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Fireplace Screens: Materials, Styles, and Safety Concerns

One element that should be included with any fireplace is a fire screen. Owners often want to keep the front of a fireplace open for a clear view of the flames and logs, but it only takes one fire accident to show how vital a screen is. It is your first line of defense to prevent sparks and falling logs from entering the room and causing a dangerous fire. It also keeps children and pets from getting too close and touching the fire and surrounding firebox, which can quickly burn skin. Some screens even come in minimalistic designs, such as transparent glass that offers a full view of your fire.

Another factor worth remembering is your home insurance requirements. Your policy may deny your claim if a fire or injury results from a failure to take safety precautions.

Most gas, pellet, and wood-stove designs have glass doors installed to keep sparks from landing in rooms, but not all fireplaces have them, and even then, a fire screen brings added protection. Single-pane glass doors on standard residential fireplaces can heat up to temperatures of 400-600°F. An additional fire screen protects your children, pets, and guests from the hot material. At the same time, they provide attractive views of your fire and can even add more style to your room.

This article reviews the latest fire screen styles and materials and reviews safety concerns of fire screens worth remembering.

Fireplace Screen Styles

Here is a list of screen styles in the market today:

Wire Mesh

A wire mesh screen looks similar to chain-link armor. It connects directly to the front of the firebox and opens like curtains. The design keeps children and pets from touching the flames, logs, and embers and helps prevent fire sparks from entering the room. The tighter the mesh, the better.

Many styles feature an eight-mesh plain square weave (eight openings per linear inch).

Single panel screens / flat panel screens

This design is a single frame that offers a clean look with minimal angles. These screens are either attached to the front of the fireplace or are free-standing, allowing you to place them as far away from the fire as you like. Positioning the screen up close prevents sparks from escaping from the fireplace opening's top, sides, or bottom. When placed further away, the screen is cooler to the touch. There are also screens with access doors.

If you want a flush look and access to the fire while it is burning, you can purchase a single-panel screen with doors for easy access to the fire.

Three-panel screens / aka Tri-panel screens

Three-panel screens have three panels: one in the center and two on either side. They often cover a larger surface area and offer more sturdiness than flat-panel designs, which is excellent if you have kids or pets.

Four-panel screens

Four-panel screens consist of two panels in the front and one on each side. These screens often provide more coverage than the three-panel screens. Some designs come with two doors in the middle for easier fire access.

Child and Pet Safety Screens

These screens are the widest screen design, often wrapping the entire fireplace. They work like child and pet fences by keeping them safe from fire. At the same time, the screens are easy to set up and move. Some designs come with doors for easy access to the fire.

Fireplace Screen Materials

Screens come in a wide range of materials to suit your home style. Here are some commonly found materials, and the first three, stainless steel, brass, and bronze, are considered the best.

Steel: This metal has a higher melting point than aluminum. You have three types of steel to choose from:
Plain steel is affordable, durable, and easy to maintain.
T-304 stainless steel is easier to clean and provides improved protection from corrosion, rust, and heat damage.
T-316 stainless steel offers the most heat resistance and excellent resistance to rusting or corroding.
Brass: Brass offers a golden shine, making it an elegant choice. It also holds up to high temperatures and is exceptionally durable, making it a good option for harsh areas of the country. It has high tensile strength and abrasion resistance, though keeping it clean and tarnish-free can be challenging.
Bronze: Bronze is a blend of copper and tin. It is a strong material that doesn’t corrode or oxidize easily. It conducts heat well if you live where every bit of heat counts, though this also makes it hot to the touch. It has an elegant and timeless look and comes in a reddish-brown color that matches many home styles but can be expensive.
Wrought Iron: Iron is highly durable and provides an old-world look. Wrought iron needs to be periodically treated with a rust-resistant coating.
Glass: Tempered safety glass is commonly used to provide a see-through barrier while keeping viewers safe from the flames. It does get hot, especially when positioned directly against the fireplace opening.
Aluminum: This inexpensive material is also lightweight and strong, making it easy to move around. However, aluminum will corrode if exposed to high temperatures for prolonged periods.

Fireplace Screen Safety Concerns

Screens protect you from flames, but the heat can transfer to the screens to some degree, making them a burn hazard. A flush-mounted, single-pane glass screen can heat up to temperatures of 400-600°F. Even quick contact with the glass can result in severe burns to the skin.

Fire screens that are hot to the touch can also ignite items in the room, such as furniture, draperies, and other combustibles. Here is how you can solve this issue:

Position the fire screen further away from the fire: With less heat reaching the screen, it stays cooler to the touch.

Buy an appropriately-sized screen: A screen that covers the entire opening keeps children and small pets from moving behind it and burning themselves.

Wear heat-resistant gloves: Since heat transfers onto the screen, wear heat-resistant gloves before handling your screen.

Use a Fire Screen for Added Peace of Mind

Investing in a fire screen is highly recommended. A roaring fire is one of life’s great joys, but not if the threat of injury remains high. A screen keeps your home and family safe while helping ensure that claims with your insurance company are honored. They are well worth the investment.