Tips for Firepit Safety

The author’s family enjoys the warmth of their fire pit in comfort and safety. (Courtesy: The Green Scene Landscaping and Pools)The author’s family enjoys the warmth of their fire pit in comfort and safety. (Courtesy: The Green Scene Landscaping and Pools)

For homeowners and commercial property owners seeking to enhance the outdoor experience, fire pits provide an opportunity for close interaction with the flames, explains Scott Cohen, owner of The Green Scene Landscaping and Pools, a licensed contractor in landscape, swimming pool and general construction. With that proximity comes not only excitement, he says, but also the need to create systems that minimize risk of injury.

It’s strange to consider fire pits as some kind of new trend. After all, human beings have been gathering around outdoor fires since the dawn of our species. Just as water can hold a hypnotic or even spiritual appeal, there’s something about fire that is pre-wired within our psyche.

In terms of exterior design, although fire pits have been around a long time, over the past few years we’ve seen a dramatic uptick in their use in both residential and commercial settings, along with outdoor fireplaces and fire bowls.

Fire pits in particular are attractive to many clients in the way they provide gathering places, destinations and focal points. Whether it’s waiting for a table at a restaurant enjoying a cocktail, or roasting marshmallows poolside, people love to put their feet up and warm their toes while enjoying the fire’s mesmerizing dance.

What’s interesting is that while there are plenty of rules governing the manufacturer of components and natural gas service lines, when it comes to how fire pits themselves are designed and built, there’s not much to go by.

As a contractor with extensive experience with all types of fire features, and as an expert witness in situations where something’s gone terribly wrong, I’d like to share some of the basic guidelines I use to maximize both safety and enjoyment of fire pits.

As is the case with so many exterior design issues, hitting the right marks is mostly a matter of common sense.

Fire pits can come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Here a rectilinear pit blends seamlessly with the overall design scheme while providing an intimate setting for relaxation overlooking a beautiful hillside view. (Credit: OutdoorFireplaceDesignIdeas.com)Fire pits can come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Here a rectilinear pit blends seamlessly with the overall design scheme while providing an intimate setting for relaxation overlooking a beautiful hillside view. (Credit: OutdoorFireplaceDesignIdeas.com)

MINDFUL MEASURES

Let’s start with a brief look at some basic measures that help minimize operational risks. It bears mentioning that with fire, as is true with water, there is always an element of risk and it’s impossible to design with every remote possibility in mind. The fact is, sometimes people do careless things that lead to injury. That said, we can still set things up so that there is less risk for people who use their features appropriately.

• Fire-Ready Materials: A big issue I see in fire pits is that they’re built only using CMUs, which are not designed for use with fire. The aggregates will heat up and expand and might potentially pop or explode. I assert that all fire pits should be lined with firebrick and fire clay mortar. These materials are the same as those used in a kiln and various types of furnaces. They are fired during the manufacturing process and are designed to provide insulation over a range of temperatures.

The same holds true for the materials you use to fill the fire pit. Whether stone or glass you should always use materials designed for high temperatures. Keep in mind, not all recycled glass is suitable to be installed in a fire pit.

• Manual Control: In spite of the fact that fire feature systems can include automated control, I still advocate the old-fashioned manual key valve to control the flow of gas. The reason being, the person holding the key is responsible for the height of the flames. He or she can set the flames relative to the wind conditions or how many people will be around the flame or the nature of the gathering. (It’s probably smart to maintain low flames when hosting a gathering of small children, or inebriated adults.) The idea is to prevent the flame from blowing into the surrounding area, which might, for example, set fire to woman’s sundress or singe a child who comes too close or set someone’s hair on fire.

For fire features that are set in locations where there’s very little chance of human contact — a fire bowl set on a pilaster on a vanishing edge, for example — there’s less of an issue with having a preset flame height or on/off schedules. There, an automated control may be appropriate. But with a fire pit where people come within a few inches of the flame, having the ability to manually raise and lower the flame on the spot provides an extremely important element of safety.

I advise both residential and commercial clients to designate someone responsible for operation whenever the flame is lit. Possession of the key itself is a nice clear way to establish that expectation.

• Proper Spacing: The dimensions of the pit will go a long way in determining the proximity of people to the flames. You should always maintain at least four inches clearance between the burner assembly and the edge of your coping. For rings where people will put up their feet or set drinks, I recommend a minimum 12-inch-wide coping.

I also like to build raised pits to 10-12 inches above the deck, perfect footrest height. There’s a tendency for some to raise the coping surface to 18 inches, standard bench height. When you put your feet up on an 18-inch raised surface, it’s likely that you’re toes will get numb, which can present a safety hazard if your shoes get overheated or catch fire. Only build your fire pits at 18 inches tall if it is your intention that guests sit directly on the coping of the fire feature. In that instance, the coping width should be 16-18 inches wide (standard seat depth) to ensure clearance from the flames.

• Burner Installation: Fire elements have changed over the past few years. Not long ago there was a debate as to whether or not you installed fire rings with the holes pointing up or down. Pointing up could lead to water entering the manifold. Flipping the ring over solved that problem but lead to uneven flame distribution.

Fortunately, these days, manufacturers make units that can be installed upward but also allow water to drain from the tubing.

An important caveat: Don’t try to make your own burner assembly. Manufacturers follow specific guidelines critical to proper function and safety, so buy a good burner assembly and adhere to the manufacturers’ installation instructions carefully.

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Fire elements have grown in popularity in recent years, both as gathering places and as purely aesthetic elements that lend drama, warmth and interest to today’s backyard resort settings. (Credit: www.OutdoorFireplaceDesignIdeas.com)Fire elements have grown in popularity in recent years, both as gathering places and as purely aesthetic elements that lend drama, warmth and interest to today’s backyard resort settings. (Credit: www.OutdoorFireplaceDesignIdeas.com)

PUBLIC SAFETY

As mentioned above, fire pits are no longer just for the home backyard. Fire pits, fire bowls and fire conversation pits are growing in popularity in hotels, restaurants, bars and poolside decks. The romantic ambiance of the dancing flames provides warmth and light, and encourages conversation and relaxation. Restaurant owners have learned that patrons don’t mind waiting a little longer for a table while sitting around fire features, while bar and club owners know that the warm glow of an outdoor fire pit prolongs the cocktail hours, which translates directly into profits.

The problem is that if the fire feature is not built or managed correctly guests can inadvertently catch fire, resulting in very serious burn injuries — or worse.

I know how potentially dangerous fire features are, especially in commercial settings. As a construction-expert witness, I’ve investigated incidents where patrons’ clothing and hair have caught fire, resulting in months of burn treatments, discomfort and permanent scarring. Naturally all of this translates into expensive lawsuits and hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills.

Commercial fire pits are more susceptible to accidents than residential fire features and only with proper planning, design and construction can liability exposure be greatly reduced.

Let’s begin with the control issue. At my own home I have a large outdoor fire pit that I enjoy often with family and friends. There I take my own advice and control the flame using a manual keyed valve. We take into consideration the wind, and the number and age of guests when setting the height of the flame. It is enjoyed in a controlled environment and the burning flame is never left unattended.

Commercial fire features are different. They are exposed to a large population and are largely unattended and left unprotected from mischievous children who might touch the hot coals or toss flammable material in, or even from inebriated patrons who might pull any number of foolish stunts. After all, commercial fire pits are often placed in proximity to a bar where adult guests may well be distracted and/or drunk.

Because of these added hazards, I recommend a protective clear shield be placed around commercial fire pits. Indeed, many architects design commercial fire features with a low protective glass (or Pyrex) shield around the feature, which provides a barrier to children’s hands, limits the wind’s influence on the feature, and greatly reduces the chance that clothing may accidentally enter the fire zone and catch. Clear shields do not distract from the ambiance of the feature, warmth is still provided, and they protect against wind-related problems.

Because residential fire-pits are in a controlled environment and mostly supervised by the homeowner, I don’t believe a shield is appropriate. Also, a shield impedes the ability of homeowners to roast marshmallows and hot dogs, a favorite family ritual.

On indoor and outdoor fireplaces there is a code requirement for a spark shield, but none is required on outdoor gas-burning (not wood) fire pits. 

It’s critical that personnel be trained on the proper operation and maintenance of the fire feature and the safety hazards associated with wind and crowds. If an accident does occur, employees should be trained how to properly use a fire extinguisher — it’s my view that anywhere you have a fire feature, a fire extinguisher (or swimming pool) should be located nearby, visible and maintained in operating condition.

Also in my opinion, in commercial settings it’s the management’s responsibility to monitor fire features and maintain gas ring burners, valves and lines. Certainly some responsibility lies with the guest — we learn early in life to respect fire and that it is dangerous to get too close — but, guests of any public establishment like a hotel or restaurant make the reasonable assumption that the space is safe, and that special care has been taken to protect them from harm.

As such, their guard may be down, and injuries can result.

Comments or thoughts on this article? Please e-mail [email protected].

Scott Cohen is author of "Outdoor Fireplace Design Ideas" check it out at www.outdoorfireplacedesignideas.com.

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