Ancient fire pits were sometimes constructed from the ground, in caves, or at the middle of a hut or dwelling. Evidence of prehistoric, man-made fires is present on all five inhabited continents. The disadvantage of premature indoor flame pits was that they generated toxic and/or irritating smoke within the dwelling.Fire pits grown into elevated hearths in structures, but venting smoke depended on open windows or holes in roofs. The great hall typically needed a centrally situated hearth, where a open fire burned with the smoke climbing into the port in the roof. Louvers were developed throughout the Middle Ages to allow the roof vents to be coated so snow and rain would not enter.
Additionally throughout the Middle Ages, smoke canopies were devised to stop smoke from spreading through a room and vent it outside through a wall or roof. These could be put against stone walls, instead of taking up the middle of the space, and this allowed smaller rooms to be warmed.Chimneys were invented in northern Europe from the 11th or 12th centuries and largely fixed the issue of fumes, more reliably venting smoke out. They made it possible to give the fireplace a draft, and also made it possible to put fireplaces in multiple rooms in buildings conveniently. They didn't come into general usage instantly, however, since they were expensive to develop and maintain.In 1678 Prince Rupert, nephew of Charles I, increased the grate of the fireplace, improving the airflow and venting system. Benjamin Franklin developed a convection room for the fireplace which greatly enhanced the efficacy of fireplaces and wood stoves. In addition, he enhanced the airflow by pulling air from a cellar and venting out a longer place on very top. At the later 18th century, Count Rumford made a fireplace using a tall, shallow firebox which has been better at drawing the smoke up and out of the building. The shallow design also improved greatly the amount of radiant heat projected to the room. Rumford's layout is the foundation for modern fireplaces.
The Aesthetic movement of the 1870s and 1880s took to a more traditional spectra based on rock and also deflected unnecessary ornamentation. Rather it relied on simple layouts with little unnecessary ornamentation. From the 1890s the Aesthetic movement gave way into the Arts and Crafts movement, in which the emphasis was still placed on providing quality stone. Stone fireplaces at this time were a sign of prosperity, which to a degree remains the idea today.A fireplace is a structure made of brick, stone or metal designed to contain a fire. Fireplaces are utilized for the relaxing ambiance that they create and for heating a space. Modern fireplaces vary in heat efficacy, based upon the design.Historically they were used for heating a dwelling, cooking, and heating water for domestic and laundry uses.
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On the exterior there's often a corbeled brick crown, in which the projecting courses of brick act as a drip course to keep rainwater from running down the exterior walls. A cap, hood, 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 metallic liners than with the traditional masonry chimney, that soaks up all but the most violent rain. A few chimneys have a spark arrestor integrated into the crown or cap.
Organizations like the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington Department of Ecology warn that, according to different studies, fireplaces can pose a substantial health threat. The EPA writes"Smoke may smell good, but it's not good for you.Kinds of fireplacesManufactured fireplaces are made with sheet glass or metal flame boxes.Electric fireplaces could be built-in replacements for wood or gas or retrofit with log inserts or electrical fireboxes.
In the USA, some states and local businesses have laws restricting these types of fireplaces. Additionally, there are air quality management issues because of the quantity of moisture that they discharge into the room air, and oxygen detector and carbon monoxide 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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As time passes, the intent behind fireplaces has transformed from one of requirement to one of visual interest. Early ones were more fire pits than modern fireplaces. They have been used for warmth on chilly days and nights, as well as for cooking. They also served as a gathering place inside the home. These fire pits were usually based within a room, allowing more people to collect around it.
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Many flaws were found in early fireplace designs. The most famous fireplace designers of the time were the Adam Brothers. They perfected a style of fireplace design that has been 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 size.
From the 1800s most new fireplaces were composed of 2 parts, the surround and the add. The encircle consisted of the mantlepiece and sides affirms, usually in wood, granite or marble. The insert was fire burnt, and was constructed of cast iron frequently backed with decorative tiles. In addition to providing heat, the fireplaces of the Victorian age were thought to bring a cozy ambiance into homes.Pearl Mantels Auburn Traditional Fireplace Mantel Shelf Fireplace Mantels Surrounds at Hayneedle Video
Some fireplace units include a blower that transports more of the fireplace's heat to the atmosphere via convection, leading to a more evenly heated area and a lower heating load. Fireplace efficiency can also be enhanced with the use of a fireback, a sheet of metal that sits behind the flame and reflects heat back into the room. Firebacks are traditionally produced from cast iron, but are also manufactured from stainless steel. Efficiency is a complex concept though with open hearth fireplaces. Most efficiency tests consider only the impact of heating of the air. An open fireplace is not, and never was, designed to warm the air. A fireplace with a fireback is a radiant heater, and has done so since the 15th century. The best method to gauge the output of a fireplace is in case you detect you're turning the thermostat down or up.
Most older fireplaces have a comparatively low efficiency rating. Standard, modern, wood-burning masonry fireplaces though have an efficiency rating of 80% (legal minimum requirement for example in Salzburg/Austria). To boost efficiency, fireplaces may also be modified by inserting special heavy fireboxes designed to burn much cleaner and can reach efficiencies as high as 80 percent in heating the air. These altered fireplaces are often equipped with a large fire window, allowing an efficient heating process in two stages. During the first phase the initial heat is offered through a large glass while the fire is burning. During this time period the structure, built of refractory bricks, absorbs the warmth. This heat is then equally radiated for several hours during the second phase. Masonry fireplaces with no glass fire window only provide heat radiated from its surface. Depending on outside temperatures 1 to two daily firings are enough to ensure a constant room temperature.fireplace mantle
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