Typical Fireplace Installation

The broad category of decorative fireplaces includes site-built masonry and factory-built metal fireplaces. Factory-built fireplaces function is primarily decoration and aesthetics.

A solid fuel factory-built fireplace is a versatile and economical way to enjoy the warmth and beauty of an open fire. To the fireplace planner and installer, the factory-built fireplace is a tested system that includes a metal firebox, a chimney system, and various components and accessories. A characteristic that distinguieshes factory-built fireplaces from other solid fuel hearth products is the production, testing, and listing of all major components from one manufacturing source. While other products such as woodstoves and built-in high efficiency solid fuel heaters have designated chimney systems, they are produced typically by independent sources. Installers can choose from a number of approved sources for those appliances, but with factory-built fireplaces, the chimney is an integral, required component of the overall fireplace sytem.

The concept of the system cannot be overemphasized. Proper performance and safety depend on the assembling and installing all necessary system components as detailed in manufacturer's instructions and avoiding using or substituting non-system components. Aftermarket fireplace doors designed and listed for masonry fireplaces are common non-system components that can have serious effects on the ability of the factory-built fireplace to cool itself. As such, they constitute a serious fire hazard.