A fireplace must be constructed to be strong, stable, and fireproof. Each part of the fireplace must be designed and constructed to perform its specified functions if the fireplace is to work efficiently and to last for many years. Almost all fire places consist of three elements - a grate where the fuel is burned, a mantel piece usually made from marble stone or wood.Fireplace mantels are a focus for interior decoration, and a hearth which protects the floor from ash.
Some common materials used to create fireplaces are brick, concrete, stone and metal. Most wood-burning fireplaces include a pit where the wood is burned and a chute or chimney where smoke rises and dissipates into the atmosphere. Gas fireplaces are fueled by gas; they may or may not have chimneys
Foundation: A fireplace is supported by and built on its own foundation; in some building codes, the foundation is called a footing.
Ash Pit: Ashes from the fire can be swept into the ash pit and removed at a later time. The ashes are swept into the ash pit through an ash dump in the inner hearth and removed through a cleanout door
Inner and Outer Hearth: The inner hearth is the surface directly under the fire. It forms the floor of the firebox.
Fireplace Butt Walls: The butt walls support and enclose the firebox. These walls extend from the foundation to the bottom of the flue where the chimney starts.
Firebox: The openings and surfaces directly adjacent to the fire form the firebox. The fireplace opening and the flue opening must be accurately dimensioned for effiicent heating and smoke removal.
Smoke Shelf: Downdrafts, which are currents of air that move down the chimney, are reflected back up the flue by the smoke shelf. The smoke shelf projects out from the rear butt walls and has a curving upper surface.
Damper: This is a mechanical device which opens and closes to regulate the draft. The damper must be installed so that it can be opened and closed freely and so that heat and smoke will not escape around its sides.
Lintel: The lintel is an angle iron which must be placed across the span of the fireplace opening. It supports the masonry units that will be laid over the opening. Smoke Chamber: The smoke chamber extends from the throat to the bottom of the flue. It collects and discharges smoke and combustion gases and reflects downdrafts.
Flue: The flue is a vertical opening through the chimney which extends from the smoke chamber to the top of the chimney. The principal functions of the flue are to create the draft and discharge smoke.
Chimney: The chimney consists of the masonry units laid around the flue, the flue liner, and other objects such as anchors, reinforcement, and flashing.
Chimney Top: The top of the chimney must be at a specified height above the roof, and it must be constructed to include the objects specified such as: a chimney cap for moisture protection, a spark arrester for fire protection, and a hood to reduce downdrafts.
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