Totem RT 2012 User manual

10/2013
OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS
www.totemfire.com
STRAIGHT FIREPLACE
"RT 2012"range
a t o t a l v i e w o f f i r e

2
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........................................................................................................................................6
2.3 Combustion adjustment elements...................................................................................................8
2.3.1 Combustion air........................................................................................................................8
2.3.2 Reflectors................................................................................................................................9
2.4 Using your appliance for the first time...........................................................................................10
2.5 How to operate the fire.................................................................................................................11
2.5.1 Lighting .................................................................................................................................11
2.5.2 Adding wood .........................................................................................................................12
2.5.3 Extinction...............................................................................................................................13
2.6 Initial checks in case of poor functioning.......................................................................................14
2.7 Maintenance guide.......................................................................................................................15
2.7.1 Cleaning the glass.................................................................................................................15
2.7.2 Cleaning the fireplace............................................................................................................16
2.7.3 Maintenance and Chimney Sweeping ...................................................................................17
2.8 Maintenance record......................................................................................................................20
3Basic information about firewood.........................................................................................................21
3.1 General points..............................................................................................................................21
3.2 Drying of wood and its moisture content.......................................................................................24
3.3 Types of fuel which are forbidden.................................................................................................25
4Dimensions..........................................................................................................................................26
5Certifications CE..................................................................................................................................28
6Warranty..............................................................................................................................................29
6.1 Statutory warranty........................................................................................................................29
6.2 Contract guarantee.......................................................................................................................29
6.3 The following are not covered by the warranty..............................................................................29

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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 contained in this manual apply to all Totem 2012 RT Straight fireplaces.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 duct) 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?
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.
The foldaway door must not be open when using the fireplace except when loading wood.
The fireplace is designed to operate with the door closed in order to optimise heating performance and
allow you to enjoy the fire in complete safety.
To prepare the fire and add wood 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 centimeters 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.
Door raised
(Open)
Door lowered
(Closed)

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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 door,
Pull the swinging door, keeping the latch raised.
To close the swinging door, push the door in the direction of the
fireplace, keeping the latch raised.
The door must be COMPLETELY closed.
AIR
1

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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.
2.3.1 Combustion air
Combustion air is an essential element of the combustion of a fire; the following adjustment elements allow
you to manage its rate.
Primary air
The primary air control connected to the air intake flap allows you to control the rate of your
fire and adjust its power.
Afterburn air
Afterburn air is injected into the centre of the fireplace above the flames.
The injected air reduces the amount of carbon monoxide released into the atmosphere.
It reduces the impact of combustion on the environment and increases the appliance’s
output.
O
F

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2.3.2 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.
- Open the foldaway door.
- Open the combustion air flap.
- 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.
- Allow about fifteen minutes for your fire to catch before fully lowering the
door using a glove or the safe handling tool.
Once the fire has started, you can reduce the combustion air supply as well as the smoke evacuation flow
rate.
Load wood before the fire has become a bed of embers.
Recommendation: Never overload your fireplace with wood, especially when starting it up.
2

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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.
Close the air intake flap.
Allow the fire to go out.

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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?
- Are the reflectors in place? (see page 9)
- Do you use recommended firewood? (see page21)
- 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?
- Have you loaded enough wood?
The wood does not burn well:
- Is the wood too humid? (see page 24)
- Are the pieces of wood too large? If so, saw them.

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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 24) reduces carbon deposits on the glass.

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2.7.2 Cleaning the fireplace
Removing ash
In order to prevent obstruction of the combustion air inlet grille, it is necessary to regularly empty the ash pit
located under the cast iron grate.
Collect the ash in a specially designed recipient (inflammable and fitted with a cover) - the presence of
residual embers can cause a fire.
For safety reasons, it is preferable to store the ashes outside.
Use a soft, dry cloth to clean the metal parts of the fireplace.
Tip: Your ashes can be used as compost for your garden.
Cleaning the bricks
Clean with a brush then apply linseed oil.
Cleaning the steel grate
Rub with household oil to make it shine.
Use an abrasive pad to remove rust.

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2.7.3 Maintenance and Chimney Sweeping
Maintenance
The appliances must be checked at least once a year and repaired if necessary
by a qualified professional.
The chimney connectors must always be maintained in good working order,
their maintenance must be carried out at least once a year.
The fresh air ducts must always be maintained in good working order.
Clean the outside grille allowing fresh air intake (leaves, dust…) at the start of the
heating season and check it periodically throughout the period of use.
Twice a year, vacuum any dust and soot which have collected in the slides
on both sides of the door.
Lubricate the bearings of the door on each side with heat-resistant oil. To
do so, completely lower the door and access the bearings via the
inspection grille.

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Clean the dust filters and grilles of the hood twice a year.
Clean the inside of the installation using a vacuum cleaner or brush in order to eliminate any dust deposits
causing carbonization of dust (dirt around the hot air outlets and on the ceiling) at the start of the heating
season and once during the heating season.

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Check the condition of the door gaskets. Replace them if
necessary.
Spare parts
If you wish to replace parts, broken glass or worn gaskets, contact your fitter, providing the references for
your fireplace.
Chimney sweeping
By chimney sweeping, we mean cleaning by direct mechanical action to the inside wall of the chimney flue
in order to remove soot and deposits to prevent these from catching fire, ensuring that the flue is clear over
its entire length.
Remove the reflectors from the appliance before chimney sweeping the flue
(see page 12).
Chimney sweeping of the installation at least twice a year, including once
during the heating season by a qualified professional company.
A certificate must be issued by the contractor after the work has been
completed.
Flue after chimney sweeping
Flue before chimney sweeping

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Maintenance record table
Date
Chimney sweeping
Cleaning runners
Lubricating chains and pinions
Cleaning filters and grilles
Checking gasket condition
Work carried out by
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2.8 Maintenance record
Model
Date installed
Contact details of installater
Name
Address
Telephone no.
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