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Fireplace

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A fireplace or hearth is a structure made of brick , stone or metal designed to contain a fire . Fireplaces are used for the relaxing ambiance they create and for heating a room. Modern fireplaces vary in heat efficiency, depending on the design.

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40-421: Historically, they were used for heating a dwelling , cooking , and heating water for laundry and domestic uses. A fire is contained in a firebox or fire pit ; a chimney or other flue allows exhaust gas to escape. A fireplace may have the following: a foundation, a hearth, a firebox, a mantel , a chimney crane (used in kitchen and laundry fireplaces), a grate, a lintel , a lintel bar, an overmantel ,

80-421: A convection chamber for the fireplace that greatly improved the efficiency of fireplaces and wood-burning stoves . He also improved the airflow by pulling air from a basement and venting out a longer area at the top. In the later 18th century, Count Rumford designed a fireplace with a tall, shallow firebox that was better at drawing the smoke up and out of the building. The shallow design also improved greatly

120-463: A damper , a smoke chamber, a throat, a flue, and a chimney filter or afterburner. On the exterior, there is often a corbelled 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 exterior of the chimney; rain in the chimney is a much greater problem in chimneys lined with impervious flue tiles or metal liners than with

160-416: A "dwelling" (more commonly referred to as a house) is "inhabited" if a person lives in it; it is irrelevant whether anyone is present. A house, building, or structure is not considered "inhabited" or "occupied" if the occupants have moved out or vacated and do not intend to return, even if the personal property was left behind. Therefore, it would no longer be considered a dwelling for legal purposes, which from

200-501: A booklet explaining why wood smoke can be dangerous. It explains that human lung and respiratory systems are unable to filter particulates emitted by wood combustion, which penetrate deeply into the lungs. For months, carcinogens can continue to cause changes and structural damage within the respiratory system. Young children, seniors, pregnant women, smokers and individuals with respiratory diseases are most vulnerable. Wood smoke can cause disease and even death in children, because it

240-462: A defense standpoint, would negate a conviction under this code. For prosecutors , it is advantageous to construe these terms loosely in order to secure as many convictions as possible for violation of this code. Examples of loose interpretation exist not only in California but also in other states such as Colorado where a similar statute (Colorado Code § 18-1-901(3)(g)) applies in cases even when

280-811: A dwelling has significance in relation to search and seizure , conveyancing of real property , burglary, trespass , and land-use planning . Legal definitions vary by jurisdiction . Under English law , a dwelling is defined as a self-contained 'substantial' unit of accommodation, such as a building, part of a building, caravan, houseboat or other mobile home. A tent is not normally considered substantial. According to North Carolina General Statute § 160A-442, "Dwelling" means any building, structure, manufactured home or mobile home, or part thereof, used and occupied for human habitation, or intended to be so used, and includes any outhouses and appurtenances belonging thereto or usually enjoyed therewith, except that it does not include any manufactured home or mobile home, which

320-934: A glass fire window only provide heat radiated from its surface. Depending on the outside temperature , 1 to 2 daily firings are sufficient to ensure a constant room temperature . A literature review published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health concludes that there are a wide variety of health risks posed by residential wood combustion. It states: With regard to adults, studies show that prolonged inhalation of wood smoke contributed to chronic bronchitis , chronic interstitial lung disease , pulmonary arterial hypertension and corpulmonale (Pulmonary heart disease), and altered pulmonary immune defense mechanisms. While adverse effects on adults are notable, children appear to be at greatest risk. Many studies that focused specifically on RWC [Residential Wood Combustion] have concluded that young children living in homes heated by

360-635: A piece of metal that sits behind the fire and reflects heat back into the room. Firebacks are traditionally made from cast iron , but are also made from stainless steel . Most older fireplaces have a relatively low efficiency rating. Standard, modern, wood-burning masonry fireplaces though have an efficiency rating of at least 80% (legal minimum requirement, for example, in Salzburg, Austria). To improve efficiency, fireplaces can also be modified by inserting special heavy fireboxes designed to burn much cleaner and can reach efficiencies as high as 80% in heating

400-465: A reasonably significant period of time. It is used to determine the law which should be applied to determine a given legal dispute. The Hague Conference on Private International Law has deliberately refrained from offering a definition so that the concept may be flexible and adaptable to practical requirements. In California, California Penal Code § 246 refers to the discharging of a firearm at an inhabited dwelling house. This statute specifies that

440-409: A shooting at a detached garage that does not traditionally constitute a dwelling or house. However, per common law , courts in both of these states and others have held that it does qualify as an occupied building for purposes of a criminal conviction. In law, the curtilage of a dwelling is the land immediately surrounding it, including any closely associated buildings and structures. It delineates

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480-505: A staple in the design of homes and perfect to withstand the pressures of future cyclonic conditions. Cyclone homes have always been synonymous with louver windows, louver blades have been tested for ‘debris type B’ for cyclonic regions. Rear window louvers are also available as an accessory for some automobiles. They have also been used over the years in hoods, trunk lids, and other various body panels; typically hot rods , but by no means exclusive to that period. Their purpose in this regard

520-1018: A wood-burning stove had a greater occurrence of moderate and severe chronic respiratory symptoms than children of the same age and sex who did not live in homes heated with a wood burning stove. Exposure of preschool children living in homes heated with wood burning stoves or in houses with open fireplaces yielded these effects: decreased pulmonary lung function in young asthmatics ; increased incidence of acute bronchitis and severity/frequency of wheezing and coughing ; and increased incidence, duration, and possibly severity of acute respiratory infections . Residential wood combustion emissions also contain sulfur oxides , nitrogen oxides , carbon monoxide and potentially carcinogenic compounds including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons , benzene , formaldehyde and dioxins . Some of these pollutants are known to cause cancer but their effects on human health via exposure to wood smoke have not been extensively studied. The Washington State Department of Ecology also published

560-644: Is associated with lower respiratory tract infections . Home fireplaces have caused fatal carbon monoxide poisoning . Propane, butane, and methane are all flammable gases used in fireplaces (natural gas is mostly methane, liquefied petroleum gas mostly propane). If they are allowed to accumulate unburned, gases can cause asphyxia by displacing air, and gas explosions. Ethanol (a liquid, also sold in gels) fires can also cause severe burns. Burning hydrocarbons can decrease indoor air quality . Emissions include airborne particulate matter (such as black carbon ) and gases like nitrogen oxide . These harm health: they weaken

600-438: Is defined as a "building which regularly or intermittently is occupied by a person lodging therein at night, whether or not a person is actually present." The United States v. Adams, 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 25866 (9th Cir. Or. 25 November 2009) In international conventions , a person can have only one habitual residence , being the place where the individual ordinarily resides and routinely returns to after visiting other places for

640-971: Is that louvers are fixed position. Jalousies are installed within a movable adjustable mechanism which positions all jalousies into any parallel position with respect to each other. Louvers are rarely seen as primary design elements in the language of modern architecture , but rather simply a technical device. Louvers are part of the design of Demerara windows to help keep 18th and 19th century buildings cool in hot climates and block direct sunlight. Some modern louver systems serve to improve indoor daylighting . Fixed mirrored louver systems can limit glare and of redirect diffuse light. Such louvers may be integrated in between two panes of double glazing . In industrial facilities such as steel foundries and power plants , louvers are very common. They are utilized for natural ventilation and temperature control. Louvers are frequently found in bell towers , where they are utilised to let out as much sound as possible, while having

680-457: Is used solely for a seasonal vacation purpose." According to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 53-244.030, "Dwelling" means a residential structure that contains one to four units, whether or not that structure is attached to real property. The term includes an individual condominium unit, cooperative unit, manufactured home, mobile home, or trailer if it is used as a residence. Under the Oregon law, a "dwelling"

720-598: The Industrial Revolution , came large-scale housing developments, necessitating a standardization of fireplaces. The most renowned fireplace designers of this time were the Adam Brothers: John Adam , Robert Adam , and James Adam . They perfected a style of fireplace design that was used for generations. It was smaller, more brightly lit, with an emphasis on the quality of the materials used in their construction, instead of their size. By

760-459: The Middle Ages as lantern-like constructions in wood that were fitted on top of roof holes in large kitchens to allow ventilation while keeping out rain and snow. They were originally rather crude constructions consisting merely of a barrel. Later, they evolved into more elaborate designs made of pottery, taking the shape of faces where the smoke and steam from cooking would pour out through

800-481: The immune system , and increase infections , blood pressure , cardiovascular diseases , and insulin resistance . Some forms of fuel are more harmful than others. Burning hydrocarbon fuels incompletely can produce carbon monoxide, which is highly poisonous and can cause death and long-term neurological disorders . Burning any hydrocarbon fuel releases carbon dioxide and water vapor . Other emissions, such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides , can be harmful to

840-468: The 1800s, most new fireplaces were made up of two parts, the surround and the insert . The surround consisted of the mantelpiece and side supports, usually in wood, marble or granite . The insert was where the fire burned, and was constructed of cast iron often backed with decorative tiles . As well as providing heat, the fireplaces of the Victorian era were thought to add a cosy ambiance to homes. In

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880-503: The Middle Ages, smoke canopies were invented to prevent smoke from spreading through a room and vent it out through a wall or roof. These could be placed against stone walls, instead of taking up the middle of the room, and this allowed smaller rooms to be heated. Chimneys were invented in northern Europe in the 11th or 12th century and largely fixed the problem of smoke, more reliably venting it outside. They made it possible to give

920-447: The US state of Wisconsin , some elementary classrooms would contain decorated fireplaces to ease children's transition from home to school. Some fireplace units incorporate a blower, which transfers 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 can also be increased with the use of a fireback,

960-511: The United States, some states and local counties have laws restricting these types of fireplaces. They must be properly sized to the area to be heated. There are also air quality control issues due to the amount of moisture they release into the room air, and an oxygen sensor and a carbon monoxide detector are safety essentials. Direct vent fireplaces are fueled by either liquid propane or natural gas. They are completely sealed from

1000-420: The air. These modified fireplaces are often equipped with a large fire window, enabling an efficient heating process in two phases. During the first phase the initial heat is provided through a large glass window while the fire is burning. During this time the structure, built of refractory bricks, absorbs the heat. This heat is then evenly radiated for many hours during the second phase. Masonry fireplaces without

1040-558: The amount of heat transfer projected into the room. The Aesthetic movement of the 1870s and 1880s favoured a more traditional look based on stone, with simple designs and limited ornamentation. In the 1890s, the Aesthetic movement gave way to the Arts and Crafts movement , which still emphasized quality stone and practical features. Stone fireplaces at this time were a symbol of prosperity, as to some degree they remain today. Over time,

1080-504: The area that is heated, and vent all exhaust gasses to the exterior of the structure. Chimney and flue types: Newly constructed flues may feature a chase cover, a cap, and a spark arrestor at the top to keep small animals out and to prevent sparks from being broadcast into the atmosphere. All gas fireplaces require trained gas service members to carry out installations. A wide range of accessories are used with fireplaces, which range between countries, regions, and historical periods. For

1120-417: The bells remain unexposed to the weather. There are examples of architects who use louvers as part of the overall aesthetic effect of their buildings. The most well-known example is Finnish modernist architect Alvar Aalto who would create aesthetic effects in the facades of his buildings through the combination of different types and sizes of louvers, some fixed some moveable, and made mostly from wood (e.g.,

1160-410: The boundary within which a homeowner can have a reasonable expectation of privacy with particular relevance to search and seizure , conveyancing of real property , burglary, trespass , and land use planning . In urban properties, the location of the curtilage may be evident from the position of fences, walls, and similar; within larger properties, it may be a matter of some legal debate as to where

1200-430: The environment. Several of these terms may be compounded with chimney or fireplace such as chimney-back . Dwelling In law, a dwelling (also known as a residence , abode or domicile ) is a self-contained unit of accommodation used by one or more households as a home – such as a house , apartment , mobile home , houseboat , recreational vehicle , or other "substantial" structure. The concept of

1240-553: The eyes and mouth, or into constructions that were more like modern louvers, with slats that could be opened or closed by pulling on a string. Modern louvers are often made of aluminum , metal, wood, or glass. They may be opened and closed with a metal lever, pulleys, or through motorized operators. The Australian Standard specifies requirements for the construction of buildings using louver in bushfire -prone areas in order to improve their resistance to bushfire attack from burning embers, radiant heat, flame contact and combinations of

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1280-506: The fireplace a draft, and also made it possible to put fireplaces in multiple rooms in buildings conveniently. They did not come into general use immediately, however, as they were expensive to build and maintain. In 1678, Prince Rupert , nephew of Charles I , raised the grate of the fireplace, improving the airflow and venting system. The 18th century saw two important developments in the history of fireplaces. Benjamin Franklin developed

1320-498: The fireplace to contain embers , soot and ash . For fireplace tending, tools include pokers , bellows , tongs , shovels , brushes and tool stands. Other wider accessories can include log baskets, companion sets, coal buckets, cabinet accessories and more. Ancient fire pits were sometimes built in the ground, within caves, or in the center of a hut or dwelling. Evidence of prehistoric, man-made fires exists on all five inhabited continents. The disadvantage of early indoor fire pits

1360-441: The interior, common in recent Western cultures include grates, fireguards , log boxes, andirons and pellet baskets , all of which cradle fuel and accelerate combustion . A grate (or fire grate) is a frame, usually of iron bars, to retain fuel for a fire. Heavy metal firebacks are sometimes used to capture and re-radiate heat, to protect the back of the fireplace, and as decoration. Fenders are low metal frames set in front of

1400-414: The private area ends and any " open fields beyond ". Louver A louver ( American English ) or louvre ( British English ; see spelling differences ) is a window blind or shutter with horizontal slats that are angled to admit light and air, but to keep out rain and direct sunshine. The angle of the slats may be adjustable, usually in blinds and windows, or fixed. Louvers originated in

1440-431: The purpose of fireplaces has changed from one of necessity to one of visual interest. Early ones were more fire pits than modern fireplaces. They were used for warmth on cold days and nights, as well as for cooking. They also served as a gathering place within the home. These fire pits were usually centered within a room, allowing more people to gather around it. Many flaws were found in early fireplace designs. Along with

1480-398: The three attack forms. The revised building standard details various construction methods and materials that must be used depending on the homes level of bushfire risk. This includes changes to the window and glazing requirements for homes located in a Bushfire Attack Level category greater than BAL-Low. Often used interchangeably by mistake, the key difference between louvers and jalousies

1520-799: The traditional masonry chimney, which soaks up all but the most violent rain. Some chimneys have a spark arrestor incorporated into the crown or cap. Organizations like the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Washington State Department of Ecology warn that, according to various studies, fireplaces can pose health risks. The EPA writes " Smoke may smell good, but it's not good for you." Masonry and prefabricated fireplaces can be fueled by: Ventless fireplaces (duct free/room-venting fireplaces) are fueled by either gel, liquid propane, bottled gas or natural gas. In

1560-532: The various buildings of the Helsinki University of Technology ). A second example, taking influence from Aalto, is the second-generation modernist architect Juha Leiviskä . Louvers may be used as a type of flood opening , usually covered by one or more moving flaps. They are designed to allow floodwaters to enter and leave the building, equalizing hydrostatic pressure on the walls and mitigating structural damage due to flooding. Louver windows are

1600-466: Was that they produced toxic and/or irritating smoke inside the dwelling. Fire pits developed into raised hearths in buildings, but venting smoke depended on open windows or holes in roofs. The medieval great hall typically had a centrally located hearth, where an open fire 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. Also during

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