The Push Button Ignition System

Match lit is the simplest approach to initiating fire in the fire pit. Flick a grill lighter and turn on the gas. There is no fail safe though. If the flame goes out, gas will continue to pour from the fire ring. This is a concern to a lesser degree for a residential installation because there is usually supervision nearby. It would be a waste of personnel at a commercial site (hotel, spa, golf course, etc.) to assign someone just to watch a fire pit. Local building codes probably require a fail safe system at a commercial site anyway. Not using a flame fail safe system would be irresponsible endangerment of life and property, and then there is the consequential liability.

The push button ignition kit uses a 9 volt battery to provide power to the spark which ignites the gas to the burner. A sensor is positioned in the flame from of the burner holes. The sensor will signal the valve to close when it detects a loss of heat and the gas will cease to flow. Standard sizes are 18” (12” burner), 24” (18” burner), and 30” a (24” burner).

The push button assembly is the silver box on the right of this picture. This must be mounted on the inside with an opening in the side of the fire pit to access the ignition button. The push button box has no bottom. To replace the battery, lift the burner assembly and reach under the box from the inside. This requires a flex line connection between the push button ignition kit and the emergency shut off valve with reasonable slack.

For a fail safe burner system, the push button ignition kit is reliable and comparatively cheap. The sensor will detect the loss of heat if the flame goes out and will close the valve, thereby preventing gas (LP or NG) from being wildly released into the fire pit area.

Next blog: The Burner Ring Style Electronic Ignition Kit