Spotlight – Renaissance Rumford

“Count Rumford knew his stuff: classic Rumford firebox proportions produced a vertical fire which concentrated hot combustion gasses while at the same time radiated heat back through the firebox for a hotter fire.

Renaissance Fireplaces, a division of the Industrial Chimney Company, also knows their stuff. As a recognized leader in both chimney and fireplace design, they broke new ground in with the unveiling of their new fireplace – the Rumford 1000. It all started with an industry challenge – build an open door fireplace that would burn as cleanly as a modern day, high efficiency wood stove.

At a time when reduced emissions and high efficiency are held in high regard, traditional wood fireplaces with large viewing areas have been losing ground to their smaller and cleaner counterparts - especially in colder climates. The smaller and popular breed of fireplace resembles a wood stove; air-tight combustion design, baffling in the firebox to retain the smoke and heat as long as possible, and a slow and lazy burn whose warmth can nudge any onlooker into a fascinated trance. But it’s not for everybody.

Until now, the firebug who wanted to enjoy the snap and crackle of burning wood, and the dance and roar of a standing flame had to pay a price. Tolerating cold down drafts, difficult start-ups, and smoke spilling into the house if conditions were not ideal was only the beginning. Add the odor of the chimney, dirty glass that hides the fire, and a thankless pittance of heat for the effort and it’s no wonder that holiday gatherings around the fire were filled with snickers and guffaws.

Now the game has changed. The modern day Rumford 1000, much like it’s name sake of centuries past, makes building a wood burning fire easy and effortless. Boasting a viewing area that is over 1000 square inches (wood stoves and other fireplaces offer viewing areas closer to 350 sq. in), and guillotine door and screen systems that slide out of your way when not wanted, you can enjoy the feeling of having a bonfire in your living room, without having to send smoke signals to the neighbors!

In addition to the Vesta Award from it’s own industry, the U.S. EPA and the Interior Designers of Canada have saluted this feat of engineering with the Clean Air Excellence Award and an Award for Innovation respectively. How did they do it?

Here are key points about the Rumford 1000 as described by the Renaissance Fireplace Company…

Cutaway of Renaissance Rumford 1000

1 – “We fabricated the Rumford throat from smooth low mass insulating refractory: this promotes smoother air flow into the throat of the firebox and prevents cool room air from lowering combustion temperatures”
2 – “Utilizing low mass insulating refractory throughout the unit resulted in hotter fire and lower emissions. Traditional firebrick is durable but it absorbs a lot of heat, making it difficult to achieve the high temperatures necessary for clean combustion.”
3 – “Insulation, insulation, insulation. No magic here, the Renaissance Rumford burns clean because it burns hot. Lot of high temperature insulation is utilized, not only to keep the fire hot, but also keep the outside of the unit cool and safe.”
4 – “The Renaissance’s guillotine door system was designed to be the smoothest operating and sturdiest guillotine fireplace door ever made. When the door is closed emissions plummet to a level equivalent to an EPA certified stove. The door is perfectly counterweighted so it can be raised and lowered with one finger and will stop smoothly at any point. The door lifts straight up and completely disappears withing the facade above the fireplace, but it can also be opened horizontally on a hinge so it can be cleaned easily.”

In addition, it’s construction and geometry reflect and radiate heat back into the room, leaving you toasty and warm as you enjoy the roaring fire.