Ethanol fireplaces: A short ventilation is enough to provide enough oxygen – and a healthy indoor climate
The oxygen consumption of bio-ethanol fireplaces is harmless to humans – but proper and sufficient ventilation is still important
Frankfurt am Main. – When something burns, oxygen is consumed, as we learn in school. This is no different with a candle than with ethanol fireplaces, which have recently become increasingly popular. However, the concern that operating such a fireplace could reduce the oxygen content of the air in the room to a level that is dangerous for humans is unfounded. "That is an old wives' tale," says microbiologist Dr. Roland Schmid from the University of Osnabrück.
The air contains around 21 percent oxygen. That is more than enough to operate an ethanol fireplace without endangering the health of the people in the room. In an hour, such a fireplace burns between 0.25 and 0.5 liters of bioethanol. According to Dr. Schmid, even in small rooms, the oxygen content only drops so slightly that no one can notice the change.
What is produced by the combustion of ethanol is – in addition to water vapor – carbon dioxide. But this is not a problem either: just a short ventilation by temporarily tilting the windows or occasionally opening the door to the hallway or the next room is completely sufficient for air exchange.
Nothing stands in the way of a cosy evening in front of the fireplace
The far more dangerous carbon monoxide, which is often the cause of accidents in coal-fired stoves, is almost never produced when ethanol is burned. Dr. Roland Schmid: "The measured values are far below the prescribed limits. You will be exposed to more in every underground car park!"
The HKI Industrial Association for Home, Heating and Kitchen Technology, under whose umbrella a separate specialist department for ethanol devices has been formed, also sees it this way. The conclusion is: No one really needs to do without an ethanol fireplace because of concerns about the quality of the indoor air. Nothing now stands in the way of cozy evenings in front of the fire!
Further information is also available on the Internet at www.ratgeber-ethanolkamin.de .
Contact and contact person:
HKI Industrial Association for Home, Heating and Kitchen Technology e. V.
Peter Täubl
Lyoner Str. 9
60528 Frankfurt am Main
Phone: +49 (0)69-25 62 68-0
Fax: +49 (0)69-25 62 68-100
Email: info@hki-online.de