Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) announced that any products listed to the ANSI Z21.97 Outdoor Decorative Gas Appliance standard will need to be compliant with the standard's 2017 requirements. This compliance is mandatory for all products manufactured after January 17, 2020. But what parts of the standard have been updated? How do you know if your outdoor burner is compliant and safe? Here's a brief breakdown of the updates to the ANSI Z21.97 Outdoor Decorative Gas Appliance standard. For more in-depth information, please visit ANSI website.
Rain
Since the product is intended for outdoor installation, a rain test is conducted to confirm all gas components, electrical components, etc. are not affected by a simulated rain storm. After a simulated rain storm, the unit must operate normally after a 13-minute period. Once the unit is operating normally it is allowed to burn for 15 minutes and the simulated rain storm is directed at the unit while it is in operation. At this point the burner must extinguish safely or continue to operate. All Crystal Fire® Plus burners are compliant with this requirement and safely shut down.
Wind
Wind testing is conducted to confirm that the burner is able to operate safely under normal wind conditions and shut down safely during unsafe wind conditions. All burners are subjected to a 10 MPH wind and must ignite and operate safely. Burners are also subject to a 31 MPH wind to simulate strong gusts and either must safely shut down or continue to operate safely. All Crystal Fire® Plus burners are compliant with both aspects of this requirement of the standard and will remain lit even when subjected to the 31 MPH wind.
Clearance to Combustible Materials
Temperatures on side walls and overhead surfaces are verified as well as enclosure temperatures.
OGC's clearance requirements are made to provide a large safety margin to ensure that any installation that follows the installation instructions will be safe.
Component Temperatures
The burner plumbing, electrical components, and controls are all verified to operate below a given temperature threshold. This test is performed in a worst-case enclosure with zero-ventilation at the closest allowable clearance to ensure that any field installation will be safe if the installation instructions are followed.
Burner Construction
This testing verifies that the materials used are suitable for outdoor use and will resist corrosion and withstand the heat of the fire when in operation. Further testing is performed to ensure that the burner will operate safely even after being subject to dangerous operating conditions. This includes a fire within the burner and a load placed on the burner itself. All Crystal Fire® and Crystal Fire® Plus burner components are made of #304 stainless steel and carry a limited lifetime warranty.
With over 22 stocked burners and custom options, Crystal Fire® Plus burners are UL and ULC listed to the updated standard. Crystal Fire® Plus burners and burner inserts have a higher BTU capacity and upgraded burner construction for a brighter, taller, fuller, more yellow flame. The pan burner design produces a more natural looking flame. Raised and extruded burner ports protect the burner from rain or water. Water safely drains from the perimeter of the pitched burner surface and out the perimeter of the pan. Crystal Fire Plus® burners are included with every OGC fire pit table and can be purchased separately for custom projects and installations.
The Outdoor GreatRoom Company™ continues to provide products that are safe, easy to use, and easy to maintain with the added distinction of being tested and certified to international safety standards.
For further questions about our Crystal Fire® Plus technology and the ANSI Z21.97 standards, please contact OGC.
