KOTA Kuru 14 Series Wood Burning Sauna Heater Instruction Manual
- June 10, 2024
- KOTA
Table of Contents
Made by NARVI Oy Finland
4/2021 Kota Kuru 14, 20 and 20 VS sauna heaters
Installation,
user and maintenance instructions
Follow the instructions!
Technical data
Kota Kuru sauna heater | 650/675 | 650/675 | 20 VSE | 20 VSV/VSO |
---|---|---|---|---|
Height (mm) | 15 | 15 | 650/675 | 650/675 |
Adjustment range ± (mm) | 420 | 460 | 15 | 15 |
Width (mm) | 475 | 475 | 460 | 590 |
Depth, without a handle (mm) | 119 | 119 | 640 | 475 |
Diameter of the connective flue (mm) | 473 | 473 | 119 | 119 |
Distance of the bottom edge of the connective flue from the floor, without
adjustable feet (mm)| 500| 500| 473| 473
Distance of the bottom edge of the connective flue from the floor, with
adjustable feet (± 15 mm)| 120| 120| 500| 500
Central point of the connection from the above from the rear edge of the sauna
heater.| 49| 55| 120| 120
Weight (without stones, kg)| 35| 40| 65| 60
Weight of the stones, 10–15 cm (kg)| –| –| 40| 40
Volume of the water tank| 8–14| 20-Oct| 16| 18
Size of the steam room (m³)| 4| 6| 20-Oct| 20-Oct
Thickness of the cover of the furnace (mm)| 11,9| 13| 6| 6
Flue gas mass flow (g/s)| | | 13| 13
Kota Kuru 14, 20 and 20 VS
Introduction
Thank you for having chosen a Kota sauna heater. To make the most of your
sauna heater please read the manual carefully before you start installing and
using it and keep the manual for future reference. This user manual contains
the technical data of your sauna heater and installation, use and maintenance
instructions.
The products are meant only to be used as a sauna heater and for heating the
sauna. Do not modify the design of the sauna heater and use only spare parts
and accessories
recommended by the manufacturer. The data plate included in the delivery of
the sauna heater must be glued on the sauna heater, preferably on the lower
part of the cover of the sauna heater.
Do not heat the sauna heater if you lack sufficient knowledge, if you are not
allowed to use a sauna because of your health condition or you are under the
influence of substances causing intoxication. Sauna heaters must not be used
by underage people. Do not leave children in the sauna without supervision. A
sauna is not meant for drying
clothes.
Before you install the sauna heater
Before installing and using the sauna heater, make sure you are thoroughly
familiar with the requirements for installing the sauna heater in the steam
room. In case of questions and for additional information do not hesitate to
contact the Rescue Board or a construction supervision authority. When
installing fireboxes all local laws have to be followed, including those
referring to local and European standards.
2.1 Steam room
If the walls of a steam room are made of uncovered glass, brick or concrete
add 0.8–1.5 m3 per square meter of such wall and the final choice of the
heater shall be made based on the sum of the area. If the heater is installed
in a sauna that is normally not heated or the sauna is made of massive logs,
multiply the sauna area by 1.5 and choose
the heater based on this. The recommended minimum area of a steam room is
indicated in clause 1.1. Please follow the values for the minimum area
stipulated for a steam room.
We recommend choosing a sauna heater with slightly more power to ensure proper
heating of the sauna and to avoid heating the sauna heater to its upper limit.
Slightly stronger power ensures a longer lifetime of the sauna heater and
provides better steam thanks to a greater quantity of stones.
2.2 Substrate
A firebox must be installed on the floor with sufficient load-bearing
capacity. The durability of the floor must be checked especially carefully,
when the sauna heater is installed on a wooden floor. The weight of the sauna
heater is shown in clause 1.1. If the existing floor does not meet this
prerequisite, suitable measures (e.g. load distributing plate) shall be
installed to achieve it.
CONCRETE FLOOR
The sauna heater may be installed directly on a concrete floor, which is at
least 50 mm thick. If underfloor heating cables or pipes are located under the
sauna heater, a Kota installation base must be used to protect them from the
sauna heater’s thermal radiation.
FLOOR MADE OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL OR A TILED FLOOR, UNDERFLOOR HEATING
A Narvi installation base must be installed under the sauna heater, which will
protect the floor, moisture barrier and underfloor heating pipes or cables
from the thermal radiation of the sauna heater.
2.3 Safety clearances
When installing the sauna heater, safety clearances must be taken into
account. Ignorance of safety clearances causes a fire hazard. If required,
additional information can be obtained from the regional branch of the rescue
board.
2.3.1 Structure made of combustible materials
The safety clearances are the minimum allowable distances between the sauna
heater and structures made of combustible materials. Please observe the
stipulated requirements
regarding walls, floors, sauna benches, other inventories and storage areas of
firewood!
Structure | Safety clearance |
---|---|
Top surface | 1 350 mm |
Front surface | 500* mm |
Side surface | 250 mm |
Back surface | 250 mm |
*) We recommend leaving 1000 mm maintenance area in front of the sauna heater.
Rear and side safety distances can be shortened by using Narvi protective
wall shields. Our dealers can provide more info regarding suitable safety
walls for sauna heaters.
Protecting a wall made of combustible material: If the sauna heater is
installed on a floor made of combustible materials, an installation base must
be used. A piece of sheet metal must be installed in front of the installation
base, which extends at least 100 mm over the sides of the heater hatch and at
least 400 mm in front of the sauna heater. The sheet metal edges facing the
sauna heater must be turned up, so that coal cannot get under the installation
base.
Please observe that the safety clearance of an uninsulated smoke flue from
structures made of combustible materials is 1000 mm or any other distance
stipulated in the manufacturer’s instructions.
2.3.2 Non-combustible structure
If the wall is masonry or other structure classified as noncombustible, it is
sufficient to have a 50 mm air gap between the upright surfaces and the wall.
If the sauna heater is installed inside a wall recess of non-combustible
material, a 100 mm air gap is required to ensure proper air circulation.
2.4 Smoke flue
A smoke flue of the sauna heater must meet the requirements of class T600
irrelevant of the material of the smoke flue. The minimum recommended draft of
the smoke flue
is 12 Pa. A modular smoke flue must meet the requirements of class T600 and
provided with CE-marking. When installing a modular smoke flue safety
clearances stipulated in the installation manual of the smoke flue shall be
followed.
The minimum recommended diameter of a modular smoke flue is 120 mm. The weight
of the smoke flue must not cause load on the sauna heater. The sauna heater
should
be connected to a separate smoke flue. A smoke flue made of bricks must be at
least the so-called half-brick smoke flue.
2.5 Ventilation
Ventilation of the steam room should be sufficiently efficient and should
function so that fresh incoming air is routed as close to the sauna heater as
possible. Also proper air
circulation has to be provided in the steam room during using the sauna so
that air can exit from under the sauna bench or from under the door of the
washing room (sufficient gap).
Other possible fireplaces that are used simultaneously must be considered, and
make sure there is enough replacement air. Extraction fans working in the same
room as the
firebox may cause problems. Incoming air inlets should be located so that they
do not get blocked (for instance because of snow). A firebox needs combustion
air in a volume of 6–10 m 3 per kilo of fired wood. The diam- eter of the
ventilation opening must be at least 100 mm. Forced air system should be built
according to the design prepared by the designer of the heating, water and
ventilation systems.
After using the sauna there shall be a possibility to ventilate and dry the
sauna rooms so that air exits via the upper part of the steam room.
Installation and preheating of the sauna heater
3.1 Preheating
Before use and arranging the stones, the sauna heater must be heated to remove
the protective agents. Any protective films and stickers must have been
removed before. Preheating shall be carried out on a non-combustible surface
and outside, since paint emits harmful solvents and smoke during heating. Use
of a connection pipe included in the delivery of the sauna heater in the upper
joint improves draft during preheating. 1-2 fireboxes of wood are sufficient
for preheating. After preheating and before arranging
the stones loose over material should be removed from the stone compartment of
the sauna heater with a steel brush. In case the external surface of the sauna
heater is painted, it should not be rubbed or wiped before the first heating.
The paint of the sauna heater will achieve sufficient strength only after the
first heating. Do not create steam during the first heating.
NB! If the sauna heater is equipped with a water tank please check before
preheating that the water tank faucet and safety plug are installed and that
the tank is filled with clean water.
3.2 Regulation of the height
The legs of the sauna heater are adjustable and can be used for levelling the
sauna heater and for adjusting the height. There must be an air gap of at
least 25 mm between the sauna heater and the floor. Use a spirit level to
check if the sauna heater is level. Figure 6. Installation of adjustable legs
(additional equipment)
3.3 Connection with the stack
The sauna heater can be connected to the smoke flue from the top or back of
the sauna heater. Seal the unused opening with the supplied cover. The sauna
heater comes with a short smoke flue connection pipe, which can be used to
connect the sauna heater’s smoke flue from the back. Only a straight
connective flue without extra parts can be used, when the flue is connected
from rear. If the connection with the smoke flue is done from the above, a
Kota connective flue or Kota smoke flue must be used. In case of connection
from the above, a Kota smoke flue tank for heating water or a Kota stone
basket can be installed around the connective flue.
Do not push the connective flue too deep in the smoke flue, because this would
hinder the draft. Any leaks in the connective flue also reduce the draft;
therefore the connections must be sealed with fireproof sealing material.
Leakage in the connective flue causes combustion gases formed in the sauna
heater to ignite in the flue. The connection joint of the flue and the sauna
heater must be 25 mm. The diameter of the connective flue of the sauna heater
and the height from the floor are shown in clause 1.1.
Please take into account the clearance distance of the modular smoke flue, see
the manufacturer’s instructions.
3.4 Installation of a door and changing of the opening direction of the
door Figure 7. Open the door and raise the hinge pin up so it comes out of
the bottom hinge barrel. Hold onto the door securely and turn the bottom part
of the pin and turn the
bottom end of the pin up enough (2) that you can pull the pin down (3) and the
pin and door come apart. For installation proceed in reverse order. First push
the upper edge of the door in its place and thereafter push the pin through
the upper eyelet. Thereafter turn the door and pin in their places from below
and let the pin into the bottom eyelet. The pin is correctly installed when
the wider areas of the pin are facing down. In this case the pin cannot move
away from its place.
Door installation is easier when you use long flatnose pliers. When removing
and installing the door please take into account the higher element (washer)
between the hinge barrel and the door. Finally also install the bolt located
on the side of the handle and nut on he upper edge of the hatch.
3.5 Installation of the faucet, models with a water tank
For the water volume, see clause 1.1. Figure 8. Place the faucet on the
desired side, so that the threads are visible on the inside of the tank. Place
the washer on the outside of the tank, turn the locking nut into place with
the smooth side against the washer and tighten, turning the faucet clockwise
and holding the keeper in place with a wrench.
3.6 Sauna heater stones
We recommend that you use Kota olive dolerite stones. Natural stones are not
suitable to be used as sauna heater stones 10–15 cm. Before using the stones,
they must be
washed to eliminate any impurities. Bigger stones are placed in the bottom of
the stone compartment and the rest are piled sparsely so that air can move
freely between the stones. Flat stones shall be stacked in upright position.
The stones must not block air openings and stones must not be stacked over the
top surface of the sauna heater. The recommended quantity of stones in the
sauna heater is shown in clause 1.1. The use of stones with a regular shape
(rectangular, etc.) and light or ceramic stones is forbidden because of a risk
of too tight stacking.
3.7 Air flow direction adjusting plates of the sauna heater The position
and condition of the plates must be regularly inspected. A sauna heater must
not be used without air flow adjusting plates.
Using the sauna heater
4.1 Firewood
Only use natural wood logs as fuel. Both hardwood and softwood can be used to
heat the sauna heater. The use of chipboard, fibreboard, briquet, pellet,
painted or mpregnated wood, waste or plastic is prohibited. To ensure clean
burning and the largest possible efficiency, the wood must be dry. The
moisture content of the wood must be less than 20%. Usually good firewood is
sticks of wood the diameter of which is around 5 cm, length around 33 cm and
weight around 0.5 kg.
Use of liquid fuel is strongly forbidden, also during firing!
4.2 Heating
Before heating, make sure that there is no combustible material within the
safety clearances. Also make sure that the ash drawer and fire grate are clean
and if the sauna heater is provided with a water tank, that it is filled with
clean water. Check if there is sufficient draft in the smoke flue. If you
hesitate regarding the draft, check it by burning
a small quantity of water in the firebox first. During heating the door of the
firebox must be closed and the water tank must be filled with water. The sauna
heater must not be
covered with anything.
To start heating pile firewood over a sufficiently wide area and ignite it
from above. For ignition you may use birch bark or paper. Ignition aid should
be placed between the
upper firewood and it can be topped with some thinner wood sticks or firewood
(see drawing 9). Igniting from above reduces pollution and ensures cleaner
burning. Figure 9. Properly stacked firewood.
The power of the sauna heater can be regulated by the ash drawer. In case of
this sauna heater opening of the ash drawer is limited. When the door is
closed, the ash drawer
opens approximately 10 mm, which is a suitable position to ignite the fire
and for heating. If it soughs too much in the sauna heater, reduce the draft.
To do this close the ash
drawer halfway or completely. This way heat reaches better in the sauna
heater, stones can store heat and you do not just heat up the flue. A calm
flame is a sign of a correct
draft. Avoid heating the sauna heater so that the channels of the stone
compartment glow red for a long time because this will overload the firebox
and the service life of the sauna heater will be reduced. Overheating may also
cause excessive heating of the smoke flue and cause a fire hazard. The
connective flue pipe must not be glowing red.
The following table shows the recommended quantities of firewood for different
types of sauna heaters and positions of the ash drawer. The values shown in
the table meet
the values of the nominal power pursuant to standard EN15821. In the test the
size of the sauna was determined based on the maximum area for the given sauna
heater and
temperature of 90 °C was achieved in the sauna. During first times we
recommend using less firewood for achieving the desired temperature than
values presented in the
table. Maximum quantity of firewood per hour (max kg/h) indicated in the table
must not be exceeded.
Heating of the sauna:
Kuru sauna heater | 14 | 20 |
---|
1. . firebox of firewood*
quantity of firewood (kg)| 3,5| 4
1. addition
quantity of firewood (kg)| 2| 3
2. addition
quantity of firewood (kg)| 2| 3
max kg/h| 6| 7,5
*) Sticks of firewood with a diameter around 5 cm, length around 33 cm and weight around 0.5 kg.
Do not stack firewood in the firebox over 2/3 of its height.
Quantities of firewood are shown in clause 4.1.
In a sauna heater equipped with a water tank or in a sauna heater that is
heated from another room firewood should not be burnt in the front part of the
firebox / in the extension, but the firewood must be placed entirely on the
grate of the firebox.
Do not forget that the sauna heater and its part become very hot during
heating. Always use gloves or other hand protection when being in touch with
the parts of the heater. When moving around in the sauna be careful, because
the floor and the ceiling of the sauna may be slippery.
Be careful – water in the water tank of the sauna heater may be very hot.
One firebox of firewood burns approximately half an hour. A good time for
adding firewood is when there are still some blue flames on the coal in the
firebox. Before adding
firewood you may even slightly smooth coal on the grate. If firewood is added
in the flames too early, the temperature of fume gases increases. Do not use
the door to push firewood in the firebox.
In case the sauna is used or the sauna heater is heated also after the
recommended number of times firewood should be added as shown in the table,
firewood should not be added according to the quantities mentioned in the
table. A proper quantity for keeping heat is 1-2 logs (approximately 1 kg of
firewood) every half an hour. The ash drawer may be closed a bit. If you add a
big quantity of firewood, the temperature of flue gases rises and this can
damage the smoke flue and cause a fire hazard. But do not heat continuously
over 3 hours. Thereafter, the sauna heater must be allowed to cool down before
the next heating.
In case the sauna will not be used any longer and coal is still glowing
without flame, extinguishing can be speeded up by increasing the draft. For
this open the ash drawer by 10-20 mm. There is enough heat accommodated in
the stones of the sauna heater to dry the sauna room.
In the ignition phase the closing pan must be fully open. Before you close the
closing pan after heating, check that there is no glowing coal in the firebox.
Otherwise fumes may be released in the sauna. Carbon monoxide is an odourless
and colourless toxic gas.
If you have not used the sauna heater and smoke flue for a longer period or it
is cold, please check before use that the smoke flue is in proper order and
that there are no corrosion damages on the sauna heater.
Start heating very slowly and with small quantity of firewood so that not to
damage the smoke flue.
In case of malfunction, stop the heating immediately and close the fireplace
and ash box doors.
4.3 Steam water
Use normal domestic water for steam water.
Quality requirements for domestic water:
humus content < 12 mg/l
iron content < 0.2 mg/l
calcium content < 100 mg/l
manganese content < 0.05 mg/l
Do not use sea water or other salty water. Also do not use
water containing chlorine. The warranty of the sauna heater does not cover
damages caused by the use of unsuit-
able steam water. Do not throw water on the stones, if you yourself or
somebody else is right next to the sauna heater. Hot water steam may cause
burns.
4.5 Maintenance of the sauna heater
The fireplace, the connective flue and the chimney must be swept regularly.
Cleaning and sweeping of the chimney is important especially if the fireplace
has not been used for a longer period. Besides removing the ashes and having
the chimney annually cleaned by a chimney sweep, the sauna heater requires no
other maintenance. The condition of the heater should be monitored, and usage
must be terminated immediately if devia- tion is recognized. chimney sweepers
are qualified to estimate the condition, and it helps the inspection if the
stones are removed before. To open the cleaning hatch of the sauna heater,
the upper stones have to be removed from the sauna heater.
The stones of the sauna heater have to be re-arranged once per year and
replaced every other year. Cracking stones collapse and fall lower, some
stones will erode. Remove
eroded and broken stones. Due to insufficient maintenance the sauna heater
needs more time for heating, which in its turn causes load on the structure of
the sauna heater. The surface of the sauna heater should be cleaned regularly
with a damp cloth.
Also the water tank of the sauna heater should be regularly cleaned. Use only
clean water to fill the tank. If there is a danger that water can freeze, the
water tank should be emptied.
4.6 Disposal
For disposal take the sauna heater to a public waste recy- cling centre.
Soot fire
IN CASE OF SOOT FIRE (ALSO IF IT HAS ALREADY BEEN EXTINGUISHED) ALWAYS INFORM
THE EMERGENCY CENTRE!
If you detect soot fire in the smoke flue, close the ash drawer and the door
of the firebox immediately. After soot fire and before the next use of the
sauna let a himneysweeper check the condition of the smoke flue and the sauna
heater.
Frequently Asked Questions
The sauna heater is drafting poorly
- The sauna heater has not been used in a long time; the smoke flue and sauna heater are damp.
- The sauna heater is not receiving sufficient air; there is a downdraft in the sauna caused by ventilation. Underpressure can be caused for example when the kitchen hood is used.
- The sauna heater has not been cleaned in a long time.
- The ash drawer is closed or full of ashes.
- Leakage in the connective flue. The sauna does not heat up properly
- The firewood is damp.
- The sauna heater has insufficient power.
- The sauna heater or smoke flue is drafting poorly.
- The stones of the sauna heater are dirty or crumbling or stacked too tightly.
- There are too many stones or there are too many small stones.
The sauna heater smells
- The sauna heater has not been properly heated the first time it was done.
- The stones of the sauna heater were not washed before loading.
- Fat or other dirt has accumulated on the stones.
- Steam water is not clean.
Warranty
The warranty of the sauna heater described in the instructions is one year.
The door of the sauna heater may change colour during heating. This is a
characteristic feature of stainless steel and is not covered by warranty.
The warranty period starts form the moment that the goods are delivered to the
end user. The supplier is not liable in any way for any defects within the
framework of the warranty or other defects that appear later than two (2)
years after the delivery of the goods to the client. The supplier may decide
to either repair the defective goods or replace the defective goods at its own
direction. The warranty does not cover possible transport, unloading or
installation costs or other corresponding costs. A receipt from the company
selling the product serves as proof of warranty.
The client must check the goods immediately after delivery. The client must
submit a written notice of claims to the supplier within two (2) weeks of
discovering the defect or
the moment when the defect should have been discovered. Do not modify the
structure of this product. With this product you can only use manufacturer-
recommended
accessories! Failure to comply with the manual or fire safety regulations can
result in a fire or damage to the sauna heater. More detailed information
about the fire safety
regulations can be obtained from the regional branch of the rescue board, for
instance.
The product shall be carefully inspected. Improper use of the product is for
instance wrong adjustment of the draft, too large a quantity of firewood burnt
in the firebox, too
long heating time, wrong arrangement of stones (too much or too tight) and use
of salty water ( for instance sea water). The warranty does not cover damages
caused by improper use of the sauna heater.
Ndrvi Oy 13
EN 15821:2010
Multi-firing sauna stoves fired by natural wood logs for space heating in
residential buildings Kuru 14
Fire safety (initiation, risk to adjacent elements)| Pass
– including declared safety distances to combustible materials:| Back
Side
Ceiling| 250 mm 250 mm 1 350 mm
Emission of combustible products| Pass
Surface temperature| Pass
Release of dangerous substances| NPD
Cleanability| Pass
Flue gas temperature| 370 *C
Mechanical resistance| Pass
Thermal output and
Energy efficiency, as:
– carbon monoxide emission at 13 % 02| Pass (0,57%)
– total efficiency| Pass (69%)
-flue draught| 12 Pa
– thermal output
(i.e. nominal space heating output)| 13 kW
– refuelling loads| 7,5 kg
Durability| Pass
NORil Oy
13
EN 15821:2010
Multi-firing sauna stoves fired by natural wood logs
for space heating in residential buildings
Kuru 20
Fire safety (initiation, risk to adjacent elements)| Pass
– including declared safety distances to combustible materials:| Back
Side
Ceiling| 250 mm 250 mm 1 350 mm
Emission of combustible products| Pass
Surface temperature| Pass
Release of dangerous substances| NPD
Cleanability| Pass
Flue gas temperature| 430.0
Mechanical resistance| Pass
Thermal output and Energy efficiency, as
– carbon monoxide emission at 13 %0,| Pass (0,81 %)
– total efficiency| Pass (67 %)
– flue draught| 12 Pa
– thermal output
(i.e. nominal space heating output)| 16 kW
– refuelling loads| 10 kg
Durability| Pass
Narvi Oy
Yrittäjäntie 1
27230 Lappi, Finland
Tel. +358 207 416 740
www.narvi.fi
References
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