Esse 301
CAST-IRON
INSET SOLID FUEL
ROOMHEATER
CAPABLE OF INSTALLATION IN
STANDARD BRITISH or IRISH
FIREPLACE OPENINGS
CONFORMING TO BS1251 &
BS8303
INSTALLATION AND OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
LEAVE THIS DOCUMENT WITH THE HOUSEHOLDER!
Intermittent burning solid fuel roomheater for installation in masonry
fireplace with a single dedicated chimney.
With the door closed, burning dry wood logs at 1.21 kg per hour with flue
draught of 12Pa, primary air-control spinwheel 2mm open, secondary
(airwash) air ¾ open. (Estimated performance)
Mean flue temperature 340°C
Mean CO in flue (as if at 13% O2) 0.7%
Efficiency 71%
Maximum Output 4.41kW (15,000Btu)
Minimum air space around fire Back = 0mm, Sides + Top = 100mm
Minimum clearance to combustible Top: 400mm
materials All other faces: 250mm
Manufactured by Esse Engineering
The Ouzledale Foundry, Long Ing, Barnoldswick, Lancashire BB18 6BN, England
www.esse.com
Read these instructions! Use only recommended fuels!
This document, when completed by the installer, constitutes a 'Hearth Notice' for purposes of the England and Wales
Building Regulations 2000. It must be left with the householder and placed where it can easily be found.
APPLIANCE SERIAL NUMBER:
The serial number is fixed to the outside packaging
INSTALLED AT LOCATION: Flue Draught
measured on
commissioning:
BY: Pa
Fuel used on
commissioning
SIGNED: DATE:
Who certifies that this installation is safe, has been demonstrated to the
householder, conforms with current building regulations and with these
instructions
TO FIND A QUALIFIED INSTALLER, FUEL SUPPLIER or CHIMNEY SWEEP, CONTACT:
UK: The Solid Fuel Association, 7 Swanwick Court, Alfreton, Derbyshire DE55 7AS Tel:0845-601-4406 www.solidfuel.co.uk
RoI: Irish Nationwide Fireplace Organisation, 162 Capel Street, Dublin 1 Tel:01-801-5959 www.fireplace.ie
1
Welcome to your new Esse...
...and to joining the illustrious tribe of Esse fire-keepers. Over our century-and-a-half, Esse stoves have been the choice of
Florence Nightingale, Captain Scott, Mrs Beeton, Auguste Escoffier, Fred Dibnah, and most of the Royal Families of Europe.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN ... CHIMNEY SWEEPING
This document is a guide to installing and using the Esse 301 Although it is often possible to sweep the chimney through the fire
stove, the installer must understand and comply with all local, with the throat plate removed, consider fitting cleaning hatches to
national and European standards and regulations. provide access if needed.
FITTING FRAME
THIS APPLIANCE BECOMES EXTREMELY HOT AND A cast-iron fitting frame is
CAN PRODUCE POISONOUS GASES. available for additional
A fire-guard should be used if children or the infirm are protection or to enhance
present. The installer is required to EXACTLY follow
these instructions and to comply with all local, national
and applicable international standards.
ASBESTOS: The Esse 301 does not contain asbestos, but take
care to avoid disturbing any asbestos in old installations.
WEIGHT The Esse 301 is heavy (80+ kg) - protect your spine by appearance.
moving the stove only with assistance. Ensure that the intended
fireplace can support this weight- consider fitting a load distributing FITTING TO FLUE PIPE
plate if necessary. OR LINERS
CHIMNEY FIRES: In the rare event of a chimney fire where soot A round flue-pipe adaptor (A) is
deposits inside the flue ignite - identified by a roaring sound and available to connect to the 301 to
dense clouds of smoke and sparks exiting the top of the chimney - standard 150mm flue pipe. The
immediately close the door of your 301, shut the air controls and adaptor can be sealed to the pipe
call the fire brigade. Prevent fires by having your chimney swept at or liner with fire cement before
least annually, or more often if smoky fuels are used. inserting the stove in its fireplace,
the adaptor is then screwed to the
YOUR CHIMNEY... stove outlet from inside.
creates the draught which makes your Esse 301 work - it must:
•Generate a draught in use of at least 12Pa (0.05ins wg)
•Be capable of withstanding the temperatures generated. FITTING: THE 'ENGLISH' METHOD
•Be incapable of leaking fumes into the dwelling The Esse 301 can fit straight into a standard fireplace conforming
•Be capable of being swept though its entire length. to BS1251 & BS8303, which will:
This will commonly be achieved by it: Have an opening width (A) of between 400 and 420mm,
•Being at least 5m high. An opening height (B) of between 540 and 560mm,
•Terminating at least 1m above any roof ridge. A flat area (C) extending 70mm around the opening
•Having an internal cross-section not less than 0.018m² (eg Have a heat-resistant hearth extending at least 300mm (D),
150mm dia) and never more than 0.14m² (eg 375 x 375mm) without obstructions to prevent the door opening.
•Being free from even the slightest crack or source of leakage. (Where thin slabs of mineral material (marble, limestone etc) are
•Having no bends sharper than 45 degrees. used to face a fireplace, we recommend using 5 separate panels,
•Being entirely free of obstructions and swept by a qualified as shown, to allow for differential expansion.)
chimney sweep.
•Being connected only to this one appliance.
•Being of masonry or otherwise adequately insulated.
•Conforming to local building regulations.
Special rules apply where the flue passes through timber, thatch or
other vulnerable materials- take specialist advice.
AIR SUPPLY
Your Esse needs fresh air to breathe - there MUST be a
permanent, unobstructed, air supply from the outside into the room
in which the fire is installed equal to at least 15cm². An extractor
fan, or another fuel-using appliance, even in a different room, can
remove this air. We, (and the England and Wales Building
Remove the round flue-pipe adaptor, if supplied. Insert the stove in
Regulations) assume that an appliance with an output below 5kW
can be served by air leaking in through poorly-fitting doors,the fireplace opening, ensuring that the rope (a) forms an
absolutely airtight seal against the fireplace. In some cases it may
windows etc., but in any case of doubt, fit a purpose-made air
vent. be necessary to knock-out part of the old fireback (E).
Secure the stove with screws into the hearth through the hole in
FITTING the front (or inside in some models) the base of the fire (c) and
The location into which your 301 is fitted must always: either of the chimney clamp (d) or two screws through the holes at
•Have no combustible materials (such as a wooden surround) upper left and right of the fire opening (e). (We don't supply screws
within 250mm of the stove sides or 400mm above as they need to be chosen to suit the base material.) If the
•Be made of materials able to continuously withstand 250ºC chimney clamp is too long, it can be cut down with a hacksaw, if
•Have 100mm of free space around the stove front for air to too short, extra lengths of M10 threaded rod are available from
circulate. hardware shops. The 301 is double-cased - it is not necessary to
fill any small gap behind the appliance – larger gaps can be filled
with rubble, vermiculite granules or mineral fibre.
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CHECK THE INSTALLATION !
Once installed, light the fire, demonstrate it to the householder and
check that:
1) It burns controllably and does not emit fumes to the room
2) The route for gases from the stove to the chimney terminal is
completely airtight, unobstructed and able to be swept.
3) The entire construction is of durable fireproof materials.
4) Measure the flue draught – it must be at least 12Pa in use.
LIVING WITH A 301
Every fuel, chimney and condition of use is different. Only
experience will show which are the best settings for you.
LIGHTING If you're lighting the fire after a period of non-use, do
check the chimney for blockages first! Empty the ashes. Place two
or three firelighters close together, or screwed-up paper covered
with dry sticks, at the back of the grate and light them. When they
are burning well gently fill the fire very full, just up to the level of
the top of the cast-iron liners, with dry fuel, close the door and set
the air control to the 'high' position.
Your first three fires should be very small and gentle – new cast
THE 'FRENCH' iron parts can crack if given a 'thermal shock' before they have
METHOD been toughened by several successive hot/cold cycles.
The stove is fitted into a hollow CONTROL How fast the fire burns, and how much heat it gives,
chimney breast which has air depends on how much air reaches the fuel. The 301 has two
openings at top and bottom to controls – they both get extremely hot so always use the tool or a
transfer additional heat by glove to operate them.
convection from the long, The 'primary' control (1) is a
uninsulated, flue pipe. This traditional spinwheel at the bottom of
method gives higher efficiency the door. Turn it anti-clockwise for
and quicker warm-up, but thereby highest output, clockwise for 'low'.
reduces the heat given into the The 'secondary' or 'airwash' (2)
chimney so that great care must control is at the top right of the stove,
be taken to ensure that adequate pull it out for 'open', in for 'closed'.
draught is maintained. It is difficult to give absolute advice,
but, generally: For hard mineral fuels
THE 'SWEDISH' (anthracite etc) control the fire with
METHOD (1), for soft, volatile fuels (wood etc),
The stove is fitted in the 'English' control with (2).
or 'French' method, but at height, EMPTYING ASHES use the tool or
providing easier access and greater visibility. The stove is glove to open the door. Stir the fire with a poker and use the tool to
supported on a masonry shelf (a pressed concrete paving slab lift out the ashpan. Remember to let ash cool before disposing in
surfaced with tiles is ideal). Use of the fitting frame is plastic sacks or dustbins. There is no need to empty every last
recommended. Having the stove at least 400mm above will speck, but ash should never be allowed to build up so that it
provide the necessary clearance from a combustible floor, which comes into contact with the underside of the grate.
can be protected from stray sparks by, for instance, a glass floor EXTENDED BURNING Allow the fire to burn down to a low, hot
protector. firebed. Empty the ash and fully fill with hard fuel such as
anthracite (c30mm size is best). Set the air control to 'low' and
THE 'RUSSIAN' METHOD your Esse can burn for ten hours or more without attention.
The stove is fitted into a free-standing chamber built from CLEANING Wipe the stove body with a slightly damp cloth when
firebricks, often decorated with tiles, slate or marble panels. This cool, don't use abrasives, metal polish or 'cream' cleansers as they
not only collects extra heat, but acts as a storage heater, can scratch the surface. NEVER use aerosol sprays near the hot
continuing to warm the room long after the fire has died down. The fire – they can ignite.
KEEPING THE WINDOW CLEAN With most fuels the window will
require no cleaning other than an occasional wipe with a dry cloth.
Simply operating the stove for a few minutes at high output will
usually burn-off any deposits left by tarry or wet fuels. Severe
stains can be removed with a proprietary cleaner. After a period of
use tiny hairline cracks may appear on the window, this is not a
fault, but is characteristic of the toughest and most heat-resistant
material currently available. Reduce the risk of staining by using
only very dry fuel and having the airwash control always slightly
open.
OPENING THE DOOR The Esse 301 is designed to be operated
only with the door closed. Open the door slowly to minimise fume
emission and prevent hot fuel falling out.
FUELS
Different fuels have very different burning characteristics, and will
Esse 301 must be fitted slightly differently to traditional печное perform differently with different chimneys and air supply
stoves, contact Esse for detailed plans. situations. There is no 'perfect' fuel for every situation, so we
strongly recommend that you try a selection of fuels (or mixtures)
to find which suits you best.
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SMOKE CONTROL: In certain areas special rules apply to reduce too little air has been reaching it, try leaving the air control open a
smoke nuisance. little more. Check that the door seals are sound and that there are
In the United Kingdom: in those areas designated 'Smoke Control no cracks or gaps anywhere in the flue. For longest burning, we
Areas' ('Smokeless Zones') you are not permitted to emit smoke recommend hard fuels such as anthracite.
and are encouraged to use authorised smokeless fuels. You may SMOKE COMING INTO ROOM Fumes are poisonous- smoke
burn wood and other potentially smoky fuels as long as you do so emission must not be tolerated, causes might be:
without producing smoke, but you are not permitted to 'acquire' INADEQUATE SEALS: Check that the appliance is fully sealed
such fuels. against the fireplace. Even the tiniest crack or gap can spoil the
In The Republic of Ireland: you are not permitted to burn draught.
bituminous coal or some types of petroleum coke in most urban UNSUITABLE, BLOCKED OR UN-SWEPT CHIMNEY: The first
areas, but wood and peat briquettes are permitted. requirement for correct operation is a sound chimney. Check the
requirements earlier in this document and in any case of doubt
WOOD When wood is cut down its cells are full of water. Burning have the chimney professionally swept.
such wet or 'green' wood wastes heat in making steam and POOR AIR SUPPLY: Lack of air to the fire will cause smoking and
produces flammable, acidic tars which will cling to, and can poor performance. Air supply problems may be worse in certain
damage, your stove and chimney. Logs should be split lengthways wind conditions (often incorrectly ascribed to 'downdraught', which
and dried for at least a year. The fine, white residue produced is in fact very rare), where air can be sucked out of the room. The
when wood burns is not ash, but the remains of cell walls which answer is to fit an air vent, as near to the fire as possible, facing
can burn if kept hot enough, so don't de-ash the fire until into the usual wind direction.
absolutely necessary. DOWNDRAUGHT: Wind can blow down a chimney if there is
Minimise smoke emission from wood by: something higher nearby such as a tree, hill or high building.
•Using only absolutely dry wood Fitting an anti-downdraught cowl to the chimney top can cure this.
•Splitting logs lengthways Types which cannot be swept through are not recommended.
•Fill 'little and often'
•Always have the airwash control (2) at least a little open.
MAINTENANCE
HOUSECOAL (or BITUMINOUS COAL) (Not smokeless) Makes MONTHLY- With the fire cold, lift out and clean the throat plate.
lots of tarry smoke which will stain the window and large volumes Check that the door seals are undamaged, and that the flue is
of flammable gas which make it difficult to control and risk clear and unblocked.
explosions. Despite its low cost, it rarely represents value for ANNUALLY- SWEEP THE CHIMNEY The entire length of the
money. Don't use housecoal. chimney from stove to outlet should be swept annually, or more
ANTHRACITE and DRY STEAM COAL (Smokeless) Are natural often if smoky fuels are used.
hard, shiny forms of coal. Slow to light, they burn with great heat REFURBISHMENT Should the stove body become scratched or
and last a long time. Choose the 'small nuts' size.
LIGNITE is a natural mineral, between peat and coal. It lights
easily and burns well, though some varieties produce excessive
ash
BRIQUETTES Are compressed blocks of fuel, generally able to
burn for long periods and remarkable for their consistency.
'Homefire' and 'Phurnacite' are smokeless types while other
brands are made from lignite, peat or housecoal.
PETROLEUM COKE sold as 'Petcoke', 'Longbeach' and under
various proprietary names, is made from oil. Easy to light and to
control, its exceptional heat and lack of protective ash mean that it
is MUST NOT be used unless mixed with another fuel. Grate and
liner life will be drastically reduced when using petroleum coke
HOUSEHOLD WASTES Some plastics give off toxic fumes when
burned and remember that batteries and aerosols explode! The
Esse 301 is not an incinerator, so only ever use the recommended
fuels and NEVER use liquid fuels in any form
PROBLEMS?
Problems like those listed here are due to some difficulty with the
installation, chimney or fuels, so please check back through this
leaflet carefully.
POOR HEAT OUTPUT The Esse 301 is sufficient to heat a typical dull, repaint it only with heat resistant paint sold for the purpose
room of up to about 75m³. The actual size depends on insulation and only when the fire is completely cold.
and air-change factors. To attempt to heat too large a room will NEW PARTS The Esse 301 has been extensively tested for safety
result in excessive fuel consumption. Use only the recommended - please don't try to modify it and always make sure to obtain
fuels. If necessary seek specialist advice. genuine spare parts.
LACK OF CONTROLLABILITY Some fuels give off lots of very
flammable gas when they get hot and may burn excessively until The 301 is fully guaranteed (excluding wearable components) for
their gases have been used up. You can reduce this effect by one year from the date of purchase, in addition to your statutory
making sure that the fire is set to 'low' for a while before refuelling rights.
and checking that the door seals fully.
DIFFICULTY BURNING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS If the fire
goes out with fuel still in the firebox, then this is probably because
Esse 300 and 350 stove designs and the 'Furnesse' 'Chroma' and 'Virtine' door designs are registered at the UK Patent Office and protected by Copyright © and UK Design Right, Glyn Hughes and the
Ouzledale Foundry / Esse 1994-2007. The Esse 300 series door construction and the Esse 350 'Greenswitch' central heating boiler are UK Patent Applied For. This document Issued 10/11/2008
