Residential installations of gas fireplaces, with glass fronts, can present significant safety concerns for homeowners, especially those with young children and pets in the household. Since the rise in popularity of the gas fireplace, which was brought to market in 1987, most fireplace installations have been gas fireplaces.
It wasn’t until 2015 that all fireplace manufacturers offered safety screens for their fireplaces. That leaves a tremendous safety void for the fireplaces that were manufactured and installed between 1987 and 2015.
The last thing a homeowner wants is to expose family members, pets or guests to potential safety risks. Aside from it being a frightening and dangerous event, a fireplace burn could result in expensive medical care or even pose the threat of a potential lawsuit.
Many homeowners don’t realize that the glass front of a gas fireplace can exceed 350 degrees and that the glass itself stays hot enough to burn skin for up to 30 minutes after the fireplace is turned off.
To ensure that family members, friends and pets are safe during the use of a gas fireplace with a glass front, the installation of a safety screen in front of the glass is highly recommended. It’s the simple, safe and sensible solution.