Do I need a hearth?

Benzanna

Hello,
I'm hoping someone can help me out and let me know if I need to get a bigger hearth? As the fireplace is already raised (bricks as the base) do I need anything further to place my fire basket onto before I start having open fires?
There is a heart that juts out (as you can see in the attached photo) but I can't change it as I'm in rented accommodation. I'd need to place a hearth within the existing opening...

Any advice greatly appreciated!

cyclonebri1

PollyErrington wrote: »

Hello,
I'm hoping someone can help me out and let me know if I need to get a bigger hearth? As the fireplace is already raised (bricks as the base) do I need anything further to place my fire basket onto before I start having open fires?
There is a heart that juts out (as you can see in the attached photo) but I can't change it as I'm in rented accommodation. I'd need to place a hearth within the existing opening...

Any advice greatly appreciated!

The hearth is the bit that is arc'ed in your picture, it's the front fireproof base.

There are regs that I don't recall right now that dictate the area to the front and sides of the fire that must be non inflammable, the fires instructions will detail this.

PS, should have said it doesn't look deep enough to me.

Jonesya

You need to consult the building regulations - here's a good start, there's a section on hearths - document page 54, PDF page 59

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_ADJ_2010.pdf

Errata

I suspect that has never been used for an open fire.

mandragora_2

If it's rented, it needs to be safe to use. I have to say it looks a bit shallow to me, so it depends if you want to ask the landlord if they intend the open fireplace to be used, and if they can confirm that it is safe to do so. In an ideal world they'd say 'Yes, it's fine, go ahead,' or 'We've checked and it needs adjusting, so don't use it for now, but we'll send someone round to sort it and make it safe'. Of course, just as likely is that they'll say 'It is not to be used as an open fire' if they think it doesn't meet regs, and nip round with a piece of boarding to block it in so they aren't liable if you do decide to use it and have a fire as a result.

One of those situations where you have to decide what risks you're happy to live with - in your shoes, if I wanted to use it as an open fire I'd ask, but accept that the likelihood would be I'd end up with some boarding in front of it.

lostinrates

What's the chimney like too?

rustyboy21

Give examples and pictures of what you are looking at fitting there, the sizes of the opening and the dimensions of the hearth and I might be able to advise.


As it looks ( to me) the chimney has never been used, the hearth is most likely too small and if you are putting something like a 18'' fire basket in the opening, then you will have spilling fumes entering your room.


Have you had the flue swept and checked out yet?

cyclonebri1

Tell your landlord what you are proposing, if his hair stands on end you know it's no good.

Errata

The bottom line is that opening is not fit for the purpose the OP would like to use it for and the chimney has been blocked off.

cyclonebri1

You guys are all missing the bigger issue.

It looks like it is an open fire, It's not unreasonable that the OP would light a fire in that hearth given the attempt to make it look functional.

I won't try to dictate the legalities but if the bottom line is the OP gets dead and the landlord gets prosecuted, then who's won????.

OP again, above all contact the landlord

Benzanna

Errata wrote: »

The bottom line is that opening is not fit for the purpose the OP would like to use it for and the chimney has been blocked off.

Hi, the chimney has not been blocked off. I've just had it swept.