CATALOGUES AND INSTALLATION MANUALS Our catalogues and manuals contain information on our product range with detailed instructions to ensure your Metro wood fire is installed and operated correctly.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Here you’ll find the answers to the most common questions our Metro stockists and customer service team are asked about our product range.
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING Regular maintenance and servicing is important to maintain your wood fires performance, safety and longevity.
There are many factors to consider when installing a Metro fire and ensuring you select the correct size and model for your home and heating requirements is key. The biggest fire is not always the best option as a model that is too large for the space you are heating will have to be turned down, reducing efficiency, creating more emissions and producing unburnt contaminants (from incomplete combustion).
The three key factors to consider when choosing a wood fire are the installation options, correct model selection and achieving a safe, compliant installation. Selecting the right size Metro fire for your home and heating requirements with correct operation and good dry fuel will provide you many years of warmth and reliable heating.
For residential properties located within a clean air zone, only clean air approved wood burners can be installed under the National Environmental Standard (NES) regulations which came into effect 1 September 2005. NES permits a maximum of 1.5 grams of particulates per kilogram of dry wood burnt with a minimum thermal efficiency of 65%.
In most parts of New Zealand, properties less than 2 hectares (just under 5 acres) require a ‘clean air approved’ wood fire. Some regions have specific ‘air sheds’ with more stringent regulations that require an Ultra low emission burner. If you’re on a property of 2 hectares or larger, you can install any model wood fire including a specific LTD ‘rural’ model.
Clean air approved model
Complies with the Ministry for the Environment National Environmental Standards (NES) and can be installed into any home in New Zealand unless more stringent regional rules apply.
Ultra low emission model
ULEB’s have Environment Canterbury (ECan) and NES approval and can be installed throughout New Zealand including homes in the Canterbury, Nelson, and Bay of Plenty regions.
LTD rural model (2Ha+)
LTD rural models offer extended burn times and can also be fitted with larger capacity wetbacks. These models can only be installed into a home with a property size of two hectares or larger.
Decide on the type of installation you need and confirm if your home is located within a clean air zone or specified airshed. This will determine the type of Metro model you can install. Your Metro retailer or local council can advise of any specific emission requirements for your area.
Freestanding fires are suitable for installation against a wall or into a corner with the Metro ECO flue.
Insert fires are suitable for installation into a masonry chimney and installed with the Metro ECO Insert flue.
Built-In fires are suitable for installation into a timber cavity and installed with the Metro ECO Built-In flue.
The right size fire for your home and heating requirements with correct operation and good dry fuel, will provide you many years of warmth and reliable heating. As a simple guide, 1kW of heat output = 10m2 of heating area. For example a 15kW fire would suit a standard 150m2 3 bedroom home. Metro fires have been independently tested by an IANZ testing facility and during testing achieved individual peak outputs based on the New Zealand Home Heating Association test method.
Wetback capable models
Metro’s revolutionary wetbacks help reduce the ever increasing winter power bills for thousands of satisfied Metro owners. With the benefit of reduced power consumption and the availability of hot water during power cuts, a wetback can either boost or provide the majority of your households hot water requirements during winter. All Metro models can be fitted with a wetback for water heating with the exception of the Ultra low emission models.
Heat transfer ducting systems
Metro fires can generate much more heat than is needed for just one room, but unless your home is open-plan the excess heat may not easily reach other parts of your home. Metro heat transfer systems perfectly partner with your fire to move warm air trapped at ceiling level to other rooms via an insulated ducting system. This warm air then recirculates back towards the living area and maintains a continual cycle of warm air movement.
Selecting the most suitable installation location for your new fire is also important to ensure specified clearances, floor protector requirements, flue installation and optimum heat distribution are achieved. We recommend you have your new Metro fire installed by a NZHHA registered or suitably qualified installer. It is critical that the specified clearances, flue system and floor protector requirements are correct for a safe and compliant installation.
Your Metro stockist/installer can advise on the most suitable location for installation and exactly what heating products and accessories you will need. They can also help manage the council permit process from consent application through to completed installation. You can lodge the building consent yourself, but your Metro agency/installer can ease this process and ensure all the information required by council is provided correctly. Some councils have a ‘fast-track’ consent system for preferred suppliers/installers which can help speed up the consenting process.
