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A previous client of ours, a Vancouver restaurant management company, approached Vancouver Gas Fireplaces in October 2003 and asked us to be part of a large renovation project involving the installation of two gas fireplaces in one of their restaurants. We discussed the feasibility of installing an over-sized fireplace into the interior bar/restaurant renovation and a similar-sized exterior fireplace into the upper deck. This case study will focus on the interior project, as it is presently complete and operational.
When the VGF team first arrived to survey the interior job, we discovered that there was no existing fireplace to work with, with the exception of some venting present from a smaller prefabricated basic B-vented fireplace. Our client did not want a masonry enclosure and chimney constructed to house the gas fireplace; therefore we had to completely prefabricate a zero clearance unit. They also wanted us to finish to the opening with stone, leaving virtually no part of the fabricated face of the fireplace exposed.
The greatest challenge in this situation was to create an enclosure for the fireplace to be framed onto. Vancouver Gas Fireplaces has developed a firebox technique using heat barrier products sandwiched in-between two fully welded steel skins; a complete fabrication that encompasses the entire fireplace and includes a collection hood that tapers up to the venting. This technique is adaptable to almost any shape or size.
We decided to use a fireplace that has a sand pan-style burner welded right into the base. This type of burner uses a bed of silica sand into which the gas is released, and as it filters up to the surface of the sand, it combusts. High temperature logs are placed on the sand to make the flame read and turn yellow. River rock, lava rock or any number of objects could be used in place of the logs to serve the same purpose.
Being inside a restaurant, this fireplace will be subject to strong negative drafting due to air handling equipment, so fresh air was directly introduced, creating a virtual closed system. To ensure a maximum problem-free safe operation, the fireplace is operated with electronic ignition and interlocked with a vent top draft inducer, allowing for both pre and post purge capabilities. As a result, our client benefits with a large dramatic visual picture that fits into the design without major additional fireplace construction costs. The patrons get to enjoy the maximum amount of flame output with a minimum amount of heat - a crucial factor when creating a comfortable environment in public spaces such as restaurants.
Vancouver Gas Fireplaces was able to work within the physical constraints of the site and provided the finishing characteristics desired. This project is a good example of the potential of using a gas fireplace as an attractive central feature in a design, facilitated by the flexibility provided by the customized system.
Vancouver Gas Fireplaces is North America's leading wholesaler and innovator of custom fireplace design and implementation. VGF provides the most comprehensive fireplace website to architects, builders, designers and renovators.
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