region.

Download a PDF now > Metro Wood Fire Specifications 2010