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29-457: The metal produced at the mill was typically used to make cooking utensils and iron grates . However, during the War of 1812 the metal was used to cast the cannonballs used by Commodore Oliver H. Perry in the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie . The furnace remained in operation until 1840. In 1968 the shell of the furnace was reconstructed as a permanent landmark. This industry -related article

58-421: 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

87-501: 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

116-934: 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

145-407: A grate, a lintel , a lintel bar, an overmantel , 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

174-637: 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

203-447: A room. Modern fireplaces vary in heat efficiency, depending on the design. 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),

232-1019: 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

261-558: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a property in Hancock County, West Virginia on the National Register of Historic Places is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Fire grate 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

290-649: 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

319-598: 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

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348-483: 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

377-469: 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

406-503: 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

435-448: 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,

464-512: 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

493-420: 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

522-558: 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,

551-504: 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

580-551: The central panel. It is an effective way of providing decoration in a room. The horse screen , or cheval screen (cheval is the French word for horse) was in common use from the 18th century. It is a wide screen having two feet on each side, the arrangement of the feet giving the screen its name. Placed in front of the unused fireplace, the decorated screen improves the appearance of a room. Screens are decorated with embroidery , papier maché , painted wood or perhaps stained glass ;

609-912: The chimney is a much greater problem in chimneys lined with impervious flue tiles or metal liners than with 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

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638-524: The environment. Several of these terms may be compounded with chimney or fireplace such as chimney-back . Fireguard A fire screen or fireguard began as a form of furniture that acted as a shield between the occupants of a room and the fireplace , and its primary function was to reduce the discomfort of excessive heat from a log fire. Early firescreens were generally shaped as flat panels standing on attached feet, or as adjustable shield-shaped panels mounted on tripod table legs. Firescreens in

667-506: 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

696-498: 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

725-455: The frame and feet might be carved. The pole screen also began to appear in the 18th century. It is a smaller screen placed on a vertical pole which is mounted on a tripod; placed between a lit fire and an occupant of the room, the screen can be adjusted up or down to shield the person's face from the heat. The screen might be rectangular or a more decorous shape, and is decorated perhaps with embroidery, lacquer or paint. The banner screen

754-441: 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

783-463: The modern home have become decorative shields of sheet metal , glass , or wire mesh that can be placed in front of a fireplace opening to protect the room from open flames and flying embers that may be emitted by the fire. Fire screens were used to cover the fireplace when nothing was burning inside it, and make it look more decorative. The three-panel fire screen, which covers the fireplace almost completely, has two side panels angled away from

812-432: 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

841-466: 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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