Welcome back our gas fire pit safety series! In our first installment, we covered the importance of your fire pit being UL/ULC listed and what goes into making The Outdoor GreatRoom Company's fire pits the safest they can be.
In this blog, we'll take a look at clearance to combustibles and the importance of glass guards as added an safety measure.
Clearances to Combustibles: A Crash Course
- What are Clearances?
- The distances between heating appliances and combustible materials.
- What are combustibles?
- A material that can ignite and burn.
- What are examples combustible materials?
- Examples include (but are not limited to) cloth, wood, charcoal, straw, leaves, paper, plastics, fabrics, and wax.
- How do clearances affect my gas fire pit?
- All gas fire pits, regardless of brand or style, need to meet their clearances to burn safely. Always consult your product manual or certified gas technician to check what your clearances are. For OGC fire tables, the clearances for most products are as follows:
- 72” from top of burner to any overhead combustible materials
- 24” from edge of burner trim to any combustible side walls
- 8" below the burner
- Do all OGC fire pits meet the non-combustible material requirements?
- Yes! All our products are made with durable, non-combustible materials and are designed to meet ANSI Standards and pass UL/ULC requirements for heating appliances.
- What should I do if I'm not sure if a material is combustible or if I'm worried about clearances not being met?
- Safety should always be your priority. If you're worried you've placed your gas fire pit in a place where clearances aren't met, consult your local dealer or a certified gas technician to ensure it's in a safe spot before operating it.
Glass Guards
Glass guards are an accessory you can add to your gas fire pit. They serve multiple purposes including an extra layer of safety, protection against wind, and visually enhancing the glow and ambiance of the flame.
An Extra Layer of Safety
Glass guards are a great added safety measure as they can help to protect hands, fingers, wagging tails, and debris from getting to the open flame of the gas fire pit. However, it is important to remember the glass does get warm and should not be touched. If you need to move it, turn off the fire table and let the glass cool before handling it.
Wind Protection
High winds can blow out gas fires pit tables, push the flames into more dangerous areas near the outer edges of the burner, and ruin the overall look of the flame. A glass guard can help protect the flame from wind ensuring it stays contained and glowing brightly.
Visual Enhancement
The tempered glass of the glass guard does a wonderful job of reflecting the glow of the flame making your fire appear more vibrant without having to increase fuel input or the heat of the flame.
Types of Glass Guards
Depending on the shape and style of your gas fire pit, OGC has several options for the type of glass guard you can purchase. We have standard round and square glass guards for tables with those shapes.
Our rectangular and linear tables have both standard glass guards as well as a folding glass guard option that converts it into a glass burner cover, protecting the burner and allowing your gas fire table to serve as an every day outdoor table when it's not in use.
Visit our website or stop in to your local dealer to get a glass guard for your gas fire pit today!
