Do You Need A Fireplace Screen

This safety standard was put into effect by the american national standards institute in order to reduce the number of accidental burns associated with touching the hot glass panels of gas fireplaces.

Do you need a fireplace screen.

The fireplace screen is also used to fill the empty hole of the fireplace when the fire is not lit. Mesh fireplace screens and curtains are used to protect your home from sparks and embers that can occur with the use of a wood burning fireplace they are also designed to withstand high temperatures. Alternately if you have a small square opening you can add a screen that arches right over the sides and top. Either of those scenarios create the potential for a fire and serious damage to furniture and injury to people or pets who lie near the fire.

Do you always need a fireplace screen. Only mount a tv above a fireplace if temperatures in that spot do not surpass 100 degrees fahrenheit. You always need a fireplace screen. All gas fireplaces and stoves with glass fronts manufactured after january 1 2015 are required to have a fireplace screen.

A fireplace screen can be typically found as a wire mesh surrounded by a sturdy frame which can be placed on the hearth of a fireplace. This image also from better home and gardens shows an arched screen covering a standard rectangular opening. This also applies for a gas fireplace. In addition the fireplace screen has a decorative function.

This helps to keep the room clean and prevent accidental fires. If you have a carpet just in front of the fireplace or a wooden or plastic floor close to the fire it is always necessary to put a fireplace screen in front of the fire. It prevents sparks from coming out of the fire into the room or children pets and for example newspapers from being able to reach the fire. Mesh curtains minimize the risk of hot embers or sparks popping out of your fireplace and burning your flooring or catching your home on fire.

A fireplace screen is needed to help prevent any hot embers from spitting out into the room which is particularly important when the fireplace located is near wooden floor or carpet. You may have luck with a fireplace that produces less heat features a deep mantel and strong. If the fireplace is quite large and there is a semi arch you can have the screen stop at the height where it begins to arch.