Fires with a door that can be closed are generally referred to as "enclosed" fires, in contrast to open fires. Heat-resistant SCHOTT ROBAX^® glass-ceramic panels, available in a wide range of sizes and shapes, can be used in the doors of stoves or the sides or front of fireplaces to give a perfect view of the flames, so that the effect is just the same as an open fire.

If you choose an enclosed fire with a viewing panel, you can have living flames and a roaring fire without the dirt and smell of smoke. Nowadays, high-quality enclosed fireplaces and stoves have an efficient air wash system on the inside of the glass to ensure that the fire is always clearly visible.

In winter, a lot of the heat from open fires is wasted, because it is pulled up the chimney. In terms of emissions, enclosed wood fires are far superior to the open versions. A controlled supply of air with carefully designed primary and secondary air vents ensures that the wood burns cleanly and efficiently. This maximizes the amount of heat produced and keeps wood consumption, soot and ash to a minimum.

Open fires should not be left unattended. However, if you have an enclosed fire, you can leave the room without having to worry. It is impossible for sparks to fly out into the room because of the fire-resistant panel. This is a very important safety feature, which means that you can enjoy the fire with peace of mind. In contrast to open fireplaces, enclosed fireplaces or stoves can therefore be installed in almost any type of building.

Everyone must take action to slow down global warming caused by the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO₂) and find alternative energy sources to oil and gas which are fast running out. People with modern fireplaces or stoves are making a contribution to the environment in both respects. Wood is the ideal renewable fuel. It is available in almost unlimited quantities and is completely carbon-neutral. Because of their high energy density, lignite briquettes also represent an efficient alternative to oil and gas.

A brief excursion into the world of biochemistry: During the lifetime of a tree, it extracts carbon dioxide from the environment which is stored in the wood. When the wood is burnt, exactly the same amount of carbon dioxide is released. An identical amount would also be released if the tree was left to rot naturally. This natural form of emission trading is always in balance, because the forestry industry has made a long-term commitment to sustainability

Forests are not felled randomly. In any case, thinnings and trees blown down by the wind are often used for firewood. It is important to remember that firewood comes primarily from domestic forests. Therefore, it is an environmentally friendly fuel even before it is burnt, because, unlike oil and gas, it does not need to be transported over large distances or subjected to complex industrial processing. Firewood simply needs to be cut, split and seasoned.

Fireplaces and stoves are the perfect form of heating for modern low-energy houses. In spring and autumn, they often provide sufficient warmth to heat the whole house. However, because houses of this kind are designed to be airtight, only direct vent fireplaces and stoves can be used which do not take their combustion air from the room in which they are installed, but instead from an external air duct.

When reports about a new increase in the cost of energy hit the headlines, owners of fireplaces and stoves will be feeling very relaxed smug. In recent years the price of firewood has increased only very slightly. Stoves which can heat other rooms in the house via hot air ducts are a particularly efficient solution. Lignite briquettes are also a safe choice. Since 2007, the price of oil and gas has been rising dramatically. It has reached a level of more than 7 cents per kilowatt hour and is likely to increase further. In contrast, the price of lignite briquettes has hardly changed in ten years. In 2008 it was 5.77 cents per kilowatt hour. By taking advantage of special offers from retailers, you can make substantial savings and buy briquettes for significantly less than 5 cents per kilowatt hour.

Pellet stoves are a straightforward alternative to wood-burning stoves. They use small pellets made of compressed biomass waste wood which are supplied in sacks or stored in tanks. Pellets are clean and can be transported without problems. Pellet stoves are easy to fill and some even have automatic filling systems.

Firewood must be split and stored for at least two years in a sheltered, airy place to allow it to season, until the residual moisture content is less than 20 percent. It will have a heating value of around 4 kW. Freshly cut wood can therefore usually be bought more cheaply. Damp wood burns inefficiently and produces a lot of smoke. It can cause soot and tar to form in the chimney which can result in chimney fires.

Before you start looking for a fireplace or stove, you should ask your chimney sweep to visit your house so that he can tell you about the options available to you. He will be familiar with the emissions regulations for your area and will be able to give you unbiased advice, for example about the heat which a currently unused chimney can withstand and the amount of heating needed in rooms of different sizes. What if I don’t already have a chimney? That’s not a problem. There are cost-effective ways of installing chimneys retroactively. You can also discuss this with your chimney sweep.

Most people choose to have a fireplace or stove in their living room. This makes sense because it is often the largest heated room in the house and therefore needs the largest supply of heat. In addition, the living room is the place where you relax and enjoy your own home. What could be better than sitting by a warm fire and watching the flames?

Buying a fireplace or stove is very similar to buying furniture. You need to think about your requirements, your style of decoration and finally the fireplace or stove that you like best, which isn’t necessarily the same thing. One tip: A large vision panel will not only give a lot of pleasant radiant heat, but also the best view of the fire. Make sure that you choose a high-quality fireplace or stove. With ROBAX^® glass-ceramic panels from SCHOTT, you can be confident that you have made the right choice.

More complex installations, such as tiled stoves or fireplaces, must be carried out by experts. They will know the regulations inside out and therefore there will be no problem with approval. This also applies to wood-burning stoves and cookers. However, if you are experienced at DIY, you may be able to do the work yourself, after consulting your chimney sweep. It is important to find out in detail about the relevant regulations.

Before lighting the fire you should ask your chimney sweep to perform any necessary inspections check it over. If you have followed his instructions, this is simply a formality.