Drolet Escape 1800-I Insert User manual

READ AND KEEP THIS MANUAL FOR REFERENCE
45931A
Printed in Canada 25-01-2019
Installation and Operation Manual
Escape 1800-I Insert
(DB03125, DB03127K and DB03128K models)
US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY PHASE II CERTIFIED
WOOD INSERT COMPLIANT WITH
2020 CORD WOOD STANDARD
Safety tested according to ULC S628,
UL 737 and UL 1482 Standards
by an accredited laboratory
www.drolet.ca
Stove Builder International Inc.
250, De Copenhague, St-Augustin-de-Desmaures
(Quebec) Canada G3A 2H3
After-sale service: 418-908-8002 E-mail: [e-mail]
This manual is available for free download on the manufacturer’s web site. It is a copyrighted
document. Re-sale is strictly prohibited. The manufacturer may update this manual from
time to time and cannot be responsible for problems, injuries, or damages arising out of the
use of information contained in any manual obtained from unauthorized sources.

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THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING THIS DROLET WOOD INSERT
As one of North America’s largest and most respected wood stove and fireplace
manufacturers, Stove Builder International takes pride in the quality and performance of all
its products. We want to help you get maximum satisfaction as you use this product.
In the pages that follow you will find general advice on wood heating, detailed instructions
for safe and effective installation, and guidance on how to get the best performance from
this insert as you build and maintain fires and maintain your wood heating system.
We recommend that our wood burning hearth products be installed and serviced by
professionals who are certified in the United States by NFI (National Fireplace Institute
®
) or
in Canada by WETT (Wood Energy Technology Transfer) or in Quebec by APC (Association
des Professionnels du Chauffage).
Congratulations on making a wise purchase.
If this insert is not properly installed, combustible materials near it may overheat. To
reduce the risk of fire, follow the installation instructions in this manual exactly.
Contact local building or fire officials about restrictions and installation inspection
requirements in your area.
Please read this entire manual before you install and use your new insert. You may need to
get a building permit for the installation of this insert and the chimney that it is connected to.
Consult your municipal building department or fire department before installation. We
recommend that you also inform your home insurance company to find out if the installation
will affect your policy.
This heating unit is designed to serve as a supplementary heat source. We recommend that
a primary heat source also be available in the home. The manufacturer cannot be
responsible for costs associated with the use of another heating system.
Dealer : _______________________________________________
Installer : ______________________________________________
Phone number : ________________________________________
SERIAL NUMBER: _______________

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Table of content
PART A - OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ...............................7
1. Safety Information....................................................................7
2. General Information..................................................................8
2.1 Appliance performance
(1)
.......................................................................................8
2.2 General Features...................................................................................................9
2.3 Zone Heating and How to Make It Work for You.................................................. 11
2.4 The Benefits of Low Emissions and High Efficiency.............................................12
2.5 The SBI Commitment to You and the Environment.............................................. 12
2.5.1 What is Your New Insert Made Of?..................................................................12
3. Fuel ..........................................................................................13
3.1 How to Prepare or Buy Good Firewood................................................................ 13
3.1.1 What is Good Firewood? .................................................................................13
3.1.2 Tree Species....................................................................................................13
3.1.3 Log Length.......................................................................................................14
3.1.4 Piece Size........................................................................................................14
3.1.5 How to Dry Firewood .......................................................................................14
3.1.6 Judging Firewood Moisture Content ................................................................15
3.2 Manufactured Logs...............................................................................................16
4. Operating Your Insert.............................................................16
4.1 The use of a fire screen........................................................................................16
4.2 Your First Fires.....................................................................................................16
4.3 Lighting Fires........................................................................................................16
4.3.1 Conventional Fire Starting ...............................................................................17
4.3.2 The Top Down Fire..........................................................................................17
4.3.3 Two Parallel Logs ............................................................................................17
4.3.4 Using Fire Starters........................................................................................... 18
4.4 Maintaining Wood Fires........................................................................................18
4.4.1 General Advice ................................................................................................18
4.4.2 Ash Removal....................................................................................................18
4.4.3 Raking Charcoal .............................................................................................. 19
4.4.4 Firing Each New Load Hot...............................................................................19
4.4.5 Turning Down the Air Supply ...........................................................................20
4.5 Blower Operation .................................................................................................20
4.5.1 Building Different Fires for Different Needs...................................................... 21
5. Maintaining Your Wood Heating System..............................23

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5.1 Insert Maintenance...............................................................................................23
5.1.1 Cleaning Door Glass........................................................................................23
5.1.2 Door Adjustment..............................................................................................24
5.1.3 Replacing the Door Gasket..............................................................................24
5.1.4 Replacing the Glass Gasket and/or the Glass................................................. 24
5.1.5 Cleaning and Painting the Insert......................................................................25
5.2 Chimney and Chimney Liner Maintenance...........................................................26
5.2.1 Why Chimney Cleaning is Necessary.............................................................. 26
5.2.2 How Often Should You Clean the Chimney?................................................... 26
5.2.3 Cleaning the Chimney......................................................................................27
PART B - INSTALLATION.............................................................28
6. Pre-Installation Masonry fireplace requirements ................28
7. Safety Information..................................................................29
7.1 Regulations Covering Insert Installation............................................................... 29
8. Clearances to Combustible Material.....................................30
8.1 Location of the Certification Label........................................................................ 30
8.2 The Masonry Fireplace’s Draft Control System (Throat Damper) ........................ 30
8.3 Installation of a Combustible Mantel Shelf ........................................................... 31
8.4 Floor protection.................................................................................................... 31
8.4.1 Installation raised 5" and less ..........................................................................32
8.4.2 Installation raised more than 5"........................................................................33
8.4.3 R Value............................................................................................................33
8.5 Minimum Masonry Opening, Clearances to Combustibles, and Floor Protector..35
9. The Venting System ...............................................................37
9.1 General ................................................................................................................ 37
9.2 Block-Off Plate.....................................................................................................37
9.3 Suitable Chimneys ............................................................................................... 38
9.4 Liner Installation................................................................................................... 38
9.5 Chimney Liner Installation....................................................................................39
9.5.1 If the chimney liner does align with the insert’s flue outlet, you have two options.
......................................................................................................................... 39
9.5.2 If the chimney liner does not align with the insert’s flue outlet ......................... 40
9.6 Minimum Chimney Height....................................................................................40
9.7 The Relationship Between the Chimney and the House...................................... 40
9.7.1 Why the Chimney Should Penetrate the Highest Heated Space ..................... 41
9.8 Supply of Combustion Air..................................................................................... 41
9.8.1 Air Supply in Conventional Houses..................................................................41

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Appendix 1: Blower Installation ..................................................42
Appendix 2: Optional Fresh Air Intake Kit Installation..............43
Appendix 3: Optional Faceplate and Decorative Trims
Installation...............................................................................44
Appendix 4: Optional Cuttable Faceplate Installation...............47
Appendix 5: Optional Fire Screen Installation...........................48
Appendix 6: Secondary Air Tubes and Baffle Installation........49
Appendix 7: Removal instructions..............................................51
Appendix 8: Exploded Diagram and Parts List..........................52
DROLET LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY ..................................55
REGISTER YOUR WARRANTY ONLINE
To receive full warranty coverage, you will need to show evidence of the
date you purchased your insert. Keep your sales invoice. We also
recommend that you register your warranty online at:
https://www.drolet.ca/en/warranty/warranty-registration/
Registering your warranty online will help us to quickly track the
information we need about your insert.

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Certification Label

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PART A - OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
Please see Part B for installation instructions.
1. Safety Information
•Operate only with the door fully closed or fully open with the fire screen in place. If the
door is left partly open, gas and flame may be drawn out of the opening, creating risks
from both fire and smoke.
•HOT WHILE IN OPERATION, KEEP CHILDREN, CLOTHING AND FURNITURE
AWAY. CONTACT MAY CAUSE SKIN BURNS. GLOVES MAY BE NEEDED FOR
INSERT OPERATION.
•Using an insert with cracked or broken components, such as glass or firebricks or baffles
may produce an unsafe condition and may damage the insert.
•Open the air control fully before opening the loading door.
•This insert has been tested for use with an open door in conjunction with a fire screen,
sold separately. The door may be opened, or fire screen removed only during lighting
procedures or reloading. Always close the door or put back on the fire screen after
ignition. Do not leave the insert unattended when the door is opened with or without a
fire screen.
•NEVER USE GASOLINE, LANTERN FUEL (NAPHTHA), FUEL OIL, MOTOR OIL,
KEROSENE, CHARCOAL LIGHTER FLUID, OR SIMILAR LIQUIDS OR AEROSOLS
TO START A FIRE IN THIS INSERT. KEEP ALL SUCH LIQUIDS OR AEROSOLS
WELL AWAY FROM THE INSERT WHILE IT IS IN USE.
•Do not store fuel within heater minimum installation clearances.
•Burn only seasoned natural firewood.
•This wood heater needs periodic inspection and repair for proper operation. It is against
federal regulations to operate this wood heater in a manner inconsistent with operating
instructions in this manual
•This appliance should be maintained and operated at all times in accordance with these
instructions.
•Do not elevate the fire by means of grates, and irons or other means.
•A smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector and a fire extinguisher should be installed
in the house. The location of thefire extinguisher should be known by all family members.
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including carbon
monoxide, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer,
birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to
www.P65warnings.ca.gov/

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2. General Information
2.1 Appliance performance
(1)
Fuel type Dry cordwood
Recommended heating area
[*]
500 to 2,100 ft
2
(47 to 195 m
2
)
Firebox volume 2.4 ft
3
(0.068 m
3
)
Maximum burn time
[*]
8 h
Maximum heat output
(2)
(dry cordwood) 75,000 BTU/h (22.0 kW)
Overall heat output rates (min. to max.)
(2)(3)
14,800 BTU/h to 28,600 BTU/h
(4.34 kW to 8.38 kW)
Average overall efficiency
(3)
– Dry Cordwood 69 % (HHV
(4)
) 74 % (LHV
(5)
)
Optimum efficiency
(2)(6)
77 %
Average particulate emissions rate
(7)
1.54 g/h (EPA / CSA B415.1-10)
(8)
Average CO
(9)
89.4 g/h
[*]
Recommended heating area and maximum burn time may vary subject to location in home, chimney
draft, heat loss factors, climate, fuel type and other variables. The recommended heated area for a given
appliance is defined by the manufacturer as its capacity to maintain a minimum acceptable temperature
in the designated area in case of a power failure.
(1)
Values are as measured per test method, except for the recommended heating area, firebox volume,
maximum burn time and maximum heat output.
(2)
The maximum heat output (dry cordwood) is based on a loading density varying between 15 lb/ft
3
and 20
lb/ft
3
. Other performances are based on a fuel load prescribed by the standard. The specified loading
density varies between 7 lb/ft³ and 12 lb/ft
3
. The moisture content is between 19% and 25%.
(3)
As measured per CSA B415.1-10 stack loss method.
(4)
Higher Heating Value of the fuel.
(5)
Lower Heating Value of the fuel.
(6)
Optimum overall efficiency at a specific burn rate (LHV).
(7)
This appliance is officially tested and certified by an independent agency.
(8)
Tested and certified in compliance with CFR 40 part 60, subpart AAA, section 60.534(a)(1(ii) and Draft
ASTM WK47329-14
(9)
Carbon monoxide.

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2.2 General Features
Maximum log length 20 in (508 mm) east-west*
Flue outlet diameter 6 in (150 mm)
Recommended connector pipe diameter 6 in (150 mm)
Type of chimney ULC-S635, CAN/ULC-S640, UL1777
Baffle material Vermiculite
Approved for alcove installation Not approved
Approved for mobile home installation
‡
Not approved
Shipping weight (without option) 392 lb (178 kg)
Appliance weight (without option) 336 lb (152 kg)
Type of door Single, glass with cast iron frame
Type of glass Ceramic glass
Blower Included (up to 144 CFM)
Particulate emission standard EPA / CSA B415.1-10**
USA standard (safety) UL 1482, UL 737
Canadian standard (safety) ULC S628
*
East-west: through the door you see the longitudinal sides of the logs; north-south: through the door you
see the tips of the logs.
**
Tested and certified in compliance with CFR 40 part 60, subpart AAA, section 60.534(a)(1(ii) and Draft
ASTM WK47329-14
‡
Mobile home (Canada) or manufactured home (USA): The US Department of Housing and Urban
Development describes “manufactured homes” better known as “mobile homes” as follows; buildings built
on fixed wheels and those transported on temporary wheels/axles and set on a permanent foundation. In
Canada, a mobile home is a dwelling for which the manufacture and assembly of each component is
completed or substantially completed prior to being moved to a site for installation on a foundation and
connection to service facilities and which conforms to the CAN/CSA-Z240 MH standard.

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