Back in 2018, HETAS covered the critical importance of ensuring open fireplace components surrounding a fireplace recess are appropriately affixed to the building fabric by means of mechanical fixings. This as a result of reports of incident of serious injury to small children within homes where only semi-permanent methods of fixings of fire surrounds were used.

Since the publication of the bulletin note, the helpline has been experiencing an increase in the number of queries relating not only to appropriate fixing methods, but the required clearance distances of a fireplace surround to a solid fuel open fire in a recess, which are either fully constructed or include a “mantle” or shelf “manufactured” from combustible materials, including wood.

Currently British Standard BS 1251 Open Fireplace Components provides guidance on the safety distances to wooden surrounds in close proximity to an appliance, and includes those surrounds of either slabbed, cut stone or boxed section types.

It is important that only those fireplace surrounds verified as meeting the fundamental requirements of this standard are used in solid fuel installations.

As these types of surrounds will be provided with the correct mechanical fixings for the surround, and should be installed following the manufacturers prescribed installation instructions.

Clearance distances from the fireplace opening to any fireplace surround made from combustible material are specified in clause 4.1.2.4 of the standard as follows:

4.1.2.4 Wooden Mantels

Where a fireplace consists of a marble, stone or ceramic back panel and hearth together with a wooden mantel, there shall be a minimum clearance to combustible material of 300mm above the fire opening and 150mm either side of the fire opening to the start of the wooden mantel.

These distances evidently fall outside of those generally prescribed by the manufacturer of a solid fuel heating appliance, which in most cases only cover distances directly to the side, rear and directly in front of the appliance from soft furnishings.

It is important therefore that these distances away from a wooden surround are maintained at all times for an open fire heating appliance, with measurements taken from the nearest point of the opening to the nearest point of the surround, as pictured in the image below:

With the variety in dimensions of fireplace openings and available surrounds it is advisable to do a pre-installation check to ensure that any chosen surround will enable compliance with the required clearances as prescribed.