Gas fire not fixed to wall????

[Jennie]

Hi all,
I'm puzzling over a gas fire Valor Homeflame. (I've fixed/serviced quite a few gas fires over the last five years, but am still learning).
Every gas fire I've so far come across has been fixed securely to the closure plate/back wall, so it can't be accidentally pulled out forwards (without unscrewing, etc) from the chimney opening.
This fire had less than the 150mm side access specified by the MIs to undo the side screws. Didn't look like the screws had ever been undone, despite previous servicing. From what I could see, the fire had had the side screws fitted (109 on diagram), and then simply slid into position. Only the gas pipe was holding the fire in position.
In addition, this was a former fire place (swept before installation). But anyway, it had a metal plate across the chimney opening made by the installer (rather than the usual bricked opening). Didn't sound right. So I AR'd the fire and recommended another engineer check it out (in case I was missing anything, in the hope of a simple solution before I looked into fitting a new fire, etc).
The other engineer declared it perfectly safe. Customer is happy (fire is now working) but thinks I can't handle a screwdriver. So what was I missing? I've been taught to stick to the MIs, etc, and err on the side of safety. I'd love to know.
Thanks for all your advice, screwdriver tips, etc.
Jennie

 

[Gasmk1]

where in the mi's does it say it needs to be screwed to the wall

 

[Jennie]

where in the mi's does it say it needs to be screwed to the wall

It doesn't... was it that simple? All I could find was two screws to undo on the sides, but couldn't see rear fixings on the diagram. Is that for real? Just held in with a gas pipe and it's own weight? What if a child tries to climb up on it, etc, and pulls it free? But if that's how it's designed, fair enough. It's all a learning experience.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

The old baxi baxk boilers are the same just pipe and weight holding them

 

[Aquarius]

What if a child tries to climb up on it, etc, and pulls it free?

tbf they shouldn’t be climbing on it anyway. Also, if it’s sat on a hearth, then it’s supported that way.

 

[EvilDrPorkChop]

It doesn't... was it that simple? All I could find was two screws to undo on the sides, but couldn't see rear fixings on the diagram. Is that for real? Just held in with a gas pipe and it's own weight? What if a child tries to climb up on it, etc, and pulls it free? But if that's how it's designed, fair enough. It's all a learning experience.

In theory it should be on a solid base (A hearth) and levelled correctly with it's feet to prevent it from moving. The gas pipe and the spigot into the closure plate is enough to hold them, along with the weight of the things.

 

[Last Plumber]

They (as above have said) do just sit there, level and on a firm surface. The screws are only to take the case off as you now know and because they can be slid out of position, it's no real problem.
I don't know that the metal plate you are describing (instead of brick) is because I haven't seen it but it sounds like the damper?
Coal fires with back boilers had a damper plate set into what often looked like a letter box in cast iron, situated up above the throat. When you pulled them down to the forward position they allowed the draught to run stronger around the base and rear of the boiler to put more heat into the water. In the up or back position, the heat from the fire was thrown more forward into the room because of effect of the throat. The face of the boiler still took heat but to a lesser extent. If you see dampers in place in an old coal fire which is now used for gas, they should be removed or broken into the position where the flue/chimney is open to the fire.

 

[Jennie]

The old baxi baxk boilers are the same just pipe and weight holding them

In theory it should be on a solid base (A hearth) and levelled correctly with it's feet to prevent it from moving. The gas pipe and the spigot into the closure plate is enough to hold them, along with the weight of the things.

Yes, all that was in place. Just had no idea that would be sufficient. I like fixings, and lots of them. But if that's how they're designed, fair enough. So interesting to know all this. Thanks everyone. 🙂