Full Depth Gas Fires

Buying guide

If you have a proper brick chimney and want a gas fire that looks like a real fire, a full depth fire is the one to choose. The deeper firebox gives room for a generous fuel bed with depth and shadow, so the flames look less like a strip and more like a fire.

What is a full depth gas fire?

A full depth gas fire is an inset fire with a deep firebox that sits well back into the fireplace. Our full depth fires are 180mm to 250mm deep, against 108mm to 125mm for our slimline fires. That extra depth allows a deeper bed of ceramic coals, logs or pebbles and a more natural flame pattern.

Our full depth fires

The 3060 and 3065 take a coal or pebble fuel bed; the 3090 is available with coal, log or pebble beds and a satin chrome or black fascia. All three run on natural gas.

What your fireplace needs

• A suitable flue. Ekofires lists a conventional chimney or a prefabricated flue of at least 5 inches for these fires. They are not for pre-cast flues; choose a slimline fire for those.
• Enough depth. About 250mm from the front of the opening to the back for the 3060 and 3065, and 180mm for the 3090.
• The right opening. Check width and height against the ranges in the table.
• A hearth. Where a gas fire needs one, a non-combustible top layer at least 12mm thick with a marked edge.
• Ventilation. As the manual and Approved Document J require; your engineer will check.

Full depth fires in period rooms

A full depth fire with a coal bed looks at home in a Victorian or Edwardian fireplace. The 3090's cast-effect fascia is designed for exactly that. If you are restoring a period fireplace, a cast iron surround or combination fireplace and a granite hearth complete the look; see period fireplaces and hearths. Check with your Gas Safe engineer that the fireplace and fire are compatible: gas fires may be fitted in fireplaces with flues built for solid fuel where the manufacturer's instructions show the combination is safe.

Fuel beds explained

The deeper firebox is all about the fuel bed. A coal bed of ceramic coals glows and flickers like a traditional coal fire and is the natural choice for a Victorian or Edwardian fireplace. A log bed, available on the 3090, gives the look of a wood fire. A pebble bed of smooth ceramic stones suits a contemporary room or a simple hole in the wall. The pieces are made to sit in a set pattern, so lay them exactly as the manual shows; this keeps the flame picture right and lets the fire burn cleanly. If the ceramics crack or crumble over time, ask your engineer about a replacement fuel bed from the maker.

Controls

The 3060 and 3090 have manual rotary control, with a remote option on both. The 3065 has Ekofires' FingerSlide control, which many people find easier than a low dial. If you want to adjust the flame from your chair, check the remote options on the listing; the Ekofires remote upgrade suits selected models and adjusts the flame once the pilot is lit by hand.

Efficiency and running

Full depth open-fronted fires trade efficiency for looks: Ekofires states 55% to 60% for these models, against 90% for its glass-fronted slimline fires. That is fine for an evening fire alongside central heating. If the fire will be your main heat for long periods, consider the glass-fronted Ekofires 4010. Have any gas fire serviced every year, and keep the fuel bed arranged exactly as the manual shows: a misplaced coal can affect how cleanly the fire burns.