Totem Recto User manual

03/2013
OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS
www.totemfire.com
RECTO / VERSO FIREPLACE
a t o t a l v i e w o f f i r e
"CLASSIC" Range

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Contents
1Foreword...............................................................................................................................................3
2Operating instructions............................................................................................................................4
2.1 Basic safety rules...........................................................................................................................4
2.1.1 General points.........................................................................................................................4
2.1.2 Fire hazard zone .....................................................................................................................4
2.1.3 In the event of fire propagation in the flue................................................................................5
2.2 How does your Totem fireplace work?............................................................................................6
2.2.1 Door........................................................................................................................................7
2.3 Combustion adjustment elements...................................................................................................9
2.3.1 Smoke damper trap.................................................................................................................9
2.3.2 Control lever for smoke damper trap .....................................................................................11
2.3.3 Combustion air......................................................................................................................12
2.3.4 Reflectors..............................................................................................................................13
2.4 Using your appliance for the first time...........................................................................................14
2.5 How to operate the fire.................................................................................................................15
2.5.1 Lighting .................................................................................................................................15
2.5.2 Adding wood .........................................................................................................................17
2.5.3 Extinction...............................................................................................................................18
2.6 Initial checks in case of poor functioning.......................................................................................19
2.7 Maintenance guide.......................................................................................................................20
2.7.1 Cleaning the glass.................................................................................................................20
2.7.2 Cleaning the fireplace............................................................................................................21
2.7.3 Maintenance and Chimney Sweeping ...................................................................................22
2.8 Maintenance record......................................................................................................................25
3Basic information about firewood.........................................................................................................26
3.1 General points..............................................................................................................................26
3.2 Drying of wood and its moisture content.......................................................................................29
3.3 Types of fuel which are forbidden.................................................................................................30
4Dimensions..........................................................................................................................................31
5EC certifications ..................................................................................................................................32
6Warranty..............................................................................................................................................33
6.1 Statutory warranty........................................................................................................................33
6.2 Contract guarantee.......................................................................................................................33
6.3 The following are not covered by the warranty..............................................................................33

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1Foreword
You have purchased a Totem fireplace, thank you for your custom.
Read these operating instructions carefully in order to obtain the best and safest use of your new
installation.
Totem fireplaces are high-tech, high-performance appliances, in particular with regard to safety.
Installation of the fireplace, its accessories and the materials which surround it must be carried out
according to best practice and in compliance with all local and national regulations as well as all national
and European standards.
A qualified professional shall have ensured, in particular, that the characteristics of the chimney flue and its
environment are suitable for the fireplace to be installed.
Any modification to your Totem fireplace will render the warranty null and void.
If you have any questions about how the appliance works, please contact your fitter.
The explanations in this manual apply to all Totem Recto/Verso fireplaces (excluding products in the
Technika range)
To make these operating instructions easier to read and understand, we have used general illustrations
and terms corresponding to a particular type of appliance. The images used may differ from your
appliance.
For further information, consult our Internet site: www.totemfire.com

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2Operating instructions
2.1 Basic safety rules
2.1.1 General points
Your Totem fireplace is fitted with foldaway swinging doors which allow it to operate with the door
lowered (shut) in complete safety and the door raised (open) like a traditional fireplace.
When using the fireplace with the door raised (open), the fireplace must be permanently supervised.
Watch out for flying embers.
It is essential to wear protective gloves or use the safe handling tool to handle the door.
When the door is lowered (shut) the accessible surfaces of the frame of the door and the vitro-
ceramics rise considerably in temperature when the appliance is in operation and can cause burns
when touched.
Explain the risks of burns to children and ensure that they are not close to the fireplace when it is in
use.
It is strictly forbidden to open the swinging door when the appliance is in use (see page 8)
2.1.2 Fire hazard zone
Do not store flammable items within an 80 cm radius
around the fireplace door.
(logs, tables, chairs, firelighters…)
No flammable material must be placed in the appliance’s
fire hazard zone.
Fire hazard zone

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2.1.3 In the event of fire propagation in the flue
If maintenance and operating conditions are adhered to, there is no risk of fire in your flue. Nevertheless,
please read these rules concerning chimney flue fires.
Never use water to put out the fire.Water causes thermal shock which could cause the bricks and vitro-
ceramics of the fireplace to explode.
Close all the combustion air inlets, the smoke damper trap as well as the door, using the safe handling tool
to extinguish the fire.
Move any flammable objects away from the fireplace.
Call the fire brigade.
Before using again, it is compulsory to have the entire installation
(especially the ducts) checked and cleaned by a qualified
professional.
A fit for use certificate provided by a professional is
compulsory.
In the European Union
dial 112

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2.2 How does your Totem fireplace work?

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2.2.1 Door
Foldaway door
Your Totem fireplace is fitted with a foldaway door. This is used to make the appliance function on a daily
basis.
To optimise heating performance and use the fire in complete safety, fully lower the door.
Separating R°V° fireplaces have a foldaway swinging door and an exclusively swinging door.
Central R°V° fireplaces have two foldaway swinging doors. There is a main door and a secondary door.
The main door controls the automatic smoke damper trap (see page 10).
ALWAYS OPEN THE MAIN DOOR FIRST
To prepare the fire and add wood or to take full advantage of a traditional fire, raise the door.
Our doors are fitted with a stainless steel handle to facilitate use.
When the appliance is hot, use a glove or the safe handling tool to operate it.
Open the door by a few centimetres before fully opening to prevent down draughts.
Note: To prevent smoke from being discharged into your house, never allow your fireplace to operate with
the door half open.
The Totem safe handling tool
The safe handling tool, supplied with every fireplace, allows the various elements of the fireplace
to be handled without risk of burns.
4a
Door raised
Door lowered

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Forge effect
When the appliance is functioning with the door closed, there must be no passage of air under the
door.
Check that nothing is preventing the door from closing correctly (embers, pieces of wood…)
The air flow entering the fireplace is accelerated by the
reduced passage under the door.
This air causes the fire to be over active. The wood
burns too quickly
The appliance becomes less efficient.
Swinging door
The swinging door must only be used for cleaning the glass, never for operation with the door open or for
loading wood.
To open the swinging door, lower the door to the maximum,
Raise the latch (1), located on the edge of the glass,
Pull the swinging door, keeping the latch raised.
To close the swinging door, push the door in the direction of the
4b
AIR
The door must be COMPLETELY closed.

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2.3 Combustion adjustment elements
Effective wood burning depends on the amount of air supplying the fire and the rate of smoke evacuation,
i.e. the draught of the chimney.
When using the appliance with the door lowered (shut) for a completely safe, long-lasting fire, it is
necessary to control the amount of air supply and the rate of smoke evacuation.
When using the appliance with the door open (door raised) smoke evacuation must be at the maximum rate
as well as the amount of air available.
2.3.1 Smoke damper trap
Automatic smoke damper trap
Since 2011, recto-verso fireplaces have included an automatic smoke damper trap controlled by the
foldaway door.
The damper trap opens when you raise the foldaway door (door open). This prevents down draughts of
smoke; the trap closes when you lower the door (door closed).
In this way, the appliance automatically changes from operation with the door open, without smoke down
draughts, to operation with the door shut, which optimizes heating and safety.
N.B.: Panoramic R°V° fireplaces are not concerned by this change and retain the control lever at the front
(see page 11)

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Presetting
This control allows you to preset opening of the damper trap, which controls evacuation of smoke, when the
door is lowered.
The presetting control is located in the centre of the fireplace, above the door:
To change the setting:
1- Press the presetting control in order to disengage it from its catches
2- Keeping it pressed, make it slide up or down in order to obtain the desired setting:
Control at the top = trap more open increased draught
Control at the bottom = trap more closed decreased draught
3- Once you have obtained the desired position, release the control.
4- When using the appliance for the first few times, it will be necessary to set the damper trap
according to the natural draught of your chimney.
Presetting
control
Locking
catches
More draught
Less draught

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2.3.2 Control lever for smoke damper trap
Concerns only Panoramic R°V° fireplaces.
The control lever for the smoke damper trap is a control device connected to the damper trap. It controls
evacuation of smoke from the appliance.
The control lever was designed to be operated using the Totem safe handling tool.
This prevents the risk of burns whilst your fireplace is in use.
To increase smoke evacuation, push to the right
To reduce evacuation, push to the left
Recommendation: In order to prevent down draughts of smoke, increase smoke evacuation to the
maximum before opening the door.

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2.3.3 Combustion air
Combustion air is an essential element of the combustion of a fire; the following adjustment elements allow
you to manage its rate.
Adjustable air grate
The ash tray’s adjustable air grate has two functions: controlling the rate of the fire and deashing the
fireplace.
For your comfort and safety, the Totem company has equipped the adjustable air grate so that you can
handle it using the safe handling tool.
To increase the supply of combustion air and the rate of the fire, push the grate.
To reduce the supply of combustion air and the rate of the fire, pull the grate.
To deash the fireplace, manoeuvre the grate from front to back using the safe handling tool.
Combustion air intake flap
The combustion air intake flap is an optional extra which can be placed upstream of the adjustable air
grate.
It allows you to control the incoming air flow rate. The Totem company strongly recommends that you
install one.
It is used to close your appliance’s air inlets when it is not in use.
To increase the incoming air flow rate, pull the control lever.
To close or reduce the incoming air flow rate, push the lever.
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F
O

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2.3.4 Reflectors
The TOTEM FIRE company recommends that they are installed to improve efficiency.
The reflectors fitted on your fireplace reduce the temperature of the smoke evacuated and increase that of
the fire. In this way, they directly contribute to improving the performance of your equipment. They are
detachable for chimney sweeping.

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2.4 Using your appliance for the first time
Before lighting your fire for the first time, remove any documents and accessories it may contain.
Also check the ash pit.
Allow covering materials to dry (rough plaster, finishing plaster…) before using the appliance for the first
time to prevent them from deteriorating by drying too quickly.
During the first few hours of use, maintain a moderate fire to allow the materials time to cure.
Each time you use the fireplace, gradually increase the load of wood.
Smoke and odours may be released the first few times you use the fire.
They are due to final evaporation of paint, the sheet metal preservative oil and drying bricks. If this occurs,
ensure that the room in which the appliance is located is well ventilated.
For your well-being and comfort, our technical teams are constantly working to improve our products; since
May 2012, we have been using solvent-free water soluble paint to limit these fumes.

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2.5 How to operate the fire
2.5.1 Lighting
If you have not used your appliance for a long time, check that none of your fireplace’s air passages are
obstructed (chimney flue, outside air delivery pipe, convection and ventilation grille) before lighting.
Also check that mechanical parts such as the door, counterweights, and adjusters operate freely.
If your house is fitted with controlled mechanical ventilation or a suction hood, we recommend that you
reduce its flow rate or turn it off at least when lighting the appliance.
Controlled mechanical ventilation and suction hoods extract air in the house. They can reverse the natural
draught of a fireplace.
Natural draught
DOWN DRAUGHTS
Suction hood
Controlled mechanical
ventilation air outlet

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For panoramic R°V° fireplaces, open the smoke damper trap using the
lever on the front (see page 11)
- Open the main foldaway door (1)
- Open the combustion air flap (2) and the adjustable grate of the ash tray (3).
- Place two or three chopped logs in the centre of the fireplace.
- Place dry and resawn kindling on top. Position your wood so
as to allow air to circulate freely.
- Place paper or firelighter on the kindling.
- Light the paper or firelighter
- Allow the flue to increase gradually in temperature without causing the fire
to become over active.
Recommendation: Never overload your fireplace with wood, especially when
starting it up.
2
3
1
*
4
4

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2.5.2 Adding wood
To open the door during operation, slightly raise the door, pausing before fully opening it to prevent any risk
of down draught.
Use protective gloves or the Totem safe handling tool to operate the fireplace’s door handle in order to
protect you from burns.
Maximum loads of dry wood per hour of operation
Maximum Weight 50 cm logs Equivalence in kW
800 3 kg 1 à 2 12
900 4 kg 2 à 3 18
1000 and + 5 kg 3 20
2 logs weighing approximately 3 kg
3 logs weighing approximately 4kg
4 logs weighing approximately 5 kg

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2.5.3 Extinction
Fully lower the door (1).
For R°V° fireplaces, close the smoke damper trap.
Close the adjustable grate of the ash tray (2) as well as the air intake flap (3.
Allow the fire to go out.
2
3
1

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2.6 Initial checks in case of poor functioning
When the door is closed, the wood burns too quickly and the fire is over active:
- Is the fire door shut properly?
- Is the smoke damper trap jammed? (see page 9)
- Are the reflectors in place? (see page 12)
- Do you use recommended firewood? (see page26)
- Is the wood too small?
When the door is closed, the fireplace does not heat up sufficiently:
- Are the ventilation and convection grilles clogged up?
- Is the fireplace door correctly shut?
- Is the smoke damper trap obstructed? (see page 9)
- Have you loaded enough wood?
The wood does not burn well:
- Is the wood too humid? (see page 28)
- Are the pieces of wood too large? If so, saw them.
When the door is open, the draught of the fireplace is too weak, there is too much down
draught:
- Is the smoke damper trap obstructed? (see page 9)
- Are the combustion air flap (optional extra) and grille sufficiently open? (see page 11)
- Is the flue clogged up or poorly insulated?
- Does switching off the controlled mechanical ventilation facilitate the draught? (see page 14)
- Does removing the reflector improve the draught? (See page 12); if need be, reduce its length.

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2.7 Maintenance guide
Before carrying out any maintenance on your appliance, wait for it to completely cool down to prevent any
risk of burns or fire.
2.7.1 Cleaning the glass
Carefully cover the floor below the door so as not to mark it.
Take a pair of gloves, a bucket of warm water, a sponge, washing up liquid or a product for cleaning glass
and newspaper.
Never use abrasive oven products, this damages the door gaskets.
Open the swinging door (see page 7)
Apply the product on the inside of the glass and allow it time to act.
Do not spray the product directly onto the glass. Spray it onto a cloth then wipe the glass with the
cloth.
During this time, empty the ash tray and clean the fireplace.
Use a wet cloth to rinse.
Dry with newspaper.
Repeat these cleaning procedures until the glass is clean.
Note: using good quality, sufficiently dry wood (see page 28) reduces carbon deposits on the glass.