This guide applies specifically to Tentipi Nordic tipis designed for use with an open fire or stove. Most other tents are not designed for this purpose. If you have a tent from another manufacturer, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Quick Summary
• Always ensure adequate ventilation, whether using an open fire or a stove.
• When using a stove, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is negligible in practice as long as the stove is correctly installed.
• When using an open fire, the ventilator cap must remain open as long as there are glowing embers.
• Extinguish the fire completely before closing the ventilation openings.
• Never leave an open fire or burning stove unattended.
How to Safely Use a Stove
• Keep the ventilator cap closed while using the stove. Do not adjust it while the stove is hot, as contact with the chimney pipe could damage it.
• Hot gases rise through the chimney pipe and leave the tent at the top. This creates negative pressure inside the stove and prevents flue gases from escaping into the tent.
• Even if the tent were completely airtight, fresh air would still enter through the air gap between the chimney pipe and the insulation pipe at the top of the tent.
• The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is negligible in practice as long as the stove is correctly installed.
How to Safely Use an Open Fire
• Always use a firebox, either Hekla 7 or Hekla 30 (the latter only in the larger Adventure sizes). They keep the fire concentrated and provide virtually smoke-free burning.
• Open the ventilator cap on the leeward side so that the smoke is drawn out.
• Let fresh air enter on the windward side of the tent, either through an air intake vent or through the mosquito net in the door.
• Keep the ventilator cap opening as small as possible to retain heat, but never make it smaller than required for adequate ventilation.
Safir and Zirkon: Keep the small top ventilator cap closed while using an open fire. As the fire dies down, close the ventilator cap and open the top ventilator cap instead. This allows gases from the glowing embers to escape without letting insects in.
Onyx: As the fire dies down, partially close the ventilator cap, but leave it sufficiently open to allow gases from the glowing embers to escape.
Take Precautions
• Always keep water and a bundle of leafy twigs close at hand in case you need to extinguish a fire.
• Keep a knife readily accessible so that you can quickly cut through the tent fabric if you need to evacuate.
• Never leave an open fire or burning stove unattended.
• Extinguish the fire completely before closing the ventilation openings. This prevents carbon monoxide from accumulating inside the tent.
• For additional peace of mind, consider using a portable carbon monoxide alarm.
Never combine Tentipi products with products from other brands without first checking their compatibility.
Doing so may create unexpected risks to both health and the products themselves. Tentipi is not responsible for damage or other consequences resulting from such combinations.
What Is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a highly toxic, colourless and odourless gas produced by incomplete combustion of fuels such as wood, charcoal or LPG when there is insufficient oxygen available for combustion.
Carbon monoxide has approximately the same density as air and therefore mixes readily with it. It does not collect specifically near the ground or at the top of the tent; dangerous concentrations can occur throughout the tent’s air volume. At the same time, because carbon monoxide mixes readily with air, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning can be reduced by ensuring adequate air exchange.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can include headache, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, nausea, vomiting, changes in heart rate and loss of consciousness.
The greatest risk occurs as the fire dies down and only glowing embers remain. Embers produce no visible smoke, which can make it tempting to close the ventilation openings to retain heat. However, as long as there are glowing embers, adequate ventilation and a supply of oxygen to the fire are essential.
Why Are Tentipi Nordic Tipis Different?
Our Nordic tipis that are intended for use with an open fire or stove are designed with ventilation as an integral part of their construction. The design is inspired by the traditional dwellings of the Sámi people, where the central fire was an essential part of everyday life and using it always involved ventilation.
The shape of the Nordic tipi and its ventilation openings help create a natural airflow. Warm air rises and leaves the tent at the top, while fresh air is drawn in lower down. This creates air circulation even when there is very little wind.
Most tents, by contrast, are not designed for use with an open fire or stove at all. This is one of the most common factors involved in cases of carbon monoxide poisoning in tents, along with the use of charcoal grills – a heat source that is inherently unsuitable for use inside any type of tent.
