Citizendia

Winter (fireplace), tacuinum sanitatis casanatensis (XIV century)
Winter (fireplace), tacuinum sanitatis casanatensis (XIV century)

A fireplace is an architectural element consisting of a space designed to contain a fire, generally for heating but sometimes also for cooking. The Tacuinum (sometimes Taccuinum) Sanitatis is a medieval handbook on wellness based on the Taqwin al‑sihha ar تقوين الصحة ("Tables The term architecture (from Greek αρχιτεκτονικήarchitektoniki) can be used to mean a process a profession or documentation Fire is the heat and light energy released during a Chemical reaction, in particular a combustion reaction. Cooking is the process of preparing Food by applying Heat, selecting measuring and combining of ingredients in an ordered procedure for producing safe and edible The space where the fire is contained is called a firebox or firepit; a chimney or other flue allows gas and particulate exhaust to escape the building. The firebox or firepit is the part of the fireplace where fuel is combusted in distinction to the Hearth, Chimney, mantle, Overmantle and A chimney is a system for venting hot Flue gases or Smoke from a Boiler, Stove, Furnace or Fireplace to the outside A flue is a duct, Pipe, or Chimney for conveying Exhaust gases from a Fireplace, Furnace, Water heater, This page is about the physical properties of gas as a state of matter Particulates, alternatively referred to as particulate matter (PM or fine particles, are tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in a gas While most fireplaces are constructed in building interiors, sometimes outdoor fireplaces are created for evening warmth, outdoor cooking or decorative purposes. An outdoor fireplace is a place for building fires outside of the home

Contents

Uses

In colder climates throughout the world, the fireplace or hearth has traditionally been a central feature of the household, as it gives warmth to aid survival through an extended winter. Temperature is a physical property of a system that underlies the common notions of hot and cold something that is hotter generally has the greater temperature Climate encompasses the temperatures humidity rainfall atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorogical factors in a given region over long periods of In common historic and modern usage a hearth (Har-th is a Brick - or stone -lined Fireplace or Oven used for Cooking and/or Heating Winter is one of the four Seasons of Temperate zones Calculated astronomically, it begins on the Solstice and ends on the Equinox The sensation of direct heat, and the mesmerizing leaps and flickers of a wood fire, make its use enjoyable in cold conditions even today. Hypnosis is often thought to be a wakeful state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility with diminished peripheral awareness Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs

As a result, people gather around a fireplace for conversation and family bonding. Banter redirects here for the Radio 4 panel show see Banter (radio show A conversation is Communication by two or more people or by one's self After the workday, it is often the place where a family meets at night before retiring to sleep. Family denotes a group of People affiliated by consanguinity affinity or co-residence Sleep is a Natural state of bodily rest observed throughout the animal kingdom One famous use of this tradition in the United States during the Great Depression was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's "fireside chats", weekly radio addresses in which he made use of the family gathering time to state his views on issues of national importance. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The fireside chats were a series of thirty evening Radio speeches given by United States President Franklin D Radio is the transmission of signals by Modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible Light.

Fireplace mantels are the focus of custom interior decoration. Fireplace mantel or mantelpiece, also known as a chimneypiece, originated in Medieval times as a hood that projected over a grate to catch the Smoke A mantel traditionally offers a unique opportunity for the architect/designer to create a personal statement unique to the room they are creating. Historically the mantel defines the architectural style of the interior decor.

Types of fireplace

In many places, coal, wood or peat burning fires are being replaced by cleaner and often safer natural gas fueled fireplaces and electric fireplaces. Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs Peat is an accumulation of partially Decayed Vegetation matter. Natural gas is a Gaseous Fossil fuel consisting primarily of Methane but including significant quantities of Ethane, Propane, An electric fireplace is a Fireplace powered by Electricity rather than traditional fuel sources such as Coal, Wood, Peat, or Some governmental agencies have placed a partial ban on solid fuel burning fireplaces based upon air pollution concerns. Air pollution is the human introduction into the atmosphere of Chemicals Particulate matter, or Biological materials that cause harm or discomfort Gas fireplaces very often burn off a small amount of their fuel in a flickering display meant to recall that of a wood fire. Alternatively, flame-shaped paper streamers wave vertically in the air, held up by the updraft produced by a heating element. Paper is thin material mainly used for writing upon printing upon or packaging An updraft or downdraft ( air pocket) is the vertical movement of Air as a Weather related phenomenon In recent years, Ventless Gel Fireplaces have received quite a bit of attention. They are a free standing fireplace requiring no chimney and no hearth, but they add fireplace ambiance to any room and they produce a considerable amount of heat.

Wood-burning fireplace with burning log. Some other logs become dried and heated up around the fire so that they will be burned better.
Wood-burning fireplace with burning log. Some other logs become dried and heated up around the fire so that they will be burned better.

Many new homes are no longer equipped with an open fireplace, its (inefficient) heating function long since taken over by central heating and its social function by the home entertainment center. For the Grand Central Records albums see Central Heating (Grand Central album and Central Heating 2. Home cinema, also called home theater, are entertainment systems that seek to reproduce cinema quality video and audio in a private home Some fireplaces have been closed off not allowing them to be used, either the top of the chimney has a concrete slab installed over it or the bottom has had a board nailed to it. This is so the fireplace does not suck out warm air. Prefabricated fireplaces have become popular because of their lower construction cost but offer a limited range of sizes and styles. Prefabrication is the practice of assembling components of a Structure in a Factory or other Manufacturing site and Transporting complete Brick or stone fireplaces have greater durability and can be designed to meet exact specifications for opening size, depth, and facing material. They also cost significantly more to construct.

A fireplace may consist of some or all of the following elements: foundation, hearth, firebox, fireplace mantel, ashdump door, chimney crane, cleanout door, grate or iron bars, lintel, lintel bar, overmantel, breast, damper, smoke chamber, throat, flue, chimney chase, crown, cap or shroud, and spark arrestor. In common historic and modern usage a hearth (Har-th is a Brick - or stone -lined Fireplace or Oven used for Cooking and/or Heating The firebox or firepit is the part of the fireplace where fuel is combusted in distinction to the Hearth, Chimney, mantle, Overmantle and Fireplace mantel or mantelpiece, also known as a chimneypiece, originated in Medieval times as a hood that projected over a grate to catch the Smoke For lintel as a decorative element see Lintel (architecture For beam as load-bearing member see beam An "overdoor" (or "supraporte") is a painting Bas-relief or decorative panel generally in a horizontal format that is set within ornamental A damper is a valve or plate that stops or regulates the flow of air inside a duct, Chimney, VAV box, Air handler, or other air handling equipment A flue is a duct, Pipe, or Chimney for conveying Exhaust gases from a Fireplace, Furnace, Water heater, A spark arrestor is a device intended to prevent combustible materials usually Sparks or other tiny flaming Debris, from escaping

Types of fireplace include:

A Manufactured fireplace
A Manufactured fireplace

History

Ancient fire pits were built into the ground in the center of a hut or dwelling. The smoke escaped through holes in the roof. Thousands of years later, with the development of two story buildings, the fireplace was moved to outside of the structure. At this time, fireplaces were still vented horizontally and often smoke would be blown outside or even back into the room. The chimney presented a fix for this problem and vented the smoke outside of the dwelling.

In 1578 Prince Ruppert, the nephew of Charles I, raised the grate of the fireplace which improved the airflow and venting system. The 1700s saw two important developments in the history of fireplaces. Ben Franklin developed a convection chamber for the fireplace that greatly improved the efficiency of fireplaces and wood stoves. He also improved the airflow by pulling air from a basement and venting out a longer area at the top. In the later 1700s, Count Rumford designed a fireplace with a tall, shallow firebox that was much better at drawing the smoke up and out of the building. Rumford's design is the foundation for modern fireplaces.

Accessories

Fireplace with grate.
Fireplace with grate.

There are a range of accessories used with fireplaces. For the interior firepit, the most common are grates, fireguards, logboxes, andirons pellet baskets, and fire dogs, all of which are used to cradle the fuel and accelerate burning. An andiron (older form anderne; med Lat andena, anderia) sometimes called a dog, dog iron, or firedog, is a horizontal A fire dog (also firedog) is a device of metal or ceramic intended to hold logs above the hearth (and so improving air circulation for faster burning or to hold skewers above For the exterior adornment and fireplace tending function, there are fireplace tools including poker, bellows, tongs, shovel, brush and toolstand. Firestick redirects here For the Aboriginal practice see Fire-stick farming. A bellows is a device for delivering pressurized Air in a controlled quantity to a controlled location Tongs are gripping and lifting Tools of which there are many forms adapted to their specific use A shovel is a Tool for lifting and moving loose material such as Coal, Gravel, Snow, Soil, or Sand and is an "Paintbrush" redirects here For other uses see Paintbrush (disambiguation.

Maybe the most important part of the fireplace is the fireback. A good fireback not only protects the wall at the back of the fire but also increases the efficiency of the fire up to 25%. This is because the cast iron plate will radiate the heat into the room, especially the old, thick firebacks have this function. Cast iron usually refers to grey cast iron, but identifies a large group of Ferrous Alloys which solidify with a Eutectic.

Current versions of all mentioned accessories are available, but there are extant accessories manufactured in Europe which date at least as early as 1450 AD.

See also

Further reading

Air pollution is the human introduction into the atmosphere of Chemicals Particulate matter, or Biological materials that cause harm or discomfort Carbon monoxide, with the chemical formula CO is a colorless odorless tasteless yet highly toxic Gas. A chimenea (chim-eh-ney-ah (also spelled chiminea) is a freestanding front-loading Fireplace or oven with a bulbous body and usually a vertical smoke vent or chimney The firebox or firepit is the part of the fireplace where fuel is combusted in distinction to the Hearth, Chimney, mantle, Overmantle and Fireplace mantel or mantelpiece, also known as a chimneypiece, originated in Medieval times as a hood that projected over a grate to catch the Smoke A fireplace insert is a device inserted into a brick Fireplace.
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic