45 Years Of Corian

Invented and produced by DuPont, Corian® is a solid surface offering superior design possibilities and excellent long-term performance, used both in the home and in many different commercial environments, from hotels to healthcare, retail to marine.
With its balance of beauty and performance, Corian® lends itself to imaginative uses, innovative designs and enduring applications.
If you can imagine it, you can probably create it with Corian®. Available in over 100 colours, Corian® can be carved, routed or worked like wood, moulded, thermoformed or inlayed… the design options are almost limitless, but enough of the endless possibilities that Corian® can be used for, we're going to look at just one, and one fire manufacturer that have created arguably one of the most popular fires of the last few years.

In April this year Corian® will celebrate it's 45th year. almost half a century of creating everything from kitchen worktops, to pieces of modern art and even gas and electric fires. With this milestone in mind we showcase just how one fire manufacturer showcases this amazing material.
Brilliant Fires are the only manufacturer to take advantage of the versatile material, creating stunning fires from the Brilliant NewDawn-E, a breath-taking electric fire with a flame effect that is totally unique and almost without competition in terms of authentic appearance, to the Ledge suite, combining this stunning material with a beautiful hole-in-the-wall style fireplace

The Brilliant Ledge is a Simple yet chic fireplace design and makes a bold statement without being over the top. Boasting fully automatic remote control as standard and makes a stunning focal point in any room. While the choice of Corian® finishes allows you to choose a colour that contrasts or complements existing decor. The 2.7kW heat output means this fire will give you that warm glow in an evening and help keep that cold edge off long after the central heating has turned off.

Another model in the Brilliant range that showcases a stunning Corian® fascia is the NewDawn and Brilliant NewDawn-E. These stunning fires combine the stunning Corian® fascia of the Ledge and Slab ranges with a simple Hole-In-The-Wall style finish to create a highly desirable finish that can be tempered to your colour scheme.


The micro-chip controlled LED flame effect eliminates the need for ribbons and fans that add to the depth of the fire, meaning the Newdawn-E is a mere 75mm deep, approximately half the depth of a majority of the other electric fires on the market, but this depth doesn't detract from the heat output, offering 2kWof fan heat blowing from the bottom, meaning it may be possible to install underneath a television, but it may be worth double checking with the tv manufacturer first, just to be on the safe side.


All of these fires are available in over 100 different colours of Corian® finishes, allowing you to go for a neutral colour to complement existing decor, or to contrast, creating a bold design statement and drawing maximum attention to your fire.

Manufacture Focus: Cast Tec

Cast Tec has its origins back in 1983 when Managing Director Geoff Moore became a sole trader buying and restoring original cast-iron fireplaces using the family ‘dip & strip’ business premises in North Shields as a base.
Demand for cast-iron fireplaces was very limited in the early 1980’s but with a housing boom looming in the South-East weekly commuting took place to Camden Market in north London to sell fireplaces from an indoor market stall on a weekend.
1984 heralded a small shop unit in Camden Lock called the Victorian Fireplace Co. where original fireplaces purchased in the north-east were sold for 15 years.

1987 saw the restoration and manufacturing side of the business moving to a factory workshop in Washington, Tyne & Wear.
Brian Hart, now Cast Tec’s Operations Director, joined from the company at this time to take on the responsibility for running the workshop.
1990 saw the housing boom turn sour and the recession of the early 1990’s affected trading conditions in the London shop. The response was to open a retail showroom in the Washington premises in the north. Called Grate Expectations, the showroom opened in 1989 and traded for 15 years.
1998 saw the humble beginnings of Cast Tec when it was decided that the Distribution of Reproduction cast-iron fireplaces to the trade would be the way forward. It was the only way supply could meet demand in the future and an approach was made by Britannia Castings which resulted in the exclusive rights for Cast Tec to distribute what became the Portman Collection range of cast-iron products in the UK.
1999 heralded the end of an era with the closure of The Victorian Fireplace Co. shop in Camden Lock due to the increasing difficulty of obtaining original fireplaces with demand outstripping supply.
That year Tony Byrne, who ran the London shop from 1995-99, became the first sales/delivery driver for Cast Tec progressing on to become Sales Director. 
2002 saw Cast Tec become a Limited Company and the following year they gained the exclusive rights to import and distribute the Agnews range of quality cast-iron fireplaces throughout the UK mainland.
2005 saw the established Firemaster name and range of products being brought into the Cast Tec stable on behalf of the Ouzledale Foundry Co. Ltd.
2006 heralded an exciting move for the 20 staff of Cast Tec Ltd. to a new 30,000 sq ft. factory premises inside the Port Of Tyne in South Shields where they have access to the Port’s outstanding facilities.

Hole In The Wall Fires - A Simple Guide

Just over a decade ago a hole-in-the-wall gas fire was almost impossible to find, with most fires stilll following a traditional period design, while looking brilliant and doing a great job at replicating the look of a real fire, will give out very little heat into the room and uses a very large amount of gas.
Oh how the world has changed, we're less than a month into 2012, the Olympic year, and there 99 products on Fireplace Megastore alone under Hole In The Wall Gas Fires, Class 1 and 2. That doesn't include any Balanced flue or Catalytic Flueless fires that further add to the available options.
An incredible number of UK manufacturer's have created designs, as well as European manufacturers such as Drugasar, have introduced or imported an amazing array of gas fires. You can still get the traditional basket style, some of which have been improved to offer a better heat output..

The most basic open-fronted hole-in-the-wall design is open-fronted, much like the Verine Atina, look realistic but at least 90% of all heat disappears up the chimney and research actually indicates that some designs actually remove heat from the room. Realism tends to change proportionally to efficiency. In terms of looks, inset convector fires, are realistic with contemporary surrounding metalwork and open front. Efficiency is far better than an hole-in-the-wall design and typically around 35 – 40%. Most efficient, but not realistic in some people’s view, is the glass-fronted, gas-inset, hole-in-the-wall fire, such as the Drugasar Global 90 or Apex Influence. Its glass front gives efficiencies of 70% plus, particularly when the design utilises a balanced flue (which requires no chimney– Drugasar are one of the principle manufacturers of balanced flue fires). Not all glass fronted designs are balanced flue – chimney flues and fanned flues are also common. Hole-in-the-wall fires are available with all the popular fuel effects.Although coals remain the most popular choice (and the most realistic), logs come a good second with new fuel effects like dancing flames, pebbles, driftwood and twigs also popular. Traditional hole-in-the-wall designs need coal or log effects – the more modern options simply look out of place.

Electrical Designs
There are a growing number of electric hole in the wall design. These have a number of advantages in that they do not need chimneys or other flues, are often quite shallow in depth and may simply hang on the wall. Like most electric fires, a maximum of 2 kW of heat is available from a built-in, fanned convector.Some, such as the Drugasar Metro 80e, are available as the highly contemporary frameless finish, but most offer that simple hang on the wall installation.

Bio-Ethanol

A recent addition to the hole in the wall range of fires available, and besides electric fires amoung the easiest to install. Unlike gas fires they do not require a chimney, flue or vent in the room and provide 100% efficiency. Another advantage of such fires means that unlike gas fires that require a Gas Installer to service the appliance every 12 months, most bioethanol fires feature only 1 moving part so are incredibly reliable.

Surrounds
A hole-in-the-wall fire is not complete without a surround. Although some people like a design that is just a rectangular alcove in the wall, most want the fire to be surrounded with some sort of fireplace. Marble and stone are the favoured materials for the surround and will probably have to be cut to size for your installation. If you use stone, make sure that it does not have a direct flame playing on the stone as some types can degrade dramatically in these conditions. Marble fireplaces can be made out of natural or conglomerate marble. However, conglomerate marble will start to disintegrate at high temperatures and is more suitable for gas fires. Also consider a brick surround. This will have to be tailor made for your fireplace but bricks are a robust hole-in-the-wall material that will stand high levels of thermal shock.

Installation
Hole-in-the-wall installation can be expensive. If you have an existing chimney, your installer will have to
‘break into’ it above the normal fireplace opening. This probably means inserting a lintel above the new opening to support the chimney brickwork. Below the new opening, the brickwork will have to be built up to the level required for your particular design. It is possible to build a false chimney breast for your proposed hole-in-the-wall fire. This would allow a flue to rise vertically from a conventionally-flued gas or solid fuel design and would accommodate the depth of the unit itself. Check with the instructions of the fire you choose as it will stipulate minimum distances that the fire can be sited from combustible materials.Some hole-in-the-wall fires do not require hearths while other do. For gas fires this depends on what was agreed when the fire was tested for conformity to European standards. Check on the requirements for the fire you want to purchase. If a hearth is required, for a open gas fire, it must be at least 50mm thick, overlap the burning area of the fire by at least 150 mm and project at least 300 mm in front of the foremost flames of burning fuel. It can be either mounted directly below the floor or a ground level – the former option is normally unacceptable on aesthetic grounds. Balanced flue hole-in-the-wall fires are growing in popularity, particularly manufacturers such as Drugasar, Site them on an outside wall and you can forget all the problems of moving lintels, etc.

Opening Up Your Fireplace

So you've just moving into a new house or flat and notice there is a chimney breast in your living room but no fireplace! No living room can be complete without a fireplace, both as a focal point and as a compliment to other heating the room, allowing you to turn down the central heating and just enjoy the warmth that a gas, solid fuel or electric fire offers.
Where Do I Start?
To start you'll need to find out if your chimney breast has a fireplace opening. Tap where you thing the fireplace is, or if there is an air-brick, remove it. This will help determine what has been used to block up the opening, whether plasterboard, MDF, timber or block-work.
If you're a competent handy-person you may be able to try and remove the material blocking the opening, but if you find a broken lintel, or no lintel at all, STOP IMMEDIATELY and call in a building professional.
Now I've Made My Opening, Is My Chimney Usable?
Whether the chimney is usable rests entirely on your chimney or flue has a pull, or up- draught, without this there would be no way of drawing the harmful exhaust gases out of the room. (To get an  idea of what flue you have click here)

Most gas fitters, or solid fuel engineers will test the pull of a chimney by using a smoke pellet or match, but you can test this yourself. Try lighting a match, blowing it out near the entrance to the flue, see if the smoke trail is sucked up the chimney.
Ideally you should see the smoke trail be sucked up the chimney, indicating a good pull by the flue. If not, this may be because the flue has been partially or completely blocked, or even removed! Check rooms above or in the loft, the chimney breast should go through those rooms too, a missing chimney breast would need to be rebuilt to re-instate the flue before you could use a conventionally flued appliance.
Although it does not stop you using a catalytic flueless gas fire or a bio-ethanol fire. Another issue may be that the chimney has been capped, head outside (weather permitting) and look up at the chimney, binoculars may be helpful, to see if there is a metal cap on the chimney pots. This cap would need to be removed and providing that the rest of flue is intact then removal of the cap will re-instate the pull of the flue, allowing the freedom to have fires such as the stunning Drugasar Eclipse suite (shown right).
I've done all of the above, but my chimney still has no pull, I think it's blocked.
The best thing to do would be to consult a chimney sweep and see if they can sweep the chimney and clear any blockage. If you're looking to install a wood or solid fuel appliance then most manufacturers recommend having the chimney swept every 6 months, with many stove manufacturers advising that a flue liner be fitted to ensure the flue has a uniform pull.
I've Decided What Fire I Want, Can I Fit It Myself?
No, Simple As That. Gas fires must be fitted by an installer registered with Gas Safe, likewise any solid fuel appliance must be fitted by a HETAS registered engineer. Both of these are legal requirements and doing it yourself may make it very difficult to sell the property, or worse, could seriously endanger your life.

Interior Design Trends For 2012 - Industrial

Our final piece on upcoming Interior Design Trends for 2012 is Industrial. Our final trend has the potential to be the most popular of all. The Industrial or Utilitarian furniture has the ability to instantly add a designer feel to almost any living space. This is displayed perfectly right in a modern bar. The bare metal and brick walls combined with the antique wood finish complete the industrial look.
We can now look into just a few ways you can create that look with a fire or fireplace. To either contrast existing decor and create that focal point, or to combine with other items in the same style to truly give the whole room that Industrial/Utilitarian feel.

Our first suggestion follows the stripped back, functional ideals of the Industrial design trend. The new T3 range of Burley stoves, consisting of the Holywell, Brampton, Debdale and the Wakerley. These stoves are incredibly efficient, with the claim that 100kg of seasoned logs can be burnt so efficiently that all the ash could fit into just a single pint glass!

You won't find any unnecessary styling features on these stoves which means all the attention is drawn to the incredibly large glass window showcasing the Cyclone(TM) flame picture.
The simple plate steel styling and wooden handles complement each other nicely and would not look out of place in any living space, or industrial workshop for that matter. Further proving just how perfect these stoves are to create the Industrial look.

While most wood-burning stoves will boast primary, second and tertiary combustion to create very efficient appliances the Burley T3 range of stoves offer the previously unheard of Quaternary combustion. Meaning even less unburnt fuel can be wasted up the chimney and giving you yet more heat for your fuel!

These stoves are NOT available online to purchase, however why not give Fireplace Megastore a call, one of Burley's biggest dealers in the UK and place an order for one of these truly revolutionary stoves!

Our final, but by no means our least favourite suggestion is the Apex Rivas 60 or Rivas 100 gas fire from Apex. Offering a stunning twin level trim available in 5 different finishes from the industrial brushed stainless steel to the incredibly contemporary polished chrome finish. The realistic log or pebble fuel effect can offer both the traditional or contemporary fuel effect.
The heat output of 5.5kW with a high efficiency of up to 75% means that you can heat your room, without heating the outside world at the same time!
As you can see (right) when combined with other industrialist elements in the room, or it can be used as a focal point on a chimney breast to heat your living room on those cold wintery nights!

Interior Design Trends For 2012 - Victoriana

In our second entry on design trends for 2012 we look at Victoriana. Family life revolved around the fireplace, hot water would come from the stove, almost all heat came exclusively from the fireplace with the Cast Iron "Victorian" radiator not becoming commonplace until the very late 19th Century.
No Victorian style living room would be complete without the traditional fireplace, so in this entry we shall suggest some of the very best ideas to complete that Victoriana finish. Forget the over-furnished rooms and heavy drapes. While traditional and would give the Victorian finish, they are a little bit over the top for our liking.
Our first suggestion is part of the Premier range from Cast Tec, The Cast Tec Dublin Cast Iron Insert with  the Harton Cast Iron Surround. The traditional Victorian finish is displayed in the quality antique finish and complements the matt black and highlight polished areas of the Harton fireplace surround.
Available with either gas, electric or solid fuel means this fire is suitable for anyone, whether you have a chimney or not:

• Gas fire with a maximum heat input of 6.9kW with natural gas as standard and is suitable for class 1 or 2 flues
• Electric fire that comes with two heat settings of 900W & 1800W which is controlled by a remote control as standard, top venting fire with LED effect and adjustable height
• Solid fuel kit which comes complete with fret, ashpan, grate and operating tool. Capable of burning wood peat, and other smokeless fuels

The Dublin & Harton could be used just to give that Victorian highlight and a focal point, or, as pictured in conjunction with other furniture in the room to create a stunning theme that can be the basis for a beautiful home.

Our next suggestion is another cast-iron combination, This time from Carron. The Lambourn Cast-Iron Combination features traditional Victorian styling, that just like the Cast Tec Dublin would create an ideal talking point in any room. The detailing on the mantle and the canopy both add to the effect, while the choice of solid fuel, natural gas or LPG mean that you can have that stunning center-piece, while the choice of tiles means that you can cater the apperaance to your existing decor.

Both of the above fireplaces would create that a stunning Victorian feel to any room, rarely was any piece of furniture not adorned with accessories, pieces were carefully positioned for maximum impact.  Pick lighting, throws and cushions with needlepoint detailing, lampshades with intricate patterns; mini statuettes and even faux stuffed animals to complete that Victoriana look.

Interior Design Trends For 2012

With 2011 now in the record books, with a much warmer winter than previous years. Many of you may have elected to stick with that tired old fire. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is the phrase that springs to mind and rightfully so, why should you spend a large amount of money on a brand new fire, often following trends that less than three months later are 'so last year'. 
So in the following few entries, with the help of Channel 4 Homes, we will details some of the upcoming trends for 2012 and how to get that 'bang-on-trend' fire, fireplace or stove.


Mid-Century Modern
We've long been fans of this look and despite its mainstream popularity for the past two or three years, its popularity is still not dying down. If anything, it is becoming even more popular. With fashions returning that first became popular in the 50's/60's/70's.
The first fire we suggest to create that Mid-Century modern look is the Smeg L30FAB flueless gas fire. This stunning flueless gas fire is available in four different colours, ranging from the bold red pictured above to Cream, Silver & Black. With a heat output of 2.6kW and 100% efficiency this fire can serve both as a bold fashion statement and as an incredibly efficient complimentary heat source for your living room, dining room or kitchen! 
For a more 70's look the why not combine the Brilliant NewDawn fire, available in both gas and electric with some retro wall paper to create a focal point on a chimney breast. Shown on the left in Hot Corian to match the bright red leather of a sofa. There is a lovely corner group available from House2Home Megastore.
Both these fires would be perfect to create that Mid-Century Modern trend that will become "Hot" property in 2012. 

One final fire to create that Mid-Century Modern look is the Apex Saverno with Art Deco Trim. While the Art Deco movement became popular in the 1920's, it was still prevalent throughout the mid-20th Century. This Stunning fire with simple horizontal detailing and contrast between the brushed steel and matt black fascia levels offers an eye-catching focal point. These fires also have the simplicity, unlike gas fires that mean they can be simply wall mounted, such as electric fires and then used without a flue, chimney or vent. 
With more and more high street stores are embracing the look running with it in their ranges - from furniture and wallcoverings, right through to accessories, so you can match your fire to your decor and create that incredibly desirable mid-century modern look.

Bio Ethanol Fires

Following the emerging success of bio ethanol fires in 2011 they look set to become even more popular, sure to be one of the ‘must have’ items of 2012. This is because they are real or live flame fires that burn having no dangerous fumes emitted. This allows a real fire to be achieved in homes where it was never thought possible. Because bio ethanol fires do not need a flue, or expensive fitting and annual servicing, they burn a gel type fuel that is made from renewable sources and very popular around the world, yet fairly new to the UK.

Many existing fire companies are now investing their efforts into creating bio ethanol fires, which will only makes them more affordable and desirable. Some of the designs are extremely innovative, mainly because no consideration for the flue is required and will create an ornate feature in your home or garden even when not in use.

Bio ethanol fires also have a market in the garden sector as well as home, and citronella fuel is available for your outdoor fire to help ward off those insects. They are a great way of keeping the garden party going once the BBQ has gone out, or an impressive way to light an entrance path or drive to your home.

Bio ethanol fires look great, are easy to use and effective with little maintenance required, how could something with such great attributes not be a phenomenal success?

Hot Property For 2012

With just a week left in 2011, and with our first snowfall across most of the UK last week, most people, along with ourselves are focusing on 2012. We thought we'd take a look at some of the things that we forsee becoming 'hot' property for 2012.

Bio-Ethanol Fires: 
These  eco-friendly and incredibly simple and elegant fires are becoming more and more popular with energy prices rising and installation, servicing and other costs of gas and soli-fuel appliances to consider Bio-Ethanol are beginning to become the appliance of choice for both heat and a stunning flame effect. While the fact that most bio-ethanol fires only feature one moving part which means there is almost nothing to go wrong with the fire. This means an end to expensive engineer/gas fitter visits and an end to struggling to find spare parts.


Other amazing feature is that some of the fires are portable, allowing for use both indoors during the colder nights or using Citronella Gel outside during the summer to provide that amazing ambience while keeping the insects away. While some people claim that the Bio-Ethanol costs an arm & a leg, most larger internet retailers are able to sell larger quanities at substanitally cheaper prices to that of a local showroom or garden centre.

You can find an incredible selection of  bio-ethanol fires; portable, freestanding and wall-mounted from the House 2 Home Megastore


Stoves In Colour:

With stoves becoming more and more popular as the idea of carbon-neutral heating and reduced fuel bills becomes more mainstream most people will start looking into purchasing a wood-burning or multifuel stove.
The general consensus of the market is matt black cast iron or steel is the only available colour. But why settle with just matt black?
With manufacturer's such as Firebelly or Carron offer many more colours, while Carron offer enamel colours that may chip or discolour due to heat Firebelly offer a wide variety of colours or heat resistant paint that are hard-wearing and can be touched up. Combined with the optional Stainless steel legs as pictured can give you an incredibly unique stove.

Drugasar Fires:
Drugasar fires are set to become the must-have gas fires. With the Global Range being an incredibly high quality range of gas fires for Chimney's & balanced flue systems that are also much more affordable than some other similar fires on the market. With the Eclipse, Aura, Cara & Grace suites also set to become more and more popular. The Ceraglass interior has also become a must-have, with not many other fires offering such a contemporary finish.
“We develop products that continuously meet the highest stipulations and as such retain the level of quality we are used to. Where homes are becoming increasingly better insulated, we offer products for example that still delievr a lovely fire but with less capacity," 

Does Your Stove Work For You?

 When many people think of a wood burning stove they imagine it heating only one area of the house. However with a little planning and initial disruption, your wood burning stove could heat the entire home, whilst saving a fortune on electric and gas.
Some stoves can be fitted with a back burner that means as you light your stove the hot water tank heats up, from the energy created and fills your radiators with eco fuel that keeps every room in the house toasty warm.
Although initially fitting a wood burning stove with a back boiler can be more disruptive than simply attaching a stove to a chimney, this is an ideal way to heat the home for less, and ensures you get the full benefit of all that heat without opening doors in the home to let the heat travel through.
Even the incredibly contemporary wood-burning stoves such as Firebelly (We found the best prices here) can be ordered and built with an optional back-boiler, and in the 18 different colours you're sure to be able to find a colour you love.
Before back boilers wood burning stoves were huge heavy things, that would be used for cooking, drying clothes, heating water and the home, however just because times have changed and we now rely on oil and gas, it doesn’t mean we can’t learn a thing or two from our ancestors.
Range Cookers, more commonly called Aga's after the brand that made them so successful, are strongly back in fashion, and whilst at the beginning of the twentieth century these were thrown out with the rubbish, now they cost a pretty penny and are a must have for any designer kitchen. Manufacturer's such as Broseley have created some stunning Range Cookers, that allow you to enjoy the warm glow as well as being able to do almost anything. Unlike the Aga's that have hidden everything behind heavy metal doors.
Your wood burning stove can perform the same jobs as an Aga, as there are now so many on the market with extras, that the past is coming into the future.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, scour antique shops and reclamation yards, they will have the old type of wood burning stove that can easily be transformed with an expert hand. These older stoves will have special compartments at the side- a single cast iron cupboard, where you can place slippers to warm or even leave bread to rise. This creates not only warmth in the home, but a delicious smell too, and makes sure that in these winter months there really is no place like our own abode.
If planning a home renovation and the kitchen or study adjoins the lounge, another idea for an open plan feel is to remove the wall where the wood burning stove will go. Some stoves will have glass on both sides, so each room can feel the benefit of the flames as they lick you into a state of relaxed happiness.
With all these features, there’s only one worry left when buying your wood burning stove, how to keep a stockpile of wood big enough! Try growing your own fast growing trees, some only take a year to grow, and as one is chopped down replace with another secure in the knowledge that you really are going green with your energy!

What Is LPG?

Liquefied petroleum gas (also called LPG, GPL, LP Gas, or liquid propane gas) is a flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gases used as a fuel in heating appliances and vehicles.
 LPG is composed primarily of propane and butane, while natural gas is composed of the lighter methane and ethane. LPG, vaporised and at atmospheric pressure, has a higher calorific value (94 MJ/m³ equivalent to 26.1kWh/m³) than natural gas (methane) (38 MJ/m³ equivalent to 10.6 kWh/m³), which means that LPG cannot simply be substituted for natural gas.

Predominantly in rural parts of the UK, LPG can provide an alternative to electricity and heating oil. LPG is most often used where there is no access to piped natural gas.LPG can be stored in a variety of ways. LPG, as with other fossil fuels, can be combined with renewable power sources to provide greater reliability while still achieving some reduction in CO₂ emissions. But just because you are restricted to LPG does not mean you cannot have an attractive an efficienct heating appliance. One website has over 200 different fires, fire baskets, stoves and wall heaters capable of running on LPG. Everything from the versatile yet stylish Drugasar Style range of balanced flue wall heaters, ideal for community buildings, warehouses or even office spaces to the incredibly stylish and affordable Verine Atina XL with cream stone fascia for designer living.
More traditional items are also available in LPG such as the Esse 500 Flueless gas stove, combining a traditionally cast iron body with the latest in Catalytic Flueless gas fire technology to create a stove that requires no flue while giving up an impressive 3.3kW of heat.
So while using LPG may restrict your options slightly it doesnt mean you can't have the fire of your dreams and spent many a cold wintery night in front of it and enjoying the ambience only a living flame can bring.

Manufacturer Focus: BFM Europe

In this edition of manufacturer focus we look at probably one of the largest manufacturer's in the industry, BFM Europe. Producers of Verine, Flavel, Kinder, Portway and Celsi fires, producing everything from the Portway Steel and Cast Iron Stoves and the traditional Flavel Outset Gas Fires, to more contemporary gas and electric fires such as the Verine Carmelo HE, Kinder Limours and not forgetting the incredibly popular Celsi electric fires.
With both manufacture and design facilities at thier Stoke-On-Trent location BFM Europe has grown into one of the fastest growing manufacturer's in the country, with an increasing reputation for quality and service. With all the brands offering a minimum of 12 months warranty, with Flavel offering 3 years, Verine 5 years and Kinder offering 7 years warranty. Showing just how much faith they have in their products. 

The company is based in Stoke-on-Trent with a 51,000 sq ft purpose built plant, housing the most up-to-date manufacturing, sales and training facilities in the industry, including:

• The latest CNC sheet metal technology that guarantees precision engineering.
• An experienced R&D department, constantly developing innovative products and pushing the boundaries of technology and aesthetics.
• A purpose built laboratory for testing prototypes and pre-production models.

"At BFM Europe we know how important it is to create a stylish and relaxing living environment. That's why we have developed this collection of fires and stoves to suit all tastes and purposes. I believe our success stems from a combination of innovative design, investment in technology and the highest quality manufacturing standards. This website has been designed to make the purchase of your new fire as simple as possible. I hope you find it both informative and inspiring." Michael Miller, Managing Director

Gas, A Clean Fuel

There is a great deal of debate about fuels, ranging from Carbon pollution, cost of extraction and the effect on the environment. Gas is and always will be a very clean fuel. For example, when burning wood or similar solid fuel, small particles will be released (smoke). These are unburnt parts of fuel which are then wasted, you will also be left with waste by-products (ash).But when burning gas there are no particles released and your flue system stays, more or less, clean at all times.

Gas systems also allow you to easliy regulate the temperature in the house. With DRU gas fires this is all done via a Thermostatic remote control. All their systems are calibrated in the factory to ensure your fire runs as efficiently as possible. Wasting as little energy as possible and ensuring the maximum amount of heat is coming into the property rather than heating the outside world.

Gas is also, per kWh one of the cheapest sources of energy. It's no wonder really, why more and mroe consumers, both across the UK & Europe are choosing efficient, clean and attractive gas fires designed by Drugasar.

Adding to the appeal of DRU gas fires is that Europe is rich with gas, ourselves in the UK, as well as Norway, Holland and Russia all benefit from large reserves of gas, with expectations that further large reserves will be discovered in the future. Products such as gas fireplaces are becoming more and more efficienct, with up to 87% efficiency on the Metro 130. And with increasing advances in insulation, less and less heat is required to heat our homes. It is expected that for at least the next 100 years we will have sufficient gas reserves. However that does not mean we can take it for granted. This is also why Drugasar are always researching more and more techniques to extract more heat from the gas energy. One such addition is the MaxVent system popular with the Global range of gas fires. The complete Drugasar Range Of Gas Fires are available from Fireplace Megastore

Drugasar Explain The Balanced Flue System

The balanced flue system is the technology behind most DRU gas fires and gas wall heaters. DRU engineers from the Netherlands invented the system in the 1930s. It has since become the industry standard for high efficiency and performance. Many companies have copied the original system, but none have been able to match the superior standards that are the hallmark of DRU products.

So what is the balanced flue system and how does it benefit your home or workplace?

Comfortable and efficient

Most conventional gas fires have an open-fronted fireplace that is inset into a standard sized chimney. The air that the fire uses to create its flames is drawn from inside your living room and waste products are expelled up the chimney. (See drawing 1)

So while this kind of fire may be pleasing to the eye, it may not be so kind to your breathing or your bank balance! It requires constant ventilation to keep it burning (ever heard the saying ‘It’s stuffy in here’?). And because of this it consumes more energy and fuel than you can reasonably afford.

In contrast, a balanced flue gas fire is room-sealed using a glass front. It has a sophisticated flue that uses natural convection to draw the air from outside the building for combustion and expels it back to the outside through a separate compartment of the flue. (See drawing 2)

So there is no loss of comfort and minimal fuel consumption. And because the fire is not open at the front it is much safer to use.

No chimney – no problem

DRU balanced flue fires and wall heaters can be installed with or without a conventional chimney.

If there is no chimney in your home, the flue can be fitted through an outside wall or through the roof. It is possible for the flue to be 4 metres long horizontally or 10 metres high vertically. So you have a great deal of flexibility when deciding where to locate your fire.

If, on the other hand, you would like to have all the advantages of balanced flue technology, combined with the aesthetic appeal of a traditional chimney, this can be done! All you will need is a special flue liner installed in your chimney, using the chimney shaft to replicate the balanced flue effect.

A further advantage of this is that your fire can be installed in the classic way, using a fire surround to look like a traditional fireplace. Alternatively it can be mounted further up the chimneybreast as a ‘hole-in-the-wall’ or ‘hanging’ fire.

Either way, you will enjoy the combination of a beautiful fire that uses modern, efficient technology to bring you endless comfort and pleasure.

For the full range of Drugasar Fires, ideal for almost any home,with or without a chimney visit http://www.fireplacesupermarket.com/drugasar

Advise On Installing A Gas Fires

Acquisitions X-Fire 1200

All Gas Fires must be installed and serviced by a GAS SAFE Registered Engineer. The Engineer will survey your property and ensure that all requirements of the Installation Manual are met to ensure your fire is installed correctly and safely. All GAS SAFE Engineers are regularly audited by GAS SAFE to ensure they are working in line with current regulations.

We recommend that all gas fires are serviced every 12 months. This should be done regardless of how often the fire is used. There are number of issues which can effect a fire functioning correctly and safety - blockages in the gas pipes, gas leaks, chimney blockages etc.

It is easy to blame the gas fire when it fails to function however a very large amount of claims are not related to the gas fire. When a gas fire does not operate, the problem can be nothing to do with a fault within the gas fire. Below are some very common causes which will stop a gas fire functioning. Before making any claims please check these site related issues are not causing the problems. This will eliminate costly call out charges.

Drugasar Eclipse Suite

1. Gas Pressure - a common cause of a gas fire shutting down while it is operating is that the gas pressure is not correct. This problem can be more noticeable when switching on other gas appliances within the property like boilers etc. A drop in pressure will mean that the safety device on fire will shut the fire down to protect you. Contact Transco or your gas supplier regarding upgrading your gas pipe work.
2. Chimney Draw Is Too Strong - the draw on the chimney is causing the pilot flame to lift away from the thermocouple making the safety device to shut the fire down - Contact a flue specialist
3. Chimney Draw Is Too Weak - the draw is not strong enough, this could be because the chimney has become blocked, causing the fire to spill hazardous fumes into the room. This is very dangerous. The safety device senses the amount of oxygen in the air and will shut the fire down. - Contact a flue specialist.
4. No Power - A remote control fire needs a power source. If it is powered by a mains supply has the fuse blown or the power switched off? - Contact an electrician. If it is battery powered - check and change the batteries.
5. Incorrect Installation - All gas fires are supplied with an installation manual. This shows how to fit the fire in line with the manufacturer's instructions and the CE approval to ensure it is safe. Ensure you have a copy of the Installation Manual before starting to install a fire. The warranty will be invalid if the fire has been wrongly installed. When a fire is installed by a GAS SAFE Registered Engineer he will issue you a certificate showing the work that has been done and confirming that it is safe.
6. Flueless Fires - Flueless Fires have an excellent safety record. If a Flueless Fire shuts down after running for a number of minutes check all ventilation requirements have been met before operating the fire again. A vast majority of fires have a ODS unit fitted which will shut the fire down if the oxygen levels in the room reach a dangerous level.

REMEMBER - ALWAYS USE A REGISTERED GAS SAFE ENGINEER FOR ALL GAS FIRE INSTALLATION AND SERVICING WORK ASK TO SEE THE ENGINEERS REGISTRATION CARD AND IF IN DOUBT PHONE GAS SAFE.

Find a fantastic selection of Fires, Fireplaces, Stoves and much more from the likes of Fireplace Megastore, Fireworld, Fireplace Supermarket with House2Home Megastore also boasting a growing range of fires.

Evonic Fires: Manufacturer Focus

Evonic Fires is a brand of CK Fires, situated just outside of Stratford-Upon-Avon, Birthplace of none other the Shakesphere himself and surrounded by culture and history, you can find Evonic Fires on the banks of the river avon.

Evonic Fires have been working hard to bring you one of the widest choices of quality electric fires, built in Britain and exclusively available through retail outlets so you wont find them for sale from any online only companies. Evonic Fires belieive, as do many fire & fireplace retailers, that to get the best service and to truly get the fire you are looking for requires face-to-face interaction with a highly trained member of showroom staff. You can truly pick their brains as it were to get the knowledge, facts and most importantly the most informed choice when it comes to choosing your fire.

The Evonic Fires range includes both inset and wall mounted fires alongside electric stoves, utilising the latest technologies in 3D LED technology  which produce arguably one of the most beautiful flame effects for just £1.00 per year.

Alongside the wonderful products such as the Endeavour 3D, Euphoria, Pioneer and Discovery 3D Evonic Fires also offer peace of mind, offering a 2 year warranty instead of the statutory 12 months offered by most.

Available from all good independent showroom retailers, including Fireplace Megastore, support the British ecomony in these tough times and buy British.

High-Efficiency Fires Help Gas Bills Fall By 2 Percent

According to British Gas, average gas bills fell 2% in the first three months of 2010, despite the coldest winter for a generation. The average gas bill – between January and March of this year – for the 8m homes supplied by the company fell to £373, compared to £381 in the same period of 2009.

A large part of the reason for this is that consumers are increasingly seeing the benefits of installing more efficient central heating boilers and gas fires. For example, if you have an open fronted gas fire that is over 5 years old, it could be as little as 25% efficient, using as much as 9.45kW of energy to generate only 2.4kW of heat, with the rest of the heat going straight up your chimney.Fireplace Supermarket's latest gas fires, such as the innovative Apex Capacious and Verine Orbis models are contributing towards this gas efficiency trend. They are incredibly energy efficient of up to 89% so under 5kW of gas being used to put 4kW of heat into your living room. This means that by upgrading your old open fronted gas fire to a high efficiency glass fronted fire, you can save 57% on your gas fuel costs and have 46% more heat.

Crystal Fires Montana High Efficiency Gas Fire

Wow Crystal Fires release a stunning HE (high efficiency) gas fire called the Montana, and is set to light up the showroom (and Internet) sales across the UK.
Here at Fires/Fireplaces/Stoves we love supporting the UK manufacturers and the great thing about Crystal Fires is they make it easy for us to do just that by producing high quality fires time and time again.
The Montana HE gas fire is an inset glass fronted gas fire, it has similar looks and design to the other Crystal fires on sale, however Crystal boast that their high efficiency Montana has the same high heat output as the extremely popular Crystal fires Gem (4.2kW) but consumes only half the gas input, which means the same heating for half the cost!......superb.
The Montana comes with a selection of finishes, the standard HE version allows a traditional trim with a choice finishing effects and trims, but you can opt for a modern styled fire by having a majestic or contemporary crystal fires fascia, which still provides the same stunning operational figures. The option for a remote with the Montana is available, but I fear the additional cost may put many people off, however if your going to have a really cool high efficiency, highly effective gas fire I'd get the remote if you can afford to just because it finishes off this classy fire perfectly.
Great job crystal fires, and we look forward to the next product update.

New Legend Open-Fronted HE Fires

Legend Fires have released the new Virage range, a range of open fronted, high-efficiency gas fires, taking all the best bits of the already popular Vantage range and combining it with the high-effiency of the Evora range to create the new Virage fires.

These new open fronted gas fires offer a maximum heat output of 4.6kWand efficiency of up to 68%, these open fronted gas fires give a similar efficiency rating to that of a glass fronted fire, but without a glass front, which can be viewed as a major advantage over the glass fronted fires.
You don't have to worry about cleaning glass that has condensation marks and no reflections from the glass possible detracting from the look of the overall fire.

The Virage range are available in three different styles, the Virage HE, Virage Contemporary HE and the Virage HE 4 Sided gas fires. These fires are all avaiable in Brass, Polished Chrome and Black with the choice of five different fuel effects, choose from the standard coals, pebbles with the options of a new ripped coal fuel effect as well as the choice of modular coals or pebbles.

The Virage HE 4 Sided gas fire looks stunning with the polished chrome trim with coal fuel effect and black outer trim, the beautiful contrast between the polished chrome, the black interior and exterior trim, especially when placed on a white or pale coloured wall really makes the fire stand out. The picture right shows the fire on a feature chimney breast in a plain white finish, contrasting the feature wallpaper either side, really drawing attention to the fire.

Comes with Manual rotary control as standard with additional extra Slide or Remote control, Suitable for Class 1 chimney's & class 2 prefabricated flues running Natural gas only available and with Depth of 195mm fully inset, the Legend Virage Range of High Efficiency Convector fires are a must for those looking to save energy but not interested in having a glass front on their fire.

Now available from all good fireplace retailers such as Fireplace Megastore, Fireplace Supermarket & Fireworld

Buy British: Fires & Stoves

These are troubling times for Britain's manufacturing sector, once a relative bright spot in the country's lacklustre recovery, which contracted at its fastest pace in more than two years in October, as new orders plummeted.

But at a time when the weather is closing in and people are looking to replace their fire or stove, many will simply head down to their local DIY or home-improvement store and buy an off-the-shelf stove or fire. However there is quite a high likelihood that these stoves and fires were built overseas, while there may be nothing wrong with stoves and fires, they may serve and satisfy all your heating needs. 

However it is always nice to know exactly where your stove or fire has been built. In this article we have a look at some of the most popular British products on the market and have a look into where they are created.

The Portway 2 Multi fuel stove is a contemporary steel stove which features a large viewing window and is exceptionally easy to operate.

With a choice of 2 stove colours; charcoal or black, and 3 leg heights this is a highly versatile stove.

Features: 

• Exemption from the Clean Air Act 1993 and suitable for smokeless zones as recommended by DEFRA
• Top or rear 125mm (5”) flue connection
• Simple operating controls
• Airwash to keep the glass window clean and clear
• Easy access, easy carry ashpan
• Tough, 5mm thick steel stove body
• Cast iron door and grates 

You can also choose to customise your stove with our range of decorative window inserts or vitreous enamel doors in Ruby Red or Arctic Grey.

The Portway Range of stoves are built by BFM Europe, the company is based in Stoke-on-Trent with a 51,000 sq ft purpose built plant, housing the most up-to-date manufacturing, sales and training facilities in the industry, including the latest sheet metal technology, R&D department and purpose built laboratories.
The Portway range are showroom exclusive, meaning you CANNOT purchase them online, however you can view and purchase the stove from Fireplace Megastore

Paragon & Matchless are both part of Charlton & Jenrick, startedby two friends in 1986 and based in Telford they produce a wide range of gas and electric fires, ranging from the stunning Chorus hole in the wall gas fire to the Quartet balanced flue fire and a stunning range of electric fires. Twenty four years later the Charlton & Jenrick Group moved into new premises, although just a stones throw from the original premises, are very substantially larger at 42,000sqft. It will be home to the group's gas fire manufacturing and product development operations, which employs 43 people.
The group is now a major player in the fireplace market employing over 120 staff across 3 sites in the UK and sales in excess of £12m. With it's 4 main brands, Katell, Paragon, Fireline & Matchless they are involved in almost all product groups including gas and electric fires, timber, marble & stone fireplaces and suites plus wood burning stoves.  

This high efficiency balanced flue fire is the Verine Marcello balanced flue gas fire, perfect for modern homes without a chimney or flue and features a natural stone fuel bed. The Marcello can be wall hung or inset into most external walls with stainless steel trim.

This stunning gas fire is almost unique in that it can be hung on the wall or inset so not to protrude into the room. While boasting a massive 87% efficiency meaning you wont be wasting energy while heating your living room, boasting 4.2kW of heat output, enough for even some of the larger living spaces

Much like The Portway Range of stoves, The Verine Marcello is built by BFM Europe, the company is based in Stoke-on-Trent with a 51,000 sq ft purpose built plant, housing the most up-to-date manufacturing, sales and training facilities in the industry, including the latest sheet metal technology, R&D department and purpose built laboratories.

The cheapest we found it was at Fireworld HERE