Ancient fire pits were sometimes constructed in the floor, in caves, or at the middle of a hut or dwelling. Evidence of prehistoric, man-made flames is present on all five inhabited continents. The disadvantage of early indoor fire pits was that they generated hazardous or irritating smoke within the dwelling.Fire pits developed into raised hearths in structures, but venting smoke relied on open windows or holes in roofs. The great hall typically needed a centrally located hearth, where a open flame burned with the smoke rising to the vent in the roof. Louvers were developed during the Middle Ages to allow the roof vents to be covered so rain and snow would not enter.
Additionally throughout the Middle Ages, smoke canopies were devised to stop smoke from dispersing an area and vent it outside via a wall or roof. These could be placed against stone walls, rather than taking up the middle of the room, and this allowed smaller chambers to be heated.Chimneys were invented in northern Europe in the 11th or 12th centuries and largely fixed the issue of fumes, more faithfully venting smoke outside. They made it feasible to give the fireplace a draft, and made it possible to put fireplaces in numerous rooms in buildings conveniently. They didn't come into general use instantly, however, as they were more expensive to develop and maintain.In 1678 Prince Rupert, nephew of Charles I, raised the grate of the fireplace, improving the airflow and venting system. Benjamin Franklin developed a convection chamber for the fireplace which greatly enhanced the efficiency of fireplaces and wood stoves. He also enhanced the airflow by pulling air from a cellar and venting a lengthier area at the top. At the later 18th century, Count Rumford made a fireplace using a tall, shallow firebox which has been better at drawing up the smoke and from the construction. The shallow design also improved greatly the quantity of radiant heat projected into the space. Rumford's design is the foundation for modern kitchens.
Instead it depended on simple designs with small unnecessary ornamentation. From the 1890s the Aesthetic movement gave way to the Arts and Crafts movement, in which the emphasis was placed on supplying quality gems. Stone fireplaces at this time have been a symbol of prosperity, which to some degree is still the idea today.A fireplace is a structure made of brick, stone or metal made to contain a fire. Fireplaces are utilized for the relaxing ambiance that they create and also for heating a space. Modern fireplaces vary in heat efficiency, based upon the design.Historically they were used for heating a home, 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's often a corbeled brick crown, where the projecting courses of brick act as a drip route to keep rainwater from running down the outside walls. A hood, cap, or shroud functions to keep rainwater from the outside of the chimney; rain at the chimney is a far larger difficulty in chimneys lined with impervious flue tiles or metal liners compared with the standard masonry chimney, which divides up all but the rain. Some chimneys have a spark arrestor incorporated 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 glass or metal fire boxes.Electric fireplaces can be built-in replacements for either wood or gas or retrofit with log inserts or electrical fireboxes.
Masonry and prefabricated fireplaces can be fueled by wood, natural gas, biomass and propane fuel sources. Ventless Fireplaces (duct free/room-venting fireplaces) are fueled by gel, liquid propane, bottled gas or natural gas. In the USA, some states and local businesses have laws restricting these kinds of fireplaces. They need to be properly sized to the area to be heated. There are also air quality control problems due to the quantity of moisture that they release into the room air, and oxygen sensor and carbon dioxide sensors are safety essentials. Direct vent fireplaces are fueled by liquid propane or natural gas. They are completely sealed from the place that is heated, and vent all exhaust gasses to 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 than contemporary fireplaces. They were used for warmth on chilly days and nights, as well as for cooking. They also served as a gathering place within the house. These fire pits were usually based within a space, allowing more individuals to collect around it.
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Many defects were found in early fireplace designs. Together with the Industrial Revolution, came large scale housing developments, requiring a standardization of fireplaces. The most renowned fireplace designers of this time were the Adam Brothers. They perfected a kind of fireplace design which was used for generations. It had been smaller, more brightly lit, with a emphasis on the level of the materials used in their construction, instead of their size.
From the 1800s most new fireplaces were made up of two components, the surround and the insert. The encircle consisted of the mantlepiece and sides supports, usually in wood, granite or marble. The insert was where the fire burnt, and was built of cast iron frequently backed with ornamental tiles. In addition to providing heat, the fireplaces of the Victorian era were thought to add a cozy ambiance into homes.Belham Living Palmer Fireplace Mantel Shelf Fireplace Mantels Surrounds at Hayneedle Video
Some fireplace components incorporate a blower that transfers more of the fireplace's heat to the air via convection, resulting in a more evenly heated area and a lower heating load. Fireplace efficiency is also increased with the use of a fireback, a piece of metal which sits behind the fire and reflects heat back into the room. Firebacks are traditionally produced from cast iron, but are also made from stainless steel. Efficiency is a complicated concept though with open hearth fireplaces. Most efficacy tests consider only the impact of heating of the air. An open fireplace is not, and never was, designed to heat the air. A fireplace with a fireback is a radiant heater, and has done so since the 15th century. The best way to gauge the output of a fireplace is if you notice you're turning the thermostat down or up.
Most elderly fireplaces have a comparatively low efficiency score. Standard, contemporary, weatherproof masonry fireplaces still possess an efficiency rating of 80% (legal minimum requirement such as in Salzburg/Austria). To boost efficiency, fireplaces can also be altered by inserting 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 large fire window, allowing an efficient heating system in two phases. During the first stage the first heat is offered through a large glass window while the flame is burning. During this time period the structure, constructed of refractory bricks, absorbs the warmth. This heat is then equally radiated for many hours during the next stage. Masonry fireplaces with no glass fire window just provide heat radiated from its surface. Depending on outside temperatures 1 to 2 daily firings are sufficient to guarantee a constant room temperature.fireplace mantels
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