If you are thinking of spending your nights outdoors under some warmth, but don’t know if setting up a fire pit under a canopy is safe, you shouldn’t worry. You can definitely put a canopy over a fire pit.
Sitting under a canopy near a fire pit is one of the best ways to enjoy the outdoor life with your family and friends. If you are looking to take a break from that stressful job of yours during the week, relaxing near a fire pit and having a glass of wine will do the magic. You can rest, discuss, and have some quiet family time over the fire pit too.
In your living area, you can also have a nice time in a fire shelter. Most homeowners set a canopy or a gazebo over a fire pit to have a quiet time, away from the noise, and to enjoy the natural air. Instead of the canopy, some homeowners use a gazebo, as it’s more eye-appealing than canopies. It’s also easier to customize a gazebo than canopies, which explains why some house owners install it. You can host a meeting and do lots of things under the shelter.
Is It Safe to Have a Fire Pit Under a Canopy?
Avid campers set a canopy over a fire pit for relaxation and to keep themselves warmed up, especially on cold nights. Homeowners have different reasons for setting a canopy over a fire pit. Apart from the warmth it provides, fire shelters are designed to add appeal to the overall structure of the living space. But, if you are unsure of whether it’s safe to set this up in your home, the answer is yes. However, you need to put certain things in place.
First, you need to know that not all canopies are ideal fire pits. Some canopies are too light, and that won’t be suitable for fire shelters. One thing is certain; your canopy can easily get burnt by the fire over long hours due to the excessive heat temperature. Imagine sleeping under a melting or burning canopy and not knowing. It could be disastrous, especially with your children around.
If you want to prepare a fire shelter, ensure that the canopy is fireproof. In addition, it must be waterproof to prevent water drops and well ventilated to allow the smoke escape. Smoke has low molecular weight and gets trapped under the roof. It could lead to carbon poisoning. Therefore, you need to have space vents in your canopy for outlets.
It’s not advisable to set a fire pit in an enclosed area, especially if it’s a wood-burning fire pit. A gazebo is safer than canopies in terms of ventilation. Therefore, you need to be careful in your choice of selection regarding canopies.
Second, you should set the fire pit some distance away from the building. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a fire pit should stay 25 feet away from the building unless it’s an open area. You should also keep it away from any overhanging branches to avoid fire outbreaks. In case you don’t have so much space in your outdoor living space to set it up, ensure you use pit screens to contain the embers, especially when using a wood-burning fire pit.
Setting Up Fire Pits
When setting up fire pits, you need to choose between wood-burning or propane-burning pits.
Wood burning pits produce thick smokes that could put your health in danger. It also discharges embers that could land on nearby structures. This is practically the reason most people don’t opt for this type of fire pit. However, you can use them safely with pit screens.
Propane burning pits produce cleaner fire and are generally safer than their wood counterparts. Additionally, they are easier to set and do not produce embers. This is probably the reason homeowners prefer it to wood burning.
When setting up a fire pit in your home, you should avoid wood and composite decks as the flooring material. They are combustible, so installing a fire pit on any of them could be hazardous. For flooring, we advise that you use vinyl, concrete, and stone.
Fire Pit Safety Precautions
Whether you have set up your fire pit or planning to, you need to observe some safety precautions to prevent any accident. These precautions are;
- Consult with your city or state’s regulatory bodies on whether you should install a fire pit or not in your area of jurisdiction.
- Always have a fire extinguisher available.
- Avoid flammable upholstered chairs. It would be best if you placed the seats away from the fire pit. They shouldn’t be too close to the pit.
- Ensure to use non-flammable furniture when near the fire. Metals are the best alternative.
- You should not allow children to get close to the fire pit unsupervised.
- If it’s a wood-burning fire pit, you must use a fire pit screen to contain the embers.
- The area must be ventilated.
- If you are using a gazebo, the ceiling must be high enough to permit heat to disperse.
Conclusion
Fire pits are excellent investments if you want to add appeal and elegance to your living space. Whether planning a family vacation or a party, remember that you can set your fire pit with canopies. Although many people have maintained their stance on not putting a canopy over a fire pit, we can confidently say that it’s safe to put it. However, you need to follow all the safety precautions discussed here. It could be risky if you don’t install a fire shelter without following those safety regulations.
Before setting up your fire shelter with a canopy, you need to make sure that it is fire-treated, waterproof and vented to allow smoke escape. This is the best way to enjoy your outdoor life without racking your head about accidents or danger.