DIRECT OUTSIDE air INLET UNDER THE STOVE:

USEFUL OR NOT?
The previous generation did not ask themselves as many questions as us when it comes to installing a stove. Today, factors such as the air-tightness of the house and the management of air flows have to be taken into account. How do we make the right choices? Under which circumstances is the use of an air inlet useful or even indispensable?

WHERE DOES THE PROBLEM COME FROM?

Its quite simple: on one hand, stoves consume air for combustion, on the other, houses are increasingly airtight (in order to save energy). This would seem to present a major obstacle. However, once you have understood these two mechanisms, it becomes much easier to find an appropriate solution for each situation.

However, dont forget that a stove operating in open-fire mode can consume up to than in closed A 10 times Bmore air C D mode! That's almost as much as a kitchen hood! This factor has to be taken into consideration!

The AIR-TIGHTNESS OF HOMES.

In a traditional home:

HOW MUCH air DOES THE STOVE CONSUME?

A stove operating in closed-door mode consumes between 20 and 50m3 of air an hour*. To give you an indication of what that means, the example below shows a normal home, the volume of which is around 450m 3. Proportionally, the quantity of air consumed is relatively low. By comparison, a small kitchen hood alone consumes at least 400m3 of air an hour. That is certainly much more than wood-burning systems!

This case is the simplest. These homes are not very air-tight because air infiltrates through gaps (door thresholds and window frames), therefore the air required for good combustion is never in short supply because it circulates and is constantly renewed. This renewed air flow has even been quantified. It is estimated that the volume of air in the home is renewed 5 to 6 times an hour. With buildings over 15 years old, that can reach 15 times the volume of the house per hour! >> Solution: Any type of stove can be installed in such homes and can Aopen-fire Bmode without C be operated in fearD of backdraught. The rate of air renewal is sufficiently high and no external air inlet is required.

450m3

450m3

E  nergy-efficient home:
The air renewal rate is around 1time the volume per hour. This volume of air is sufficient to ensure comfortable conditions and to allow the stove to operate in closed-door mode. However, if the system allows open-fire operation, the homes room air will not be sufficient for this. >> Solution: Any type of wood-burning system can be installed. Please note: if it is a system allowing open-fire operation, outside air inlets have to be fitted close to the stove. This will enable the increased air requirement to be met for open-fire operation. Once the fire is out, these air inlets can be closed using valves to minimize heat loss from the home.

400m3 34,2m
3

Consumption of room air per hour (34.2m3/h) by a Stv 21/75 SF with a glass door in a home of 450m3 .

Consumption of room air per hour by a small kitchen hood in a home of 450m3 .

* Consumption table available at stuv.com > downloads > standards and efficiency

For a passive house: The house is very air-tight. The air renewal rate is completely controlled by mechanical ventilation systems. These enable renewal of 60% of the homes air volume per hour. This is the minimum air renewal rate to enable residents to breathe and to maintain healthy conditions within the home. The presence of another system that consumes room air disturbs this balance. >> Solution: rather than rarefy room air, the air for combustion has to be drawn from outside using an independent connection. This option is only feasible on systems equipped with an outside air inlet directly connected to the combustion chamber. The open-fire mode is used as little as possible to prevent backdraught.

21 D e S t v tible a is comp ywith energ efficient homes

The Stv21 is compatible with most homes, even energy-efficient homes. In the case of the latter, an adequate outside air inlet has to be positioned under the stove, equipped with valves to ensure a greater inflow of air when it is operating in open-fire mode. It is only prohibited in a passive house where only stoves equipped with a completely air-tight air-feed system can ensure smooth operation without disturbing the air conditions in the home. It is also too powerful for such houses.

AB
A - Natural ventilation

BC
B - Propulsion system

CD
C C C C
D - Dual-flow system

A A A A
C C

B B B B

C - Extraction system

D D D D

D
Not applicable Please note that houses are pressurized. Ensure sufficient air intake. Be aware of kitchen hoods. Stv16-in , Stv16-cube, Stv16-H, Stv30-up, Stv30-compact, Stv30-compact H

Not applicable Passive house (<15kW/h per m 2)* A

A
Energy-efficient house (<30kW/h per m 2)*

All Stv stoves are compatible with energy-efficient and traditional homes.

Traditional house

Stv16-in, Stv16-cube, Stv16-H, Stv21, Stv30, Stv30-in, Stv-30-up, Stv30-compact, Stv30-compact H, Stv 60

* This is the energy requirement for heating and cooling the building

This non-contractual information sheet is intended for information purposes only. November 2010 Stv sa rue Jules Borbouse, 4 B-5170 Bois-de-Villers Belgium info@stuv.com www.stuv.com Edited by: Grard Pitance