Do I need a hearth?

Benzanna

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

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

My landlady has said she's happy for an open fire to be used here.
I've had the chimney swept and a draw test done

Better_Days

Before you start using the fireplace make sure you get a carbon monoxide alarm. That £15 could save your life. Smoke alarms too if there aren't any.

cyclonebri1

Well if the LL is ok and it tests fine why not, but just check the sizes given in the BR link. It's just that the opening has definately been changed at some time, you can tell from the brickwork.

And lastly all open fires on coal and wood will spit sparks, regardless of hearth size they can shoot halfway across an average room. The sap in softwood is thew worst culprit.
Remember the fireguard at all times when you aren't in the room, don't want to read about you on national news.

Leon_W

I had a hearth pretty similar. I found it made sense to have a fireproof sacrificial rug in front of it to stop the floor being damaged by sparks. When it started looking a bit ropey I'd get another one. Much better than damaging the floor.

firefox1956

I 'think' the hearth has to extend a minimum of 300mm in front of the heat source.
But you do know that those bricks are only ordinary house bricks ??
If you start having an open fire in that opening you are going to risk the bricks shattering......
HTH

Leon_W

" If you start having an open fire in that opening you are going to risk the bricks shattering...... "




Having survived being fired at over 1000 degrees when made, a coal or wood fire is hardly going to trouble them !

firefox1956

Leon_W wrote: »

" If you start having an open fire in that opening you are going to risk the bricks shattering...... "




Having survived being fired at over 1000 degrees when made, a coal or wood fire is hardly going to trouble them !

Fire bricks are made for a good reason..........

Benzanna

Better_Days wrote: »

Before you start using the fireplace make sure you get a carbon monoxide alarm. That £15 could save your life. Smoke alarms too if there aren't any.

I have one already - but thanks for the headsup

Benzanna

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Well if the LL is ok and it tests fine why not, but just check the sizes given in the BR link. It's just that the opening has definately been changed at some time, you can tell from the brickwork.

And lastly all open fires on coal and wood will spit sparks, regardless of hearth size they can shoot halfway across an average room. The sap in softwood is thew worst culprit.
Remember the fireguard at all times when you aren't in the room, don't want to read about you on national news.

Thanks - I have a fireguard and use it even when I'm at the other end of the room

Tiffany_Aching

There isn't a fireback - I think that they protect the bricks behind the fire and direct the smoke up over the throat. Our sweep always checks our fireback and advises if he finds any damage so we can mend it. As such, I have always assumed that they are an important part of an open fire.