If you have a wooden deck, you may want to install a fire pit on it. However, you need to consider several things before you do, such as clearance, base protection, and weight support among other things. We’ll discuss these considerations, as well as others, in this article.
Fire Pits on Wood Decks: How Safe Are They?
The main things that make it safe include the following:
- Enough clearance
- Base protection
- Sufficient weight support
- Safety accessories
Radiant heat and fire pits
Deck fire pits generate radiant heat.
Fire pits can ignite items even far away because of their radiant heat. Sparks may also come from wood-burning fire pits. Larger fire pits and fires pose a greater risk. Radiant heat also burns wood decks. Wood on the deck can be scored by heat radiating from the bottom of the fire pit and eventually burn.
Wood decks, fire pits, and fire codes
Make sure you follow your area’s fire codes before adding a fire pit to your deck. Fire pits are illegal in certain cities and towns. Dryness and wildfire risks require extra caution to be taken.
Gas fire pits may be allowed depending on housing ordinances. It can be installed on a wooden deck if it does not violate fire codes. Regulations vary by place.
Also, check for fire restrictions in your area. Burn bans prohibit controlled fires like pit fires and bonfires in fire-vulnerable regions due to wildfire. Fire pits run under burn bans may result in fines or at least a scolding from the fire marshal.
Fire pits and clearance restrictions
Ensure enough clearance around deck fire pits. Fire can spread beyond it if flammable objects are near it. These include:
- Awnings and sun umbrellas
- Patio furniture with flammable parts, such as seat cushions
- Fire starters or other grilling accelerants
Instructions usually specify clearance requirements for fire pits. Keeping these clearances in mind is essential when installing one on a wood deck. Fire pit manufacturers often provide specifications online, which you can review before purchasing.
Decks and fire pits need to be safe. Make sure there is enough space around and above it.
Wood decks and the weight of your fire pit
Consider your wood deck’s weight when setting up your fire pit. Fire pit weight varies greatly based on its material. Unless you add a lot of structural support underneath, mount light fire pits on top to offset the weight. Heavier fire pits may collapse the wood deck.
Do one of these things to ensure your wooden deck supports a fire pit:
- Choose one that’s deck friendly.
- Install it with a structural engineer’s help.
Overestimating a deck’s weight is better than underestimating it, since you don’t know how many people it can accommodate. Ensure that it can handle a large crowd.
Protection for the base of a fire pit
If there is wood on the deck, the fire pit radiates heat directly onto it. Without the correct insulation, the heat not only damages the deck over time but ignites it.
Fire pits need a noncombustible base between them and the deck. The fire pit’s radiant heat is protected from the deck’s wood. Hearth pads protect the foundation of your deck fire pit.
Location safety and fire pits
Consider its location on the deck in relation to adjacent structures. Decks and pergolas should not be placed near radiant heat. Fire pits should also be installed in an area with low foot traffic. Walking around and through it adds to accident risk.
Safety accessories for fire pits on decks
With the right accessories, you can use a fire pit on a wooden deck. Here are some of them:
Spark guards
They prevent sparks from escaping from fire pits and starting fires. Additionally, they prevent people from getting burned. These are recommended for any kind of fire pit on wood deck.
Fire pit wind guards
Glass partitions around fire pits avoid embers and flames being scattered all over the deck. Fire pits installed on wooden decks should use a flame and wind guard.
A fire extinguisher and a fire blanket
Both are good deck investments, even when grilling. Fires can happen at any time. Deck fires can lead to house fires. Fire pits that burn wood increase fire hazards. To prevent accidental fires, you need fire safety accessories for your fire pit.
Fire pit installation questions
Make sure you ask yourself these questions before adding a fire pit to your wood deck:
- Does your deck have enough room?
- Is there an area with low traffic to prevent accidental burns? Where is it? Do deck structures pose a fire risk?
- Can the deck support the fire pit? How heavy is your chosen fire pit?
- Anything flammable on the deck near the fire pit that could ignite from radiant heat?
- Do laws prohibit installing a fire pit on a wood deck?
- Can you install it yourself, or are you going to need assistance from structural engineers or other contractors?
- Can you insulate the area between the deck and the fire pit?
You need to answer these questions before you buy a fire pit. You might end up buying one you can’t legally install. You could face minor HOA headaches to serious fire risks in your home depending on your location.
It’s great to have a fire pit on your wood deck but be sure to install it properly.
Cutting corners when it comes to fire pits on decks will lead to disaster. So, if you want to install a fire pit in your yard, take safety into consideration before installing it.
That’s what you need to know about installing a fire pit on a wood deck. If you’re considering installing a fire pit on a wood deck, look at all these considerations first, and ask yourself the questions mentioned previously, and you’ll figure out whether you should install a fire pit on wood deck.