A fireplace or a tiled stove is a real asset to every house in winter. How to build a fire pit After all, it warms the living space and, at the same time, creates a cozy atmosphere. That is why an open fireplace is often included in the planning when building a house. It’s easy with a fireplace kit.
But owners of older houses can also retrofit it before doing this. However, you have to ask the chimney sweep whether the prerequisites are met or what measures require to create these prerequisites.
Table of Contents
1. Regulations for the construction of open chimneys and tiled stoves How to build a fire pit
Structural regulations regarding cladding apply to chimney and stove construction. According to Section 5.3.1 of DIN 18895-1, the surfaces of the chimney cladding and the niches for fuel storage may only heat up to a maximum of 85 ° C.
This does not apply to places used to store objects. This limit also does not apply to components of the combustion chamber.
In addition, the materials used must consist of non-combustible building materials of class 1 and withstand enormous heat loads. The fire-resistant aerated concrete fulfills this criterion for the chimney cladding and at the same time has a low thermal conductivity so that the temperature on the side facing away from the fire increases only slightly.
However, it is not approved for furnace walls and floors. For which only refractory materials come into question. Because of the low weight of aerated concrete, retrofitting an open fireplace generally does not lead to any critical loads on typically designed ceilings.
Except for the support plates and planned openings, open chimneys must be clad on all sides. According to DIN 4165 and 4166, aerated concrete blocks or building boards are suitable for this.
2. Recommendations for aerated concrete building materials for chimneys How to build a fire pit
In cooperation with the Central Association of Sanitary, Heating, and Air-Conditioning, the Federal Association of the Aerated Concrete Industry developed a recommendation for using aerated concrete in open fireplaces and tiled stoves. According to this, its components are suitable for a permanent internal temperature load up to 150 ° C.
Tip: Do-it-yourselfers who build an open fireplace themselves should use thin-bed mortar or filler mortar as a binding agent. This avoids possible abrasion of the building material. However, aerated concrete is not suitable for proper heat emission.
3. Instructions: Build your fireplace and tiled stove
Then build the inner area of the fireplace according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Depending on the model. It is then clad, walled or walled in with pore concrete.
This is where the advantage of aerated concrete lies because the stones and slabs are easy to work with and can be cut to the required size. You can also use them to build semicircular elements and arches yourself. Which visually enhances the stove.
Suppose you want to lay tiles instead. You can attach them directly to the aerated concrete with a unique cement adhesive.
4. Notes on building instructions for tiled stoves and chimneys
The work steps listed represent a simplified sample. Do-it-yourselfers should therefore strictly follow the manufacturer’s instructions belonging to the kit so that the open fireplace meets the requirements of DIN 18895-1 and the provisions for registration. In addition, a specialist’s advice is necessary to calculate the interaction between the chimney, the open fireplace, and the draft.
5. Instructions for building chimneys, stoves, mantels, and accessories
The fireplace took on a purely practical task for centuries: it was a technical facility for heating a room. Nowadays, the desire for a fireplace lies elsewhere. It spreads coziness, looks great, and creates a romantic flair.
Unfortunately, modern wood-burning stoves are pretty expensive to buy, which is why it is worthwhile for a do-it-yourselfer to build the fireplace himself when it comes to occasional, cozy evenings in front of the fire.
A tiled stove is much more about the function of an additional heater that can even provide warm water for the bathroom. How to build a fire pit A wood-burning stove can also integrate into the heating system if it has the appropriate options.
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