UV from stove.

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nojo

New Member
Dec 22, 2009
224
Western/cent Mass
Are an of you concerned with UV emanating from the stove? I like to stare at the fire while its burning for a bit when I'm adjusting, or just get mesmerized by a great burn.

Im just wondering if the glass on my stove is offering me UV protection. If not im betting our eyes are taking a beating!
 
I'll bet ceramic glass blocks a lot of UV, but I doubt there's a significant amount there to do damage, anyway. You could always toss on a pair of shades - make sure they're rated for NC-30 protection!
 
If this really worries you, you better not leave your house in the summer ;)
 
Please tell me... you're not looking at your fire through that glass! Get thee to an ophthalmologist post haste. :ahhh:

JK

All objects give off some sort of electromagnetic radiation, but the frequencies are distributed along a curve and are temperature dependent. At any given temperature, there is a spectral emission curve that corresponds to that temp. The curve of that spectrum tails off very rapidly at the UV end, so although there is probably some UV given off at internal stove temps, it is a very insignificant amount. Even at 2000ºF, the biggest worry is IR radiation, not UV. There is something called "glassblower's cataract" caused by long term exposure to glass furnace temps that exceed 2000º, but it is IR that causes the damage. At 10,000ºF (surface of the sun) you will have a much different situation going on, with a lot of UV emitted. Hope you're not running your stove that hot.

As for the ceramic stove glass itself, I believe it blocks IR but allows UV to pass through. There are other types of ceramic glass that do just the opposite, let IR pass but block UV. I don't think this material is used in wood stoves, either because of the cost or because of front clearance reasons. Plus, I think letting a lot of the IR radiation pass through the glass would lower firebox temps. Sure would make you feel toasty, though.
 
branchburner said:
You could always toss on a pair of shades - make sure they're rated for NC-30 protection!

:lol:

I think BrotherBart developed an IR-blocking lotion that is 30-NC rated. Something to do with stove-induced sunburn while trying to block off the intake air? %-P
 
Working around forges is what makes me think of this. I know my stove doesnt get as hot as my coal or gas forge, but the coal base does exceed 1000f easily. Its just got me a little worried for good reason I believe. I used to have pretty much perfect vision and my left eye has degraded somewhat in the last year or two. I dont know what to blame but exposure to forge and stove might be making a difference.
 
nojo said:
I used to have pretty much perfect vision and my left eye has degraded somewhat in the last year or two.

Same here, only it was my right eye. Turns out I have a cataract in that eye. Have you seen the eye doc?

You should PM Mike at ESW (stoveguy2esw) and see if anyone at England's has given this any thought. (They could be the first to come out with a tinted glass door!)
 
Wood fire emits IR not UV. It's intensity is low compared to a forge and the flame that glass blowers use. There is a possibility of getting IR related cataracts from very intense flames, but I doubt a wood stove would ever be an issue. UV eye exposure is a risk with welding, alpine climbing and for some people working on the sea.

http://www.dguv.de/ifa/en/fac/strahl/pdf/augen_e.pdf
 
If the fire was bad on your eyes i would be blind then.
 
corey21 said:
If the fire was bad on your eyes i would be blind then.

Can I just do it until I need glasses?
 
don't know
 
nojo said:
Are an of you concerned with UV emanating from the stove? I like to stare at the fire while its burning for a bit when I'm adjusting, or just get mesmerized by a great burn.

Im just wondering if the glass on my stove is offering me UV protection. If not im betting our eyes are taking a beating!

If so, then how do we explain that people have sit and starred at fires for hundreds of years and most have not gone blind from it. As for me, I'll continue to enjoy watching the flame and not worry a bit about it.
 
Backwoods Savage said:
nojo said:
Are an of you concerned with UV emanating from the stove? I like to stare at the fire while its burning for a bit when I'm adjusting, or just get mesmerized by a great burn.

Im just wondering if the glass on my stove is offering me UV protection. If not im betting our eyes are taking a beating!

If so, then how do we explain that people have sit and starred at fires for hundreds of years and most have not gone blind from it. As for me, I'll continue to enjoy watching the flame and not worry a bit about it.
I agree with you 100%.
 
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