FRFP
Item #: OB02028
SKU:
$3,599.00
A wide-faced wood insert — 36⅛" across with a cast iron door — on a 23⅛" body. 1.95 cu ft loading volume, 12 ft minimum chimney. The traditional-looking counterpart to the mode...
The Matrix-I is built around a compromise most inserts get wrong. Its face is 36⅛" wide, so it covers a generous fireplace opening and reads as a proper hearth rather than a small box set into a large hole. But the body behind it is only 23⅛" deep — nearly six inches shallower than the 3500-I, which means it fits fireboxes the larger inserts cannot reach into.
Cast iron door frame, so it sits comfortably in a traditional room where the steel-framed Inspire insert would look out of place.
Unlike the shallow Matrix 1900, the Matrix-I keeps a full 1.95 cu ft EPA loading volume — nearly double — so you get real burn times rather than constant reloading. That combination of a wide face, a shallow body and a full-size firebox is what makes this a sensible default choice for a lot of older fireplaces.
The Matrix-I needs 12 ft of chimney height, where the 3500-I and Matrix 2700 want 15 ft. On a single-storey house or a shorter stack, this is often the largest insert that will draw properly.
At 2.3 g/h particulate the Matrix-I is EPA approved and far cleaner than any older appliance, but it is not the cleanest Osburn insert — the Matrix 1900 runs 1.5 g/h and the Matrix 2700 manages 1.2 g/h. You are choosing the Matrix-I for fit and firebox size. If your fireplace is deep enough for the 2700, that unit burns cleaner and holds the same wood.
Non-catalytic — no combustor to replace.
A continuous stainless liner running the full chimney height is required, listed to ULC-S635, CAN/ULC-S640 or UL1777, minimum 12 ft. Price it with the appliance, not after.
Send us your opening width and firebox depth and we will confirm which Osburn insert actually fits — (540) 212-9374.
| Data expressed in inches. 1 inch = 25.4 mm (Single Wall Pipe / Double Wall Pipe) | Single Wall Pipe | Double Wall Pipe |
|---|---|---|
| Clearance - Side Wall | 16" | – |
| Clearance – Minimum Floor Protection in Front of the Appliance | 16" | – |
Q: Why is the efficiency as per the EPA’s test data smaller than the publicized optimum efficiency?
A: EPA refers to the CSAB415.1-10 standard for the calculation of the appliance’s efficiency. The efficiency reported as per EPA’s directives consists of an average between four different burn rates, ranging from the lowest burn rate (air intake completely closed) to the highest burn rate (air intake completely open). The optimum efficiency that we publicize is the efficiency obtained according to the same test data, but for the low burn rate only. This efficiency is more realistic for a majority of users whose heating needs require that the unit be used to maximize burn times.
Q: Why is the BTU according to EPA test data smaller than the one advertised?
A: You will notice a difference between the BTU output as per the EPA’s test data and what is advertised on our web site and/or product literature. The maximum BTU output we advertise is what will be obtained with a full load of seasoned cordwood inserted inside the firebox. The EPA output, on the other hand, is what has been obtained during emissions testing. The EPA test procedure requires that a special type of wood is used and positioned inside the firebox in a manner that does not represent the way the firebox volume would normally be utilized using seasoned cordwood. The EPA test load is typically much smaller. Hence, the BTU as per the EPA’s test data is reduced. The BTU output that should be considered by a normal user is the one we advertise for seasoned cordwood.
Q: Will my insert work in the case of a power failure?
A: Your insert can be used in a power failure. An insert is built like a wood stove. The only thing that will not work in a power failure is the blower. Operating your insert without the blower will not damage the unit. The disadvantage is that you will not benefit from the heat circulation around the insert’s jacket. Inserts come with a blower because a large portion of the unit is inserted into a masonry opening. The heat that radiates from the portion of the firebox inserted into the masonry hearth does not reach the room as it would with a freestanding wood stove. This is why inserts have a jacket built around the back portion of their firebox. The heat is trapped inside that jacket and is pushed back in front of the stove and into the room with a blower. Without electricity, you will not recover as much heat from the unit. The radiating heat will come mainly from the glass and the front portion of the insert.
Q: Why does my wood insert blower not move a lot of air?
A: All of our inserts and blowers are designed to complement each other. It is a matter of achieving the greatest amount of heat transfer from the unit. The key is to design the insert so air can move and extract the greatest amount of heat without cooling the firebox and hindering the efficiency of the unit. If the blower velocity were to be increased, it would give the impression that the unit heats more. However, it would actually blow cooler air and reduce the unit's efficiency. A hot firebox will burn better and cleaner. A slower but hotter air displacement is therefore always preferable. The same principle applies to the heat sensor available on many models. It is better for the heat sensor to activate the blower later, when the unit is very hot, rather than activating it too early and blow cooler air when the unit is still completing its start-up phase.
Q: Can I install a liner with a 5-inch or 5.5-inch diameter?
A: All of our inserts are designed to function with a 6" liner. However, it is adequate to install a 5" or 5.5" liner when the masonry chimney is too tight for a 6" liner. Under certain conditions, the probability of a drafting issue is increased, which could favor smoke spillage and/or reduce combustion quality. But generally speaking, the vast majority of homeowners who properly install a 5" or 5.5" liner and use good heating techniques will be very satisfied with the performance of their wood insert.
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