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It explains how these elements work together for safe combustion and airflow, and reviews historical development, construction features, and terminology. The note also covers fire risk, safety considerations, chimney sweeping, energy efficiency improvements, and advice for alterations, including treatment of redundant flues and stacks.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":30,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/technology/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/spab-fireplaces-flues-and-chimneys-spab-technical-advice-note-practical-remedies-fire-risk-and-safety/648347/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/spab-fireplaces-flues-and-chimneys-spab-technical-advice-note-practical-remedies-fire-risk-and-safety/648347.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Muffet","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-28","2026-10-23",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":29},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"How do fireplaces, flues and chimneys work together to support combustion?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"A fireplace is linked to a flue encased by the chimney to remove combustion products safely to the external environment. The arrangement also helps create airflow through the firebed to provide sufficient oxygen for efficient combustion.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"Why is understanding history and construction important for maintenance and repairs?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"Knowledge of historical development and construction helps readers properly appreciate the significance of these features. It also supports diagnosing defects and selecting effective repair methods and materials.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"What safety and risk topics are addressed when dealing with chimneys and fireplaces?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"The guidance emphasizes ensuring fireplaces, flues and chimneys operate safely without putting occupants or buildings at risk. It also includes information on fire risk, safety considerations, chimney sweeping, and requirements for addressing issues even when a fireplace becomes redundant.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},648347,1792865253,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":29,"category_name":30,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":29,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":139,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":145},962090768927,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_085a072bc5b1113ac321206ff7593b45","Fireplaces, Flues and Chimneys  \nSPAB Technical Advice Note  \nMarianne Sühr MRICS, SPAB Lethaby Scholar and Sally Stradling BSc (Hons), MA, IHBC, FSA  \nThe Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings  \n37 Spital Square London E1 6DY 020 7377 1644 [info@spab.org.uk](info@spab.org.uk)  \n[www.spab.org.uk](www.spab.org.uk)  \nContents  \nThe fireplace and chimney are important historic elements of many old buildings. These features speak volumes as to how such buildings have evolved. Balancing the historical integrity of afireplace and chimney while maintaining their functionality is often a challenge. This Technical Advice Note covers the diagnosis of common defects and offers practical remedies. Additionally, it provides information on fire risk and safety, as well as advice on alterations to fireplaces and energy efficiency improvements. The focus is primarily on fireplaces, flues and chimneys in domestic buildings.  \n1 Introduction ....................... 3  \n2 History and construction ....................... 4  \n3 Work in general ....................... 12  \n4 Open fireplaces and inglenooks ....................... 13  \n5 Hobs and grates ....................... 19  \n6 Flues ....................... 21  \n7 Solid fuel appliances ....................... 25  \n8 Fuel for stoves and fires ....................... 27  \n9 Fire safety and chimney sweeping ....................... 27  \n10 Chimney stacks and pots ....................... 30  \n11 Redundant flues and stacks ....................... 35  \n12 References ....................... 36  \n13 Other advice ....................... 38  \nAppendix A Options for relining flues ....................... 40  \nCover image: Prominent chimney stacks contributing to the architectural significance of medieval terraced houses in Vicars' Close, Wells, Somerset. Photo: © Douglas D Kent  \n2  \nSPAB Fireplaces, Flues and Chimneys  \n1 Introduction  \nA fireplace is linked to a flue that is encased by the chimney (see figure 1). This arrangement is designed to remove the products of combustion safely from the internal to the external environment. It also creates an airflow through a wood or coal firebed to help provide sufficient oxygen for efficient combustion. But chimneys are frequently dramatic features in their own right, which contribute to the architectural significance of historic buildings (see cover image). They may, whether originally intended or not, also fulfil structural functions within a building.  \nThis Technical Advice Note considers next the history and construction of fireplaces, flues and chimneys (section 2). A sound understanding of these aspects will help ensure a proper appreciation of the significance of such features. Good information on their history and construction also provides information essential for the analysis of any defects and for effective repair. The methods and materials for repair are described later, along with ways of minimising fire risk, improving the energy efficiency of redundant or active flues, and alterations (sections 3 to 11). Technical terms used in this guidance are defined in our online glossary 1  \nChimneys work because hot air rises. Any intervention to the arrangement of a fireplace,  \nflue or chimney may affect the efficiency of the burn and draw of the fire. Repairing defects in chimney masonry and making flues work more efficiently is a common task in the maintenance of old buildings. Ensuring fireplaces, flues and chimneys work safely without putting occupants or buildings at risk is paramount. Even when a fireplace becomes redundant certain issues must be addressed before decommissioning the flue, and ongoing maintenance will be required.  \nCap  \nWithe (midfeather)  \nShaft   \nBreast  \nBressummer  \nJamb  \nHearth  \nFlue  \nStack (shaft)  \nFireplace  \nChimney  \nFigure 1: Parts of a chimney. Illustration: Douglas D Kent  \n3  \nSPAB Fireplaces, Flues and Chimneys  \n2 History and construction  \n2.1 Medieval  \nFires have always provided essential sources ","cbCaic7EAgN76Z5r","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaic7EAgN76Z5r","pdf",4284886,43,"English","# Contents\n## 1 Introduction\n## 2 History and construction\n## 3 Work in general\n## 4 Open fireplaces and inglenooks\n## 5 Hobs and grates\n## 6 Flues\n## 7 Solid fuel appliances\n## 8 Fuel for stoves and fires\n## 9 Fire safety and chimney sweeping\n## 10 Chimney stacks and pots\n## 11 Redundant flues and stacks\n## 12 References\n## 13 Other advice\n## Appendix A Options for relining flues","[{\"question\":\"How do fireplaces, flues and chimneys work together to support combustion?\",\"answer\":\"A fireplace is linked to a flue encased by the chimney to remove combustion products safely to the external environment. The arrangement also helps create airflow through the firebed to provide sufficient oxygen for efficient combustion.\"},{\"question\":\"Why is understanding history and construction important for maintenance and repairs?\",\"answer\":\"Knowledge of historical development and construction helps readers properly appreciate the significance of these features. It also supports diagnosing defects and selecting effective repair methods and materials.\"},{\"question\":\"What safety and risk topics are addressed when dealing with chimneys and fireplaces?\",\"answer\":\"The guidance emphasizes ensuring fireplaces, flues and chimneys operate safely without putting occupants or buildings at risk. It also includes information on fire risk, safety considerations, chimney sweeping, and requirements for addressing issues even when a fireplace becomes redundant.\"}]","SPAB Fireplaces, Flues and Chimneys - SPAB Technical Advice Note - Practical Remedies, Fire Risk and Safety | PDF",1792793187,108]