About Fireplaces

Fireplaces are architectural devices that are meant to hold fire for heating purposes or for cooking. They have been part of home designs in one form or another since ancient times. Most fireplaces are placed inside a home or building, though there are a growing number of fireplaces that are being built outside as well. Fireplaces not only hold fire and keep it from spreading into the rest of the house; they are also designed to filter smoke out of the home to keep the air fresh and clean.

History of

The first fireplaces were seen in ancient communities and consisted of little more than a hole dug in the ground. Smoke left the home through holes in the top of the ceiling, and this simple design became the foundation for future and modern fireplaces. After the invention of two story buildings, which happened far into the future, fireplaces were moved from the middle of the room to the side of buildings. Smoke ventilation was a problem, though, and fireplaces became equipped with chimneys, which let smoke flow up and out of a building. In 1578, the grate of the fireplace was redesigned and raised, so that air flowed better and less smoke made it into the room. In the 1700s, Benjamin Franklin and Count Rumford made numerous changes to the fireplace that nearly perfected airflow in a fireplace, which also increased their efficiency.

Type

Fireplaces are classified by the type of material used to build them and the material they burn. There are three main material types that are used to build fireplaces. Masonry fireplaces are made of brick or stone, reinforced fireplaces are equipped with chimneys made of reinforced concrete, and manufactured fireplaces are made with metal pipes and a sheet metal fire box. Certain fireplaces also burn different materials. Traditional fireplaces burn coal, wood or peat. Some of the more modern fireplaces are classified by the type that burn natural gas, and the type that burn a special gel that does not require the fireplace to have a chimney.

Identification

Fireplaces are usually easy to identify inside of a home. They have only a few components that are readily recognizable. They are made of a firebox or a fire pit, which is the open space in the fireplace where fuel is burned and fire is made. They are either filled with wood, coal, peat, smokeless gel or have hidden tubes that pump in natural gas, which is then lit. A chimney or plume rises from the fireplace and allows smoke and gas to escape safely out of the building.

Features

Fireplaces have a number of special features that they can be equipped with. One of the more common features is a grate, which is also known as a fire guard. These help to contain the fuel in the fire pit so the fire does not go out. A fireback is set in place at the back of the fire pit and protects the wall of the building from the flames. Since it is generally made of cast iron, it radiates heat and helps to warm the room much better than a fireplace without a fireback.

Function

Fireplaces today have a few functions. The major function is to warm the room and home they are installed in. They are particularly useful for homes in colder climates, and before the invention of heaters they were the sole source of heat during long winters. Fireplaces are often a site for social gathering and many families use the fireplace as a part of the house all members can gather around. Finally, fireplaces are used in interior design and architecture to increase the aesthetic value of the room they are installed in. There are many different fireplace designs that cater to all sorts of homes and furnishings.