Are Concrete Blocks Safe For Fire Pits?
How to Build Concrete Fire Pits Safely?
Let's look briefly at some basic steps that help to minimize operational risks. It bears mentioning that with fire, as with water, there is always a threat factor and with every remote possibility in mind, it is impossible to design. The fact is, sometimes people do things that lead to accidents. That said, we can still set up things so that people who use their features correctly are less at risk.
Fire-Ready Materials
A big problem we see in fire pits is that they are often designed using only CMUs (concrete blocks) that are not intended for fire use. The heat-up and expansion of the aggregates could theoretically pop or blast. Fire bricks and fire clay mortar should lined all fire pits. The materials used in a kiln and different types of furnaces are the same. During the production process, they are fired and are designed to provide insulation over a range of temperatures.
The same applies to the materials used to fill the fire pit. Whether you're using stone or glass, you should always use high temperature materials. Keep in mind that not all recycled glass is appropriate for fire pit construction.
Manual Control
The old-fashioned manual key valve to control the flow of fuel, despite the fact that fire function systems can include automatic control. The explanation is that for the height of the fire, the person holding the key is responsible. He or she can set the flames on the wind conditions or how many people are going to be around the flames or the size of the crowd. (It's usually smart to keep low flames while hosting a group of small children or drunken adults.) The idea is to prevent the flames from spreading into the surrounding area, which could, for example, set a woman's sundress on fire, singe a child who comes too near or bring somebody's hair on fire.
With fire features set in areas where there is very little chance of human contact— with example, a fire bowl placed on a pilaster on a disappearing edge— there is less of an issue with predetermined flame height or schedules on / off. There, it may be fitting to have automated power. But having the ability to manually lift and lower the flame on the spot offers an extremely important aspect of protection with a fire pit where people come within a few inches of the blaze.
Proper Spacing
The pit measurements will go a long way in assessing people's proximity to the fire. At least 4 inches clearance should always be preserved between the burner assembly and the bottom of your coping. A minimum 12-inch coping for rings where people are going to put up their feet or set drinks.
Burner Installation
Over the past couple of years, fire components have changed. There was a dispute not long ago as to whether or not you wanted fire rings mounted with the holes pointed up or down. Pointing up could result in water entering the manifold. Flipping the ring over solved the problem which resulted in uneven distribution of the flame.
Luckily, manufacturers are making systems these days that can be mounted upwards but still require the tubing to drain water.
An important thing to remember: don't try to assemble your own burner. Manufacturers follow specific guidelines that are essential to proper function and health, so buy a good burner assembly and follow the installation instructions of the manufacturers properly.
