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Green
Fireplaces
Ventilation
We applaud the whole house approach promoted by
LEED. We advocate including the fireplaces when
balancing
the ventilation system for the whole house.
Only by taking a wholistic
approach can we hope to minimize the air necessarily
lost up the chimney to carry away the smoke and
insure good Indoor air quality.
Fireplaces heat radiantly so it is not sensible
to require fireplace doors which block nearly all
of the radiant heat. For the physics see our discussion
on fireplace
doors.
Fireplaces need make-up outside air for combustion
and ventilation - just like any other appliance
that vents exhaust gasses or stale air to the outside.
The make-up air a fireplace needs - about one cubic
foot per minute for every square inch of flue area
- should not be provided directly into the firebox
for the reasons given in Rumford's discussion about
combustion
air. It's inadequate at best, can bring with
it bad smells, blowing ash and, in some situations,
be a fire hazard.
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This page used by
permission of
Jim Buckley,
Buckley
Rumford Company
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