FIREMAKER FireBob 69 User manual

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FireBob 69
Installation and Operating Instructions.
Version 2: 26/10/2021

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CONTENTS
About your stove 3
Building regulations 4
Ventilation 4
Positioning & clearances 4
Chimney requirements 5
Typical installation 6
Lighting the stove 10
Wood burning tips & general advice 11
Cleaning & maintenance 12
Troubleshooting 13

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ABOUT YOUR STOVE
Stove Model FireBob 69
Approval EN 13240:2001
DEFRA Smoke control area exemption
EcoDesign 2022
Output 5kW
Efficiency 82% net
Flue 6” (150mm)
Fuel Wood Logs
Weight 60kg (subject to flue length)
Flue Draught for nominal output 12Pa
Flue Temp at nominal output 143 °C
Ventilation with air permeability >5m³/ (h.m²) None Required
Ventilation with air permeability <5m³/ (h.m²) 27.5cm²
Clearance to Combustibles Rear: 150 mm (400mm for flat back version)
Sides: 400mm
Front: 1000mm
Flue: 450mm
DIMENSIONS
(Flat Back version)

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Building regulations
Installation of your stove must comply with all local regulations, including those referring to national and
European Standards.
The Clean Air Act 1993 and Smoke Control Areas
Under the Clean Air Act local authorities may declare the whole or part of the district of the authority to be a
smoke control area. It is an offence to emit smoke from a chimney of a building, from a furnace or from any
fixed boiler if located in a designated smoke control area. It is also an offence to acquire an “unauthorised
fuel” for use within a smoke control area unless it is used in an “exempt” appliance (“exempted” from the
controls which generally apply in the smoke control area). In England appliances are exempted by
publication on a list by the Secretary of State in accordance with changes made to sections 20 and 21 of the
Clean Air Act 1993 by section 15 of the Deregulation Act 2015. Similarly, in Scotland appliances are
exempted by publication on a list by Scottish Ministers under section 50 of the Regulatory Reform (Scotland)
Act 2014. In Wales and Northern Ireland these are authorised by regulations made by Welsh Ministers and
by the Department of the Environment respectively. Further information on the requirements of the Clean
Air Act can be found here at: https://www.gov.uk/smoke-control-area-rules Your local authority is
responsible for implementing the Clean Air Act 1993 including designation and supervision of smoke control
areas and you can contact them for details of Clean Air Act requirements.
The FireBob 69 has been recommended as suitable for use in smoke control areas when burning wood logs.
The appliance must be fitted with a permanent stop to prevent closure of the secondary air control beyond
10% open.
Installation
In the UK installation can be carried out by any competent person, provided the installation is carried out to
Building Regulations and checked and signed-off by a local council building inspector. Alternatively, you can
use a member of a certified installation body, such as HETAS, which will negate the involvement of the local
council building inspector.
Ventilation
The stove requires an air supply for combustion. This can be supplied by an airbrick with a permanently open
area. Any airbricks or grilles fitted should be positioned so that they are not liable to blockage. If other
appliances requiring ventilation operate within the vicinity of the stove there must be adequate ventilation
provided for both appliances running simultaneously.
Note: Extractor fans when operating in the same room or space as the stove may cause problems.
Hearth
The stove should be installed above a non-combustible hearth. The hearth should extend to 225mm in front
of the stove and 150mm to each side. A 12mm thick non-constructional hearth can be used.
Positioning & clearances
The minimum clearance between the stove and combustible materials is:
Rear 150mm (400mm for the flat back version)
Sides 300mm
Front 1000mm
The minimum clearance between the flue and combustible materials is 450mm.
A minimum clearance of 50mm should be left between the stove and non-combustible materials.
Carbon monoxide alarm
An approved carbon monoxide alarm with a seven-year life sealed battery must be installed when any solid
fuel appliance is installed. Carbon monoxide alarms need to meet European safety standards and must be
audible. They must be fitted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. An alarm is not a substitute
for regular maintenance and chimney sweeping.

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Flue/Chimney
The minimum flue draught required for nominal heat output is 12 Pascals. The appliance should not be
connected to a shared flue.
The stove is typically installed using a 6” twin wall flue system. See ‘Typical Installation’ below.
Alternatively, the stove can be fitted to an existing masonry chimney. The chimney should be given a visual
inspection to check that it is in good order, clear of obstructions and is of suitable size and type for the stove.
It may be necessary to sweep the chimney. This should be done prior to fitting the stove or lining the
chimney. We also recommend a smoke test to check for gas tightness and chimney draft. We recommend
lining and insulating your chimney.

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Typical Installation
This shows a typical
pitched roof
installation.
Flat roof installation is
the same.
Please contact us if
you’d like to discuss
variations on the
install.
Ceiling Bracket
Fix the custom-made
bracket to your
ceiling
joists/rafters/trusses
(we will make a
bracket to suit your
roof timbers or steel
structure).
Structure
Depending on the
flue length the stove
will weigh
approximately 60kg.
It is advised to consult
a structural engineer
to confirm the roof
structure is adequate.

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Ceiling Bracket
Plumb the bracket to
make sure it is
vertical.
Once the bracket is in
place then the ceiling
can be plastered
around the bracket if
required.
External flue
Attach a single wall
adapter to the
bottom of the first
length of twin wall
pipe and drop down
into the socket. Make
sure the adapter fits
into the ring at the
bottom of the
bracket.

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External flue
The flue is 6”
insulated twin wall
pipe. Available from
Firemaker or any flue
supplier.
Polished stainless
steel as standard but
also available in
powder coated RAL
colours.
External flue
The roof flashing and
the rest of the
external flue parts
can now be fitted.
Check local building
regulations to
determine height of
flue required.
(Google ‘building regs
document J’ for UK).
Page 26 on the PDF.

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Internal flue
The internal flue
comes in one piece
(up to 6m long) to
suit your ceiling
height.
This is attached to the
ceiling bracket with
the eight M8 bolts
provided.
Internal Parts
Check all the internal
parts are in the
correct position

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Lighting the stove
Before lighting the stove ensure all firebrick linings and other internal components are in position and that
all packaging has been removed. Check that all the flue-ways are clear especially if the stove has not been
used for a long time.
If lighting your stove for the first time it should not be stoked excessively as all materials must be given time
to adapt to the effects of heat. Curing of the high temperature paint finish will occur and a smell will be
evident. Ventilate the room by opening windows. All parts of the stove become hot after a while. Use a glove
when operating the door handle and air control.
Step 1 Open the air control fully (see image below).
Step 2 Place tightly crumpled newspaper or a fire-lighter at the centre of the firebed. Place small kindling
on top of the newspaper and then a few larger pieces of wood on top of this. Light the newspaper
and rest the door on the latch so that the door is open slightly. NEVER USE FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS TO
LIGHT YOUR STOVE.
Step 3 Allow the fire to burn until all the pieces of wood are alight and burning. More and larger pieces of
wood can now be added.
Step 4 Once the fire is established latch the door so that it is fully closed. The air control lever can be moved
towards the ‘cold’ setting to maintain a steady burn rate. The stove will burn approximately 1.1kg of
dry logs every 45 minutes to give an output of around 5kW with the air setting 20% open.
Notes:
•Do not run the stove with the door open.
•This stove is designed for intermittent and not continuous operation.
Air control lever shown in the open ‘hot’ setting.
Glass Window
The stove has an ‘airwash’system to help keep the glass clear of soot. Burning small hot fires instead of large
slumbering ones will help keep the glass clean. Some build up will occur over time and this can be removed
using stove glass cleaner. Vitcas stove glass cleaner works well.

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Wood burning tips and theory
The first stage of the fire, just after lighting, is usually the smokiest because the cold wood and cold stove
take heat away from the flames. During this stage ensure the air inlet is fully open to increase the flame
temperature. It may appear that this initial hot burn allows too much heat straight into the flue system
however this is a necessary part of an efficient fire. The additional heat primes the chimney to produce a
strong draft and helps keep the chimney/flue clean by loosening creosote deposits that may have been
deposited by a previous fire. The hot initial burn also drives moisture from the firewood and gives an ignition
source for the smoke that is released from the wood.
Do not try to add too much fuel at once. Adding fuel gradually will help maintain a steady temperature and
burning rate so that the stove burns efficiently and cleanly. Adding too much fuel at once will dramatically
reduce the temperature inside the firebox.
This also applies to the air control. Adjusting it gradually will help maintain a steady combustion rate. In most
instances, you will arrive at the best combustion air settings yourself, as the height and diameter of the
chimney as well as the quality of the firewood are decisive factors in determining how your stove is best set.
Small, hot fires are more efficient than large slumbering fires. Most of the energy in burning wood is
released as a bright flame. The flame mixes the combustion air and the gases that are released from the
wood as it heats up. The heat of the fire ignites and burns these gases. In contrast, the dense smoke from a
slow, smouldering fire is potential heat energy that escapes up the chimney and either clings to the chimney
flue as creosote or pollutes the atmosphere. To gain the most heat from each burn the wood should be
flaming throughout the burn cycle until it is reduced to ash.
When refuelling, place two logs 200mm long totalling 1.1kg onto the firebed as shown for the best
combustion.
Over Heating
Should the stove get too hot and is overheating, move the air control lever to the ‘cold’ setting. Keep the fire
door closed and allow the fire to burn down.
Fire Prevention
Make sure furniture, curtains, firewood, or any other combustibles are kept clear of the fire and the flue
pipe. Observe the clearance to combustibles distances given on Page 3.

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Chimney fire
In the event of a chimney fire dial 999 and ask for the Fire Service. Move the air control lever to the ‘cold’
setting and keep the stove door closed. Move any combustibles away from the stove and chimney. Check
any other rooms that the chimney or flue passes through and move any combustibles away from the
chimney. Before using the stove again after a chimney fire, the chimney should be cleaned and inspected by
a qualified person.
Types of fuel
Wood needs to be well seasoned before it is burned. There are many types of wood available for fuel and
they take varying amounts of time to season. As a general guide wood should be cut to length, split, and
then stacked under cover with sides open to air for at least twelve months. Wood is ready for burning when
radial cracks appear in the end of the logs and moisture content is no more than 20%. It is then good
practice to store the wood in a log basket inside your property for a few days prior to its use. Do not burn
unseasoned wood in your stove. Do not burn particle board, lacquered, painted, or treated wood, plastics,
rubber or liquid fuels.
The FireBob 69 has been recommended as suitable for use in smoke control areas when burning wood logs.
The wood should have a moisture content of no more than 20%. The recommended split log size is 200mm x
70mm x 70mm and the maximum recommended burn rate is 1.2kg of wood per hour with a maximum fuel
load of 1.1kg at any one time.
Refuelling on to a low fire bed
If there is insufficient burning material in the fire bed to light a new fuel charge, excessive smoke emission
can occur. Refuelling must be carried out onto enough glowing embers and ash that the new fuel charge will
ignite in a reasonable period. If there are too few embers in the fire bed, add suitable kindling to prevent
excessive smoke.
Fuel overloading
The maximum amount of fuel specified in this manual should not be exceeded, overloading can cause excess
smoke.
Ashes
The ashes should only be removed when the fire is extinguished and has been left to cool completely.
Cleaning & maintenance
Maintenance of the stove should only be carried out by a competent engineer when the stove is cold. These
checks should include the state of the rope seals, firebricks, and baffle. The exterior of the fire can be
cleaned with a soft brush. Never use spirits to clean the stove as this may remove the paint.
Seasonal use
The following procedure should be followed if the stove is not to be used for a long period, summertime for
instance. Remove all the ashes from the firebox. Remove the baffle plate and brush the flue ways. Close the
door and open the air control fully. This action will allow air circulation through the flue ways and help avoid
corrosion and condensation.
Flue draught Issues
Adverse weather conditions may result in either too little or too much flue draught. Excessive flue draught
may cause the fire to burn on a high rate whilst too little draught or ‘down draught’ may cause the fire to
burn too slowly, extinguish the fire or even force smoke into the room. In either case, allow the fire to go
out and do not use until you have consulted an installer to help improve the performance of the chimney.

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Chimney sweeping
The chimney should be swept a minimum of once per year. Your stove should also be given a visual
inspection every time the chimney is swept. Any build-up of soot and ashes within the stove should be
removed. Sweeping can be carried out through the stove by removing the steel baffle. The steel baffle is
held in place by the firebricks so carefully remove these first.
Fire bricks
The fire bricks are manufactured from vermiculite. Vermiculite is a non-combustible, fire resistant board
with excellent thermal insulation properties. Position logs gently when refuelling to prevent damage to the
firebricks. Over time the firebricks may crack but only need replacing if they become worn through.
Glass
Wipe the glass after each fire and once the stove has cooled completely to prevent any build-up of deposits.
This is best done using a paper towel or newspaper to avoid scratching the glass.
If the glass is blackened by soot it can be easily cleaned using a specialist stove glass cleaning product.
Paint Finish
The high temperature paint finish should require no further treatment though small areas can be touched up
if damaged. An aerosol of colour-matched heat-resistant paint is included. Shake the can very well. Practice
using the spray can on a scrap piece of cardboard before applying to the stove. Spray lightly from around
20cm distance in thin coats. Allow to dry between coats. Three thin coats are usually enough.
Note: Do not modify the fire and only use replacement parts as specified by Firemaker Ltd.
TROUBLE SHOOTING
Blackened glass
Possible causes include the wood being too damp. Use only wood that has been stored for at least twelve
months under cover and with a moisture content less than 20%. Make sure the fire is run with the air control
fully open and that there is sufficient ventilation to provide air for combustion. A poor chimney draught will
result in a lack of air into the fire and poor combustion. Ensure the stove is run at high enough temperature
to burn the wood smoke.
Smoke in the room when refuelling
Avoid opening the door when there are high flames or fresh fuel on the fire. Open the door slowly to avoid
‘pulling’ the smoke into the room. Poor flue draught will result in a smoky fire. Talk to an installer about
improving the flue draught. Remedies for a low draught may include increasing the flue height, changing the
flue cowl, and insulating the chimney.
Uncontrollable combustion
This may be caused by a strong chimney draft and excess air being drawn into the stove. Check to see that
the door rope seal is in good order and that the air control can be closed.