Chimney and Fireplaces

Fireplace and Chimney
Construction
BCM 105 – Construction Methods 1
Windows – Additional Notes
Type of windows:
Dormer windows:
located on the sloped side of a roof, bringing
natural light into an attic or loft . It sits vertically
in a framed structure that juts outward from the
pitch of the main roof and features a little roof
of its own above the window.
Gable windows
A gable window sits at the end of a pitched roof
on the side of the house. They have a flat
surface and allow natural light to flow through
the room.
Gable vs Dormer windows
Skylight and Roof window
• A skylight is a fixed window set into the

roofline. It may incorporate venting options,
but the window itself does not open.
• Roof windows let in light but also opens to
allow venting. These types of windows are
sometimes called venting windows.
Skylight
Roof window
Chimney and Fireplaces
Definitions
• Fireplace
This is the area in which combustion of the fuel
takes place. It can be in the form of an open
space in which wood or coal is burnt, or a free-
standing appliance
• Flue : a void through which the products of
combustion pass
• Chimney: The fabric surrounding the flue and
providing it with the necessary strength and
protection.
Functional requirements
• it provides additional strength and stability to the
structure resisting wind pressure .
• It must be weather resistant, preventing the
penetration of wind and rain.
• Thermal insulation – it provides thermal
insulation to the building.
• Fire resistance – materials for the fireplace
should be non-combustible.
• It secures maximum heat for the benefit of
occupants;
• It ensures effective removal of smoke and
avoidance of downdraught
Materials for chimney construction
• The suitable material for fireplaces is brick,
stone or concrete which can contain a
temperature of 70 degrees Celsius . This is the
safe maximum temperature which should not
be exceeded.
Terminology
• Crown is the mortar or concrete at the top of a chimney. It
seals off the air space between the outer walls of a
masonry chimney and the flue liner. It slopes away from the
liner to shed water.
• Flue is the passage in a chimney for conveying flue gases to
the outside air.
• Smoke Chamber is the chamber in a fireplace directly
above the smoke shelf and extending to the base of the
flue.
• Smoke Shelf is the area at the bottom of the smoke
chamber and is the back wall of the firebox. The shelf is
located at the intersection of the smoke chamber and the
firebox. Typically thee is a damper on the forward side of
the smoke shelf.
• Lintel is the horizontal non-combustible component,
usually of masonry or steel, spanning the opening of a
masonry fireplace to support the load above.
• Ash Dump (Ash Pit) is an opening, usually with a hinge door
and located at the bottom of the fireplace, where ashes can
be dumped. Also , it can be the receptacle below the
opening in which ashes collect before removal.
• Damper is a valve, usually a movable or retractable plate,
for controlling the flow of air or smoke.
• Firebox is the section of a masonry fireplace that includes
the firebrick, lintel, and damper. This is the combustion
area of a fireplace where the fire is contained.
• Firebrick is brick composed of clay and silica and designed
to withstand high temperatures such as those found in a
firebox.
• Hearth is the floor area within the firebox of a
fireplace or a fireplace stove
• Chimney Cap is the protective covering or
housing for the top of a chimney intended for
preventing the entry of rain, snow, animals,
birds, etc., and for preventing downdrafts.
Chimney caps are also called flue caps or rain
caps.
• Flashing is a sheet metal or other materials
used in waterproofing roof valleys, hips, or the
angle between a chimney and a roof.
Reasons for a smoking chimney
• Failure to provide a restricted throat – poor
throat design
• A blocked flue
• Insufficient air supply
• Unsatisfactory gathering of the flue
• Overshadowing of the flue outlet by tall trees
and buildings
Solutions to smoking chimney
• Ensure the chimney is swept regularly to
remove excess soot
• Open windows and doors of the room, if
smoke ceases then the fire was starved from
air
• Consider increasing the height of the chimney
stack with pieces of sheet metal pipes of
varying lengths
• Fitting a chimney pot
Other features as solutions
• Damp prevention
Chimneys are vulnerable to dampness because
they are exposed to rain, hail etc. Occurs at he
point at which the chimney meets the roof.
Solution:
Use of flashings. used on pitched rood junction
between the roof and the chimney stack. The
flashing is stepped along the slope of the roof.
Solution:
Use of flashings. used on pitched rood junction
between the roof and the chimney stack. The
flashing is stepped along the slope of the roof.
• Down draught
Downdraught caused by the build-up of
pressure at the chimney top; this is influenced
by the form of the building itself, neighbouring
buildings, trees and the topography of the site.
• Solution
Chimney pots are structures put at the top of a
chimney stack to lessen the possibility of down
draught and also preventing the wind from
blowing down the flue and rain from falling into
the flue.

Chimney and Fireplaces

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Fireplace and Chimney

• A skylight is a fixed window set into the

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