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conductive heat loss and air leakage through walls. The components of a masonry fireplace are shown in Figure 146. It is convenient but not essential to have an ash dump through which ashes can be dropped into an ash pit with a cleanout door in the basement for periodic removal of ashes. Other design guidelines are:
The distance from the back of the fire chamber to the face of the fireplace cannot be less than 300 mm (12 in.);
The front of the fire chamber should be wider than the back; The upper part of the back should tilt toward the face of the fireplace for better burning performance; The back, which should rise one half the height of the opening before sloping forward, should be about two thirds of the opening in width;
146 Fireplace terms
wall finish
flue lining
mantelshelf
smoke chamber
mantel front hearth
smoke shelf damper throat firebrick ash dump back hearth ash pit
cleanout door