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39-551: An inglenook or chimney corner is a recess that adjoins a fireplace . The word comes from "ingle", an old Scots word for a domestic fire (derived from the Gaelic aingeal ), and "nook". The inglenook originated as a partially enclosed hearth area, appended to a larger room. The hearth was used for cooking, and its enclosing alcove became a natural place for people seeking warmth to gather. With changes in building design, kitchens became separate rooms, while inglenooks were retained in

78-421: 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

117-409: 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 , a damper , a smoke chamber,

156-501: 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

195-929: 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

234-632: 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

273-575: A tall vertical element at the front, with at least two legs. This stops the logs from rolling out into the room, and may be highly decorative. The other element is one or more low horizontal pieces stretching back into the fireplace and serving to hold the logs off the bottom of the fireplace. An andiron is sometimes called a dog or dog-iron . Before the Renaissance, European andirons, almost invariably made entirely of iron, were of comparatively plain design. Indeed, andirons and firebacks were one of

312-435: 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

351-1019: 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

390-649: 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

429-579: 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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468-501: The Urnfield culture . This naming suggests that moon idols could have been used as andirons to build up fire dogs. In some cases, moon idols are a cult item of Early European Religions , resembling a pair of horns or crescent moons on a pedestal, and were variously interpreted as testifying to bull worship , Moon worship , or as a holder for wooden logs to be used in a fire altar . Medieval andirons tended to be high, often with slots at

507-512: The fleur-de-lis , with sphinxes , grotesque animals, mythological statuettes, or caryatides supporting heroic figures or emblems). A common decoration in the form of a canine plays on the dual meanings of the word dog ( canine and inanimate holder or blocker ). The word andiron was borrowed into Middle English from the Old French word andier (also found in medieval Latin in forms such as andena , anderia , anderius ). The origin of

546-483: 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

585-464: 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

624-525: The French word is uncertain. But in English the word soon became associated with the word iron through folk-etymology , producing the form andiron . Sometimes this was further folk-etymologised as hand-iron . Due to the reanalysis of the French form l'andier ('the andiron') as one word, the French term later became landier , giving rise to English forms such as landiron . The term firedog seems to arise from

663-497: 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

702-445: 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,

741-505: 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

780-420: 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

819-549: 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,

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858-504: 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

897-548: The eighteenth century classical forms with several mouldings, similar to those used for candlesticks and the like, predominate in pieces for the middle classes, and were imitated in the American colonies, often just in iron and rather more simply. Small figures at the front also became popular; in America cast flat "Hessian" soldiers were a long-lasting favourite. In Continental Europe, men such as Jean Berain (1640-1711), whose artistry

936-409: The environment. Several of these terms may be compounded with chimney or fireplace such as chimney-back . Andiron An andiron , firedog , fire-dog , fire dog or iron-dog is a bracket support, normally one of a pair, on which logs are laid for burning in an open fireplace , so that air may circulate under the firewood, allowing better burning and less smoke. They generally consist of

975-501: 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

1014-498: 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

1053-434: The firewood, or, increasingly, the coal, up off the floor and in place, thus largely removing the need for andirons. However, andirons were often still kept for decorative reasons, and sometimes as a place to rest pokers, tongs and other fire implements. In older periods people used andirons as a rest for a roasting spit ; they sometimes included a cup-shaped top to hold porridge . Sometimes, smaller pairs were placed between

1092-501: The first types of object commonly made in cast iron (introduced to the West in the 15th century), a trend which in England began in the 1540s: until the nineteenth century cast iron was too brittle for many uses, but andirons carried light loads and this was not a problem. However, from the Renaissance onwards the front vertical element of andirons was increasingly given decorative treatment, and

1131-491: The front for placing spits for roasting; in later periods similar styles remained in use in large kitchens. When the Italian Renaissance began to produce very elaborate decorated fronts for reception rooms, these remained higher than later, gradually tending to reduce in height until the 18th century. Firedogs with little or no ornamentation and made of metal or ceramics were used in kitchens, with ratcheted uprights for

1170-441: 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

1209-544: The living space as intimate warming places, subsidiary spaces within larger rooms. Inglenooks were prominent features of shingle style architecture and characteristic of Arts and Crafts architecture but began to disappear with the advent of central heating . Prominent American architects who employed the feature included Greene and Greene , Henry Hobson Richardson , and Frank Lloyd Wright . British architect Richard Norman Shaw significantly influenced Richardson. Fireplace Historically, they were used for heating

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1248-483: The main andirons for smaller fires. These are called "creepers". Andirons and fire dogs are devices made of metal and (rarely) ceramic which support the firewood. They normally stand upon short legs and are usually connected with an upright guard. The guard keeps the logs in the fireplace as they burn and settle. This guard, which may be of iron, steel, copper, bronze, or silver, may be simple, or elaborately ornamented (often with patterns or heraldic ornaments, such as

1287-543: The perceived similarity of an andiron to a dog lying by the fire. In English, however, this form may also have been influenced by French: another French term for an andiron is chenet , which originally meant 'little dog'. Andirons, or fire dogs, had been in use by the Ancient Greeks , and were called krateutai ( Greek : κρατευταί). Excavations made on the Greek island of Santorini unearthed stone sets of firedogs used before

1326-432: 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

1365-578: The seventeenth century BC. In each pair of the supports, the receptacles to hold skewers or spits were found in equivalence, while the line of small openings in the base formed a mechanism to supply the coals with oxygen so that they remained alight during its use. Fire dogs were also referred to as moon idols (or moon horns ) in antiquity. They may also refer to an artifact-type of late Bronze Age Europe ( c.  1300 to 800 BC). Typically made of clay, they have been found in areas of modern France , Switzerland and Germany ; often associated with

1404-775: 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

1443-495: Was in a different metal, such as brass , bronze or silver, which allowed casting , hugely increasing the range of decorative possibilities. When metals that could be cast began to be used for the fronts, these ordinary objects of the household received the attention of the artist, and had skill and taste lavished upon them. Thus English late 17th-century andirons often have elaborate flat brass front-pieces, often in openwork and sometimes using enamel for further decoration. By

1482-506: Was most especially applied to the ornamentation of Boulle furniture, sometimes designed them. The Algardi Firedogs commissioned from the Roman sculptor Alessandro Algardi for Philip IV of Spain by Velázquez in 1650 were copied in several foundries. The andiron reached its greatest artistic development under Louis XIV of France ( r.  1643–1715 ). From the eighteenth century, fireplaces increasingly had built-in metal grates to hold

1521-466: 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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