Fireplaces for fireplaces: selection criteria

The fireplace deservedly takes a leasing position in cases where the owners want to create a romantic atmosphere in the room. After all, little can be compared in beauty with an open fireplace, in which firewood is burning or smoldering coals. Unfortunately, most of the heat in such a fireplace insert rises along with the products of combustion on the chimney. If the fireplace is periodically used for contemplation, this fact does not pose a big problem. However, in the case when the owners want to use the fireplace for heating, they should carefully consider the selection criteria for the furnace for it, with which you can save heat in your home.

The fireplace was inherited by modern man from previous generations, bringing comfort and warmth to the house. Its external device is, at first glance, quite simple. When we speak of a stationary fireplace, the foundation for it becomes a solid concrete foundation capable of supporting a considerable weight of the structure.

On the surface of the foundation is laid out several rows of refractory bricks, the so-called pedestalOn which the brick firebox is laid out or a factory-made model is installed. On top of the furnace goes into the chimney, which in classic fireplaces is made inside the duct, which has the name of rhizolite. For aesthetic purposes, the firebox is lined with brick or facing material, forming a spectacular portal. Rhizolite is most often plastered, as it should not stand out too much in the room.

The internal structure of a classic fireplace is much more complex and has a number of design features, on which the characteristics of this heating element directly depend.

Inside the furnace and chimney are important elements:

• “Smoke tooth”, limiting the capacity of the chimney and allowing heat to spread through the masonry;
• the reflecting wall of the firebox, which, in combination with the “smoke tooth”, ensures the reversal of hot air, preventing it from instantly “flying into the chimney”;
• A view (flap) that regulates traction.

A kind of "heart" of the fireplace is its furnace hole. It consists of the following elements:

• At the base is the so-called under, or lower layer of the firebox.
• Below the hearth - only the blower needed to ignite the fireplace.
• Sometimes a grate is built in, which is a grate through which the coals from the burned fuel fall into the ash pit (ash pan), from where they can be easily removed. Nowadays, under the stone is often made, because for kindling use highly flammable gels and liquids.
• The reflector, or reflecting wall, is a transitional part from the firebox to the chimney, affecting both these segments.

Modern fireplaces are often made with factory-made fireplaces., at design of which processes of burning are modeled and optimized on a computer. Such furnaces are made of cast iron, steel and such modern materials as composite compounds and special alloys. Therefore, if desired, the buyer can find both a traditional firebox and a lighter analogue, for example, for embedding in a wall partition. The chimney of such a composite firebox can be made of a thin-walled corrugated pipe, the door is of heat-resistant glass, and the design itself can even have an integrated water circuit.

For biofireplaces, fireboxes designed for burning biofuels are made, which use denatured alcohol in the form of gels or semi-dry substances. Such fireboxes are subject to mandatory certification, therefore, having acquired it, a biofuel fireplace can be built in any house without conducting coordination with the fire services.

Choosing a firebox for a fireplace, it is worth weighing the pros and cons, deciding which design is best suited for the house. It must be remembered that for erection in an apartment or in a private house a heating device with an open fire will have to be sure to order a redevelopment project and get permission from the fire and architectural supervision authorities.Therefore, before purchasing building materials or such expensive equipment as a fireplace insert, it is advisable to have a permit for its construction. Otherwise, it is worthwhile to limit ourselves to the consideration of fireboxes on biofuel.

In cases where permission is granted, a truly magical space for choice opens up before the buyer, which can be limited only by the cost of some particularly prestigious models.

The choice is made depending on the appearance and design of the fireplace and is based on the following indicators.

• The main characteristic that is inherent in fireplace inserts is power. This point should be taken into account even when the fireplace is not provided for heating, since the heat transfer from the operation of such an instrument will be present in any case. For heating the room size of 50 square meters. m. The optimal power of the fire chamber will be 7 kW. In the case when a fireplace is needed just for contemplation, it is worth choosing a firebox with minimal power or the ability to adjust the flame, otherwise the room may be too hot.
• The type of a fire chamber is also one of priorities at the choice.There are open and closed constructions. Open versions are considered more aesthetically attractive, since they allow “live” fire to be present in the immediate vicinity of the observer, but have a very small efficiency of approximately 20%. Fireboxes of the closed type, which are called hermetic, have a much greater efficiency, these are the so-called long-burning fireboxes, because the room is heated due to the function of smoldering firewood embedded in the design. A plus of closed fireboxes can also be called cleanliness in the room, since the coals do not fly out of them and the ash does not spill out.

• There are also universal models that have a door, but also allow open work. Usually this design with a vertical lifting mechanism.

Design options for the installation of the firebox are largely dependent on its type. Modern manufacturers offer the following types:

• Frontal fireboxes, which are traditional in the way of embedding, have one door with glass. They can be trapezoidal or rectangular, they can be purchased in finished form or laid out of brick.

• Corner options, designed to be built into fireplaces of the appropriate configuration, also have one door, which either opens to the side or goes up.

• Double-sided tunnel or through-fireboxes, which are conveniently mounted in partitions, since such structures have two doors that can be opened either sideways or equipped with a lifting mechanism for opening upwards.
• Three-sided firebox with three glass, the shape of which is similar to the letter "P", so they are also called U-shaped firebox. These designs make it possible to view the volume of the flame from three sides at once, which creates stunningly beautiful pictures. At the same time, they have a very high level of heat transfer. Recently, four-sided fireboxes have also appeared.
• The bay window fireboxes offered by leading manufacturers have a curved glass door surface. Usually they have side opening and mandatory automatic fixation of the door in the closed position.

Many designs of furnaces are equipped with additional features, including:

• A double afterburner system, in which not only firewood but also flue gases are burned.
• The system of "continuous burning", thanks to which one bookmark of firewood lasts for 14-18 hours.
• Additional possibility of thermoregulation and convection, built-in smoke deflector.
• Air intake for combustion from an additional source, which is carried out by various regulators.
• The self-cleaning function of the refractory glass door with a jet of air, which has the name "clean glass system".

The dimensions of the furnaces vary depending on the material from which they are made. The greatest variety of steel structures are different, which can be of various sizes. The minimum wall thickness is 8 mm, the maximum - 18 mm, not counting the lining.

Traditional materials for the manufacture of the body of fireplace inserts are brick, cast iron and various types of boiler steel. Each species has its advantages.

Brick fireboxes are made of refractory fireclay bricks, they are the usual choice for classic fireplaces, made in the English or rustic style, as well as in Provence style. Such fireboxes may have a built-in water circuit and a door. Usually they are equipped with ash and ash.They have all the qualities inherent in a classic fireplace: good heat dissipation, average duration of burning and attractive appearance.

Pig-iron models are distinguished by the maximum thermolysis. They quickly heat up, retain heat for a long time and endure temperature drops without suffering deformation. Such constructions are made by casting.

Steel fireboxes usually have double walls, the outer of which is made of heat-resistant steel alloy. The manufacturer can finish the inner wall with a lining of fireclay bricks, cast iron, fire-resistant (fireclay) ceramics, porcelain concrete or composite material Reallit black ™. These structures may have additional properties, which are indicated in the instructions. For example, the function of long burning.

In the models of some manufacturers, several methods of heat control are simultaneously used, for example, alloyed boiler steel with a cast-iron overlay is additionally enhanced by fireclay bricks. Such designs have received the name of sealed fireboxes with triple sheath protection and are the most secure.

Cladding can be in the form of portals with the help of traditional finishing bricks, various types of marble, shell rock, travertine, glass or metal. Decorative design is not provided in all designs. It can be serialized, but it can also be developed for the individual order of the buyer.

Fireplace design solutions are used both to create the look of the interiors of private houses and apartments, as well as for various commercial objects: stylish business spaces, offices, salons, restaurants and bars.

Certified steel and cast-iron fireboxes of various configurations can be embedded either in the construction of a front or corner-type wall fireplace. The appearance of the heater depends only on the wishes of the owners. It can be decorated in the style of a classic English fireplace, decorated with thin stone tiles or terracotta tiles with intricate patterns.

Particularly impressive is the fireplace, equipped with a partition. At the same time, installation of a double-sided tunnel furnace is carried out in a wall niche, from two external sides facing is carried out with a finishing material.After installing such a design, owners can watch the luxurious flames play from two rooms at the same time.

Tripartite fireboxes provide a stunning visual effect of a lively luxury flame. They are mounted in the design options portals, which have a near-wall layout and are a great decoration of the living room in a modern style. It is desirable to decorate the space near such a fireplace without excesses and additional decorative elements.

The bay fireplace insert will look great in a retro or country décor, with the rounded door becoming a beautiful and original interior detail.

Do not think that purchasing a fireplace always requires exorbitant spending. There are quite a few manufacturers on the market that produce models of the middle price segment. Those can be found at Slovak firms. Thorma and Kobokfrom a German company SparthermSwiss RueggPolish company Nordflamas well as companies KimrPech, Astov, Meta, Ekokamin (Russia).

Interesting and inexpensive products are the French company. Termovison. Cast iron furnaces of this brand can be purchased starting from 33,500 rubles.

An example is the model Vision 701, which has a sealed glass door and is equipped with the most necessary functionality. The design provides a gate, wood limiting, an additional air intake, a removable grate, ash chamber and smoke box, thanks to which the furnace can operate in the "open fire" mode. The dimensions of this model are not too large: width is 690 mm, depth is 400 mm, height is 637, weight is 96 kg.

Along with budget products, you can also purchase premium class fireplaces from this manufacturer, for example, an antique-type stove Koenigsburgwhich will cost the buyer 221,000 rubles.

Italian brand Piazzetta offers refined wood, gas and pellet fireboxes, which are self-contained elements of the interior and do not require additional decoration. Most models are made from a combination of two types of metal: steel and cast iron and are equipped with numerous functional add-ons, for example, a remote control.

Their products brand Piazzetta positioned as ovens, they have the function of forced ventilation, due to which warm air is directed to all rooms of the apartment, evenly distributed from floor to ceiling. An example is the model. Piazzetta E929 Dhaving a system Multifuoco and capable of heating a room with a capacity of 9 kW with a volume of 213 sq. m. The products of the latest collections have an exquisite round or semicircular shape, elegant majolica lining and are designed for wall or corner installation.

The cost of fireplaces of this Italian brand starts from 73,000 rubles and can reach 919,000 rubles for models in the form of a fireplace-chalet.

When purchasing a fireplace insert, most buyers already have permission to install a fireplace and design drawings, from which it is clear where it will be installed and what dimensions the built-in combustion chamber should be. These documents should be taken with you to the salon for the sale of fireplaces in order to make the best choice in terms of price and size with the help of a consultant.

If you plan to buy in the online store, you can also use the services of consultantswho are in touch during working hours. When self-selecting a fireplace insert, you should carefully set the required dimensions in the search query, which is present on the websites of salons, and select the desired one from the proposed models.When buying worth paying attention to the warranty period. Some companies offer a one-year warranty, but there are firms that can confidently give a 7-year warranty on their products.

To implement such a high-tech product, the seller must have a certificate of compliance with safety standards. It is very good if the certification will be specified in accordance with EU standards, however, a certificate of compliance with the norms of the Customs Union is sufficient for implementation on the Russian market.

Typically, the installation of the furnace is not included in its price, but when buying "live" is to ask this question, in many stores the buyer will recommend a good master or installer. When buying it is worth asking about the size of the neck of the fireplace, to which the corresponding diameter of the corrugated pipe of the chimney and fixings is selected.

When purchasing a firebox in the salon, the buyer can choose the option of its facing. In this case, it is advisable to consult with the interior designer in advance, since the fireplace, especially the large one, is the main architectural element in the living room and should look harmonious.

See the following video for an overview of the Termovison "Vision 701" fireplace insert.