What's the difference between Glass Fronted and Open Models?
Hole the wall fireplaces can either be glass or open fronted; open fronted models are less efficient and more of a decorative feature, glass fronted models can either be designed to work with conventional chimneys, normally with liner systems or used without a chimney as a balanced flue appliance. Open fires fall between 10 and 20 % efficient whereas the glass fronted ones are 70 to 80% efficient.
Most Gazco appliances are available in both formats with the exceptions of the Riva 2 800 which is only available as a balanced flue fire, the Barbas range are primarily balanced flue but can be adapted to be used in standard chimneys.
Hearth Requirements
Glass fronted models, providing they are more than 50 mm off the floor, do not require any additional hearth in front of them - any open model will require a non combustable hearth of 300 mm depth regardless of how high they are lifted off the floor.