Fire Surround Glossary

Parts of a Fireplace

Fireplace Surround or Mantelpiece

The name given to the decorative framework around a fire opening, usually made out of natural stone or wood. Typically comprising a pair of legs, a header and a shelf.

Shelf or Mantelshelf

The top flat part of the fireplace that sits on the header.

Header or Frieze

The horizontal part of the fireplace under the shelf that sits on or between the legs.

Legs or Jambs

The parts of the fireplace that stand on each side of the fire opening to support the header and shelf.

Corbels

A pair of decorative brackets that are fixed to the front face of the legs to support the shelf.

Pilasters

Carved or detailed flat-backed columns that are fixed to the legs of a fireplace to provide decoration.

Bolection

A type of decorative moulding on the face of a fireplace that gives it a soft rounded profile.

Foot Block or Pad

A decorative block at the base of each leg.

Plinth Width

This is the distance between the outer edges of the fireplace legs at the base of the surround.

Outer Return

The part of the fireplace that forms the outside of each leg, running from the edge of the front face of the fireplace to the wall.

Inner Return

The part of the fireplace that forms the inside of each leg, running from the edge of the front face of the fireplace towards the wall. The inner return can be shorter than the outer return to allow for the fitting of a slip set or back panel. The gap, if any, between the wall and the return is know as the rebate (see below).

Rebate

The rebate is the distance from the back edge of the inner return to the wall. The rebate can vary in depth to allow for the fitting of slips or a back panel of different thicknesses.

Site or Fire Opening

The area between the legs, above the hearth and below the header. If required, the site opening can be reduced in size by using a set of slips or a back panel.

Fire Chamber or Builders Opening

The area within the chimney breast that the fire basket or wood burning stove sits in. Typically built with bricks, it can be lined with stone, heat resistant board, cast iron panels or rendered. If the builders opening is smaller than the fire opening, a set of slips can be used to cover the difference.

Slips and Back panels

Slip sets are made up of 3 or 4 strips of stone, and are used to reduce the size of the fire opening. A 1 piece stone or metal back panel can also be used.

Hearth

The hearth is used to protect the floor of the house from the fire or stove, and is typically made from slate, granite, marble, limestone or brick. The inner hearth sits within the fire chamber, with the outer hearth sitting outside of the fire chamber across the width of the fireplace.

Grate

The area where the fire is set. Typically a grid made of cast iron.

Fire Basket

The decorative framework that contains the grate and prevents logs or coal from rolling off the grate.

Fire Dogs or Andirons

A pair of decorative irons that hold up or sit each side of the fire basket.

Bioethanol Fire

A fire that burns an eco-friendly liquid bioethanol fuel. A bioethanol fire does not require a flue.

Decorative Fuel Effect (dfe) Gas Fire

An open gas fire with imitation logs or coals that replicates a solid fuel fire.

High Efficiency (he) Gas Fire

A glass fronted closed gas fire with imitation logs or coals that replicates a solid fuel fire. Offers much better efficiency than a DFE gas fire.

Wood Burning Stove or Log Burner

A closed heating appliance fuelled by logs that can be placed within a fire chamber. A wood burner is much more controllable and efficient than an open fire.

Flue or Chimney

A means of removing smoke and fumes from a fireplace. It can be built with bricks, pumice blocks or a metal twin wall system used.

Hetas / Gas Safe

The bodies that oversee and register the safe installation of wood burning stoves (HETAS) and gas fires (GAS SAFE).