Ancient fire pits were sometimes constructed from the ground, in caves, or at the center of a hut or dwelling. Evidence of prehistoric, man-made flames exists on all five inhabited continents. The drawback of premature indoor fire pits was that they generated toxic and/or irritating smoke within the house.Fire pits grown into elevated hearths in structures, but ventilation smoke depended on open windows or openings in roofs. The great hall typically had a centrally situated hearth, where a open flame burnt with the smoke climbing into the port in the roof. Louvers were developed during the Middle Ages to enable the roof vents to be coated so snow and rain wouldn't enter.
Also throughout the Middle Ages, smoke canopies were invented to stop smoke from spreading through an area and vent it outside through a ceiling or wall. These could be placed against stone walls, rather than taking up the center of the room, and this enabled smaller rooms to be warmed.Chimneys were devised in northern Europe from the 11th or 12th centuries and mostly fixed the issue of fumes, more faithfully venting smoke outside. They made it possible to provide the fireplace a draft, and also made it feasible to place fireplaces in numerous rooms in buildings conveniently. They did not come into general usage instantly, however, since they were more expensive to develop and maintain.In 1678 Prince Rupert, nephew of Charles I, increased the grate of the fireplace, improving the venting and airflow system. Benjamin Franklin developed a convection room for the fireplace that greatly enhanced the efficacy of fireplaces and wood stoves. He also enhanced the airflow by pulling air from a cellar and venting out a longer area at the top. In the later 18th century, Count Rumford designed a fireplace using a tall, shallow firebox which has been better at drawing the smoke up and out of the construction. The shallow design improved greatly the amount of radiant warmth projected into the room. Rumford's design is the foundation for modern fireplaces.
The Aesthetic movement of the 1870s and 1880s took on a more conventional spectra based on rock and also deflected unnecessary ornamentation. Instead it relied on simple layouts with little unnecessary ornamentation. From the 1890s the Aesthetic movement gave way into the Arts and Crafts movement, where the emphasis was still placed on supplying quality gems. Stone fireplaces at this time have been a symbol of prosperity, which to some degree is still the notion today.A fireplace is a construction made from brick, stone or metal designed to contain a fire. Fireplaces are used for its relaxing ambiance that they create and for heating a space. Modern fireplaces change in heat efficacy, depending on the design.Historically they have been used for heating a dwelling, cooking, and heating water for domestic and laundry uses. A fire is contained in a firebox or firepit; a chimney or alternative flue allows exhaust to escape.
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On the exterior there is often a corbeled brick crown, in which the casting courses of brick act as a drip course to keep rainwater from running down the outside walls. A hood, cap, or shroud serves to keep rainwater out of the outside of the chimney; rain at the chimney is a far greater problem in chimneys lined with impervious flue tiles or metal liners than with the traditional masonry chimney, which divides up all but the rain. Some chimneys have a spark arrestor integrated into the crown or cap.
The EPA writes"Smoke may smell good, but it is not great for you.Types of fireplacesManufactured fireplaces are made with sheet metal or glass flame boxes.Electric fireplaces can be built-in replacements for either wood or gas or retrofit with log inserts or electric fireboxes.A couple of types are, wall mounted electric fireplaces, electric fireplace stoves, electric mantel fireplaces and fixed or free standing electric fireplaces.
Masonry and prefabricated fireplaces can be fueled by wood, natural gas, biomass and propane fuel sources. In the USA, several states and local counties have laws restricting these kinds of fireplaces. They must be suitably sized to the area to be heated. Additionally, there are air quality management issues due to the quantity of moisture that they release into the room air, and oxygen sensor and carbon monoxide sensors are safety essentials. Direct vent fireplaces have been fueled by liquid propane or natural gas. They are totally sealed from the area that is heated, and vent all exhaust gasses into the exterior of the structure.
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Over time, the intent behind fireplaces has changed from one of necessity to one of visual interest. Early ones were fire pits compared to modern fireplaces. They were used for warmth on cold days and nights, as well as for cooking. They also functioned as a gathering place inside the home. These fire pits were generally based within a space, allowing more individuals to gather around it.
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Many defects were found in ancient fireplace designs. The most renowned fireplace designers of this period were the Adam Brothers. They perfected a style of fireplace design that was used for generations. It was smaller, more brightly colored, with an emphasis on the quality of the substances used in their construction, instead of their dimensions.
By the 1800s most new fireplaces were composed of two parts, the surround and the add. The encircle comprised of the mantlepiece and sides affirms, usually in wood, marble or granite. The fit was fire burned, and was built of cast iron often backed with decorative tiles. In addition to providing warmth, the fireplaces of the Victorian era were believed to add a cozy ambiance into houses.Traditional Wood Mantel Designs WoodWorking Projects Plans Video
Some fireplace units include a blower that transports more of the fireplace's heat to the air via convection, resulting in a more evenly heated space and a lower heating load. Fireplace efficiency is also enhanced by means of a fireback, a sheet of metal which sits behind the flame and reflects heat back into the room. Firebacks are traditionally produced from cast iron, but can also be made from stainless steel. Efficiency is a complicated concept though with open hearth fireplaces. Most efficiency tests consider only the effect of heating of the atmosphere. An open fireplace isn't, and never was, intended to heat the atmosphere. The best way to gauge the output of a fireplace is in case you notice you are turning the thermostat down or up.
Most older fireplaces have a relatively low efficiency score. Standard, modern, wood-burning masonry fireplaces still possess an efficiency rating of 80% (legal minimum necessity such as in Salzburg/Austria). To improve efficiency, fireplaces may also be modified by adding special heavy fireboxes designed to burn much cleaner and may reach efficiencies as large as 80% in heating the air. These altered fireplaces are usually equipped with a massive fire window, enabling an efficient heating process in two stages. During the first phase the first heat is offered through a big glass while the flame is burning. In this time the construction, constructed of refractory bricks, absorbs the heat. This heat is then evenly radiated for several hours during the next stage. Masonry fireplaces without a glass fire window just provide heat radiated from its surface. Based on temperatures 1 to two daily firings are sufficient to ensure a constant room temperature.fireplace design
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