Planika’s PrimeFire 700 with remote control installed in a joinery

Are you concerned with the safety issues surrounding installing a bioethanol burner in a joinery? Here is an example to put your mind at ease. David Noades’ project features Planika’s PrimeFire 700, which has been cleverly installed onto furniture panels with special tempered glass protecting the joinery from heat.

“The furniture installation took quite some time but all is now in place (including all the heatproof fibreboard and glass screen) and the fireworks very well – I thought you might like to see some photos. It was originally planned to install the fire directly below the TV, but following discussions with Bio Fires (and via them with Planika) it became clear that such a location would likely compromise the overall design ethos of the TV installation (set back into the new ‘wall’ with no additional barrier below), so it was decided to proceed with an ‘offset’ installation.

A copy of the installation plan was supplied to Planika via Bio Fires and they came back with the recommendation to use toughened glass as a barrier to protect the fitted furniture panels.

Further direct discussions between the furniture manufacturers, Proline, who are based in Hungary, and Planika in Poland led to the final design for the fireplace installation. The toughened glass panel is mounted directly onto heat resistant (fire-rated) MDF (using high-temperature rated glue), which has also been coated in a special heat resistant paint – the glass is about 150mm behind the burner.

An additional piece of toughened glass has been countersunk into the horizontal support panel (which is made of veneered fire-rated MDF) and the wider metal casing of the fireplace sits directly on this, so protecting the wood from any elevated temperatures in the casing.

The cavity within which the fireplace ‘hangs’ is made of melamine, but this has been covered in flame-retardant Solflex foil (the recommended air gap has also been provided around the casing in this cavity).

The upper part of the (heatprooof) glass does get hot when the fire is in use, but all of the heat seems to go straight up with none of it coming forward. I was pleased to note that the furniture installers spoke directly with Planika to check a few things before they finalised their design. The amount of heat genearated by the fire overall in heating the room (by convection currents) is quite a lot, so I think we would generally be using the fire at its lower setting (and keeping the door open). Thanks again for all your help in the design process.”

You’re most welcome, David! We’re absolutely amazed with the final result. Thanks for the photos and your explanation.

June 2016