Common in rustic and mountain houses, more and more owners are interested in installing a wood-burning fireplace or a wood-burning stove in a city apartment, especially now, when the price of gas and electricity is so expensive. The same is the case for New City Paradise houses, where wood-burning fireplaces are used.
In fact, many old houses still have them. But if a building does not have these facilities, what can be done? Is it possible to put a wood-burning fireplace in the living room (or in a bedroom) of a home that does not have the proper pre-installation? With the energy crisis we are experiencing, what role will wood-burning fireplaces play this winter? We spoke to four experts.
Wood-burning Fireplaces: Functional Elements that also Help to Distribute the Space
“It is common for top floors, attics, or attics to be purchased with the aim of installing a fireplace,”
Fireplaces provide physical and visual warmth and, depending on the type, can even serve to organize the space. “We can use them as an element that helps create different environments in a space: they are not only used to provide heat, but also to distribute,” says Barandiarán.
Is it Possible to Install a Wood-burning Fireplace in a House that does not have One?
The house must meet minimum requirements to be able to install a wood-burning fireplace. According to Barandiarán, they must be the last floors, undercover and with an air chamber in the middle.
In addition, the expert adds that, in the case of living in a residential building, you must have the permission of the neighbors since you would be acting on common elements. “As you have to make a hole in the roof, you need the approval of the community of owners to act on this type of element,” he says.
In addition, and according to the current law, it is necessary to create an independent smoke outlet, so doing it from a height other than that of the house on the top floor is impossible.
On the other hand, there are some houses, for example, from the beginning of the 20th century, that contemplated the possibility and built these smoke outlets, even though they did not have a chimney. They do not comply with current regulations, but it is something that is already in the building, and that could be used for this purpose.
Permits and Licenses Required to Install A Wood-Burning Fireplace Or A Wood-Burning Stove
It will be the corresponding town hall that sets the regulations that must be followed if you want to install a wood-burning fireplace. From a legal point of view, this type of project falls within the Regulation of Thermal Installations in Buildings (RITE), which establishes the conditions that must be met by installations designed to meet the demand for thermal well-being and hygiene through the installations of heating, air conditioning, and domestic hot water, to achieve a rational use of energy.
Single-family or detached homes have a higher margin. Even so, “we must also take into account the limitations and characteristics that an installation of this type must have, such as the height of the chimney, in the application of the regulations according to the technical code”, explains Barandiarán.
When these houses have a uniform profile and a certain aesthetic, as is the case of urbanization, it is necessary to see how the inclusion of a chimney would affect it. The community may have regulations that affect the inclusion of these elements, even if they are single-family homes.
Once all the above requirements have been solved, the fireplace can be installed anywhere in your home, for example, a free-standing one in the center of the living room if the house allows it architecturally.
“Even if it is a top floor and you have all the permits, additionally, other parameters must be taken into account. In the particular case of free-hanging buildings, it is necessary to ensure that the structure of the building supports its weight”, says Barandiarán. Consultation with a professional is essential.
What Happens if a Wood-burning Fireplace does not have a Smoke Outlet?
Daniel Talava, from Chimeneas Talaya, explains that the first thing to do is work on its pre-installation: “You have to leave a free section, vertically, from the location of the chimney to above the ridge or highest area of the roof to be able to pipe the smoke outlet; the size of this section will depend on the type of chimney”. Outside, it must protrude between 50 and 60 cm, and maintain minimum separation distances from other elements, buildings, or plants.
“The problem is that the buildings are not prepared for the placement of wood-burning fireplaces since they do not have said pre-installation. So, the only possibility is the attic. In the RITE, this aspect is not clear, and it does not oblige to leave that pre-installation”, says Daniel Talaya.
What Type of Fireplace am I Interested in Installing at Home?
When choosing the fireplace to opt for, the first thing would be to assess whether we are going to use it as a heating system. In this case, there are several options in addition to the traditional fireplace: with pre-installation of radiators, which we can combine with the boiler we have; in this case, it would be a thermo-fireplace.
If it is a small house or we want to heat only one area, the most convenient thing would be to opt for a hot air convection system, in which case we will choose a fireplace with heat recovery. In addition, it is important to choose a size according to the power and the wood that we need.
Regarding its design, Talaya suggests conditioning the choice to the use it will have: “If it is a kitchenor bodega –as we call it–, where you can meet friends to barbecue and make some stews, we suggest an open fireplace. A team prepared for it, with its oven, would be ideal. If it is for the living room, where you can enjoy the fire and heat the home, the most convenient thing is a closed fireplace”.
“If there is no possibility of a smoke outlet, other options to enjoy a fireplace at home are flame simulators (electric) or bioethanol fireplaces, which do not need a smoke outlet and do not have as many restrictions as wood-fired fireplaces,” Talava points out.
“When this installation cannot be done, or you want to avoid doing work, another option is to opt for a simulated fireplace by adding only the marble or stone mouthpiece and equipping it with a clean fuel fireplace, such as bioethanol, gas, or even, by electricity, obtaining decorative results, which are not energetic, quite attractive and that also allows the flexibility of being able to place them anywhere,” says Barandiarán.
It is worth knowing that these solutions are not heating systems. Some heat, but are not efficient at heating a large space.
With the Energy crisis we are Experiencing, what Role will Wood-Burning Fireplaces Play?
There are not a few individuals who are venturing to install a wood-burning fireplace at home, especially now that the EcoDesign regulation, a European standard that proposes sustainable combustion products and which came into force on January 1, 2022, requires the manufacture and sale of stoves and wood-burning fireplaces that prevent the excessive emission of polluting gases.
“The new highly efficient EcoDesign fireplaces will provide the kilowatts necessary to not depend on electricity and gas to heat the house,” says expert Ximo Ivars, from Fuego Difusion, for whom wood-burning fireplaces are a good idea for this winter.
Individuals are also beginning to agree. In fact, Melchora Vidal, from Crea Spacious , shares that, in her studio, they are placing more and more fireplaces. “And the one who can’t put up a fireplace, he thinks of other types of fuels,” she says.
You can also check out Capital Smart City for fascinating home décor.