Lopez Labs

A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN LOPEZ QUARRIES AND MASONRY STOVE BUILDERS

Current Research

Lopez Labs Archive

Jerry Frisch with his clean burning Frisch Rosin masonry fireplace system (Norbert Senf in the background, holding "2 min." sign) (1994)

Lopez Labs was started at the Everett, WA shop of Lopez Quarries/Masonry Heaters. Between 1992 and 1995 we tested a variety of masonry heaters for several weeks every spring at Everett. We currently maintain the largest masonry heater performance database in the United States or Canada. Lopez also participated with two other labs in a simultaneous field test series of masonry fireplaces at McNear Brick in California in 1995.

We now have a second test facility at the Masonry Stove Builders shop here in Greermount, Quebec (90 minutes from Ottawa, Canada's capital.) We are building a long term performance database on how various operating factors affect specific heater models.

A number of papers have been published describing the research at Lopez Labs. These are available at Lopez Labs Archive

Current Research

Condar dilution tunnel testing at Shawville, 2008

Test Results

Data analysis (preliminary)

Correlation between Condar PM number and Opacity Curve

Graphical data summary

Condar dilution tunnel calibration - Fairbanks, Alaska, 2007

Free Gas Movement - Shawville 2007

2006 - 2007 Contraflow Tests at Shawville

Recent Research

Technical Assessment of Hi-mass Masonry Heaters and Integrated Water Loop

Bell heater testing - Alex Chernov, 2007

Bell heater testing - Wildacres 2006

Bell heater testing - Toronto 2006

Fuel Crib Testing, February, 2005

Heatkit white oven test, Feb. 3/03

Clearance to Combustibles Testing, MHA Annual Meeting, 2001

Clearance to Combustibles Testing, Shawville, April, 2000

1997 Heater Combustion Tests

View color images and data from the 1997 test series

Low Emissions Residential Cordwood Combustion in High Mass Appliances - Recent Research and Results
Norbert Senf
presented at Combustion Canada ’96 Conference,
Ottawa, June 5 - 7, 1996

 

 

A Comparison of Fireplace Emissions Testing Methods
Norbert Senf
3 test methods were run simultaneously on open masonry fireplaces at McNear Brick in 1995.
(20 pages, 80Kb PDF file)

Very Low Emissions Cordwood Combustion in High Burn Rate Appliances - Early Results with Possible Implications
Norbert Senf
presented at the 88th Annual Meeting of the Air and Waste Management Association, San Antonio, 1995.

Air Requirements and Related Parameters for Masonry Heating Systems
Norbert Senf
prepared for The Research Division, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Ottawa, (1994)