Campfire atmosphere within your own four walls: an open fireplace for life’s most beautiful moments
It is the most original form of a fireplace: an open hearth. No separating glass pane, just an unobstructed view of the dancing flames. You are close to the fire, you can feel it, smell it, hear it. A true experience for the senses. The heating performance of an open fireplace is secondary; it is all about pure atmosphere.
With the Urfeuer®, BRUNNER brings back fire in its most authentic form. An open fireplace without a glass pane, yet equipped with advanced technology for safe and trouble-free operation even in modern, airtight homes. A place for dreaming, relaxing and feeling good. A moment of calm in a hectic world.
The features
- Highly versatile in design
Of course, an ambient fireplace with an open fire is not designed for heating. Due to its low efficiency, it releases significantly less heat into the room than a model with a glass ceramic pane. Open fireplaces are unique in their construction and are designed, developed and built purely for comfort and enjoyment. The design of the fire table and the fireplace cladding can be customized to your individual preferences. An open fireplace features a fire bowl and a flue. Up to 5 kg of firewood can be placed on a grate or fire block, ensuring that the fire receives enough oxygen.
- 2. Spark protection
An important feature of an open fireplace is the spark protection. Whether you use “sparkling” softwood or simply want to secure the firebox after the burn for safety reasons, this element prevents embers from falling out. Every Urfeuer fireplace comes with this safety feature as standard. The spark protection screen, made of black-painted stainless steel mesh, slides upward smoothly and securely in its guide track. Technically, it functions like a glass ceramic pane and is counterbalanced for easy handling.
The best part is that even when retracted, no technical components are visible, as the mesh and its mechanism are concealed within a narrow gap between the fire protection panels. Access is quick and easy since the panels can be removed without tools. During operation, when the screen is lowered, it is virtually invisible and does not disturb the view of the fire.
- 3. Patented supply and exhaust air system
For the Urfeuer® fireplace, BRUNNER has developed a sophisticated supply and exhaust air system. Open fireplaces extract a large amount of air from the room – around 300 to 400 cubic meters per hour. In older buildings, this is usually not an issue, as fresh air seeps in through gaps and cracks in windows and doors. However, in airtight and well-insulated houses, this is no longer possible. The air in the room gradually decreases, creating negative pressure that can cause smoke gases to enter the living space. To prevent this, Urfeuer® fireplaces regulate pressure balance through a dedicated supply and exhaust air system.
- 4. No smoke in the living space
The desired result is achieved with a generously sized external air supply. This ensures that the fire in the open fireplace receives enough incoming air, which is preheated and directed precisely to the combustion area to prevent draught effects. In front of the firebox opening, an “air curtain” forms, preventing smoke gases from escaping. BRUNNER has developed and patented this high level of safety over decades. Also unique is the use of special simulation software to analyze flow profiles and air and gas velocities.
The three format versions
The flat fireplace: optionally with cooking function
The Urfeuer® fireplace is available in different versions, one of which is the flat format. This model is ideal for anyone who wants to gradually experience the open fire concept. It has only one open side, making it a perfect choice for newcomers to open fireplaces.
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The flat format is also available with a cooking function. It is built into the kitchen unit and serves as a fully functional kitchen fireplace. A countertop is positioned in front of it. The fireplace allows for year-round grilling, regardless of the weather.
Roasts cook slowly and gently for hours on a rotisserie above the open fire. The spit is positioned toward the back wall of the firebox and rotates at a speed of two revolutions per minute. In addition to meat, this method of wood-fired cooking gives fish and vegetables a distinctive flavor, as they sizzle on the flat grill. Cooking odors are vented through the chimney, and an integrated exhaust hood is built into the kitchen fireplace.
The panorama fireplace: atmosphere up close from three sides
This version provides a wide view of the crackling flames, allowing you to enjoy the cozy fire experience from multiple angles in the room.
The Urfeuer 4free: pure campfire atmosphere
The most impressive version, which must be installed as a freestanding unit, is the Urfeuer® 4free. It makes a strong statement and clearly stands out from conventional fireplace designs. Bring pure campfire atmosphere into your home. Yes, it really is possible – an open fire in your own living space offers a unique fire experience, made possible by advanced technology.
Primarily for fire atmosphere: low efficiency
For more than a quarter of a century, BRUNNER has been producing Urfeuer® fireplaces. The various technically refined models adapt to any living environment. They feature a modern, clean design with minimalist lines and cast iron protection panels that visually extend the firebox. Urfeuer® fireplaces focus on sensory experience rather than heating performance. An open fireplace is not a heating fireplace; its efficiency is only around 20 percent. It releases significantly less heat into the room than a fireplace with a glass pane. As a result, wood needs to be replenished more frequently, and wood consumption is considerably higher than with an efficient wood-burning stove, heating fireplace or tiled stove.
Freedom for the fire
“Urfeuer® fireplaces are a promise – for safety, for a sensory experience, for pure atmosphere. A unique design, conceived, developed and crafted for comfort and enjoyment – top quality for life’s most beautiful moments. It is a philosophy we at BRUNNER have upheld for 70 years and one that has been part of every Urfeuer® fireplace since 1996. The beginning of a long-lasting friendship with the open fire.
Feel the fire, smell it, hear it – be close to it, without glass or technology. This oldest form of fireplace still holds an unmatched fascination today. There is no greater fire experience.”
Our open Fireplaces
FAQ Open Fireplaces
- Can an open fireplace be converted into a fireplace stove or a heating fireplace?
If you don’t just want to enjoy the view of an open, crackling fire but also want to heat your home with wood, a fireplace stove is the better choice. Heating fireplaces or fireplace inserts are also far more efficient. For comparison: an open fireplace has an efficiency of around 20 to 30 percent, while a closed fireplace stove reaches about 90 percent.
If you’re bothered by the low heat output, usage restrictions, soot, dust, and odors of your open fireplace, you can simply upgrade it by installing a fireplace insert. Custom-made inserts can turn almost any open fireplace into a closed one — and they cost significantly less than building a new fireplace. The appearance of the existing fireplace remains mostly unchanged; only the fire is now enclosed in a sealed combustion chamber.
Alternatively, installing a fireplace unit allows you to redesign the entire exterior of the fireplace, while still creating a cozy atmosphere that enhances any living space.
- How often can you use an open fireplace?
An open fireplace should not be used as a permanent source of heating, as too much heat is lost. The German Federal Immission Control Ordinance also restricts its use, stating that open fireplaces — unlike closed fireplace stoves, tiled stoves, or fireplace inserts — may only be used occasionally, not on a daily basis.
The main reason is to avoid excessive smoke and odor emissions, which can cause significant nuisance, especially in densely populated areas. For this reason, an exhaust air system is mandatory when operating an open fireplace.
- What should be considered regarding the chimney?
An open fireplace creates a cozy atmosphere at home — but there are a few important things to keep in mind. It’s best to consult your local chimney sweep. They can tell you which type of open fireplace is permitted and whether a building permit is required for your planned installation, as some cities and municipalities have specific regulations.
An open fireplace also needs its own dedicated chimney, which may only be used for that single fireplace — shared use is not allowed. Chimney sweeps and fireplace builders are familiar with all regulations, such as required distances to neighboring properties and the permitted chimney height, and they can also take care of the proper installation.
- What must be considered when installing an open fireplace?
An open fireplace requires sufficient air supply to function properly and safely. For this, air ducts must be installed either on the exterior wall or separately to the chimney. This ensures that the Urfeuer® fireplace is supplied with enough fresh air and can be operated optimally. The ducts need a diameter of at least 300 mm, and depending on building conditions, it may also be necessary to install an electric exhaust system.
When burning wood, only as much CO₂ is released as the tree absorbed during its growth. That is why wood heating is considered CO₂-neutral. In addition, no harmful pollutants such as sulfur dioxide are produced.
- Is an open fireplace dangerous?
As with all fireplaces or tiled stoves, a well-planned and carefully designed system is required to meet all safety standards. Special air supply systems make it possible to provide an open fireplace with enough fresh air for optimal combustion, even in airtight buildings. Together with a sophisticated exhaust system, this prevents flue gases from escaping into the living space and ensures maximum safety. At BRUNNER, these systems have been developed over many years and even patented.
Another feature is BRUNNER’s spark guard, which prevents embers or sparks from flying into the living space. And best of all: thanks to its unique design, it becomes visually invisible when a fire is burning behind it. Maximum fire experience with minimal risk.
- Atmosphere instead of heating output?
One might think that an open fireplace gives off more heat to the living space than a closed one because it has no glass front. The opposite is true. The heat output of an open fireplace is only about 20 to 30 percent. In other words: it heats less effectively. That is why an open fire is primarily an atmosphere fire, appreciated mainly for its visual appeal.
- How much does an open fireplace cost?
Wood-burning inserts from BRUNNER are of the highest quality and come at a price. They stand out for their durable materials, flawless workmanship and sophisticated technology. This makes them incomparable with many competitor products. All BRUNNER products are “made in Germany,” developed by highly trained engineers and experienced technicians. The higher purchase costs are offset by trouble-free, low-maintenance operation, optimal heat distribution and maximum use of the environmentally friendly and CO₂-neutral fuel wood.
- What is an Urfeuer®?
An open fireplace has no glass front and opens directly into the living space. This way, not only heat but also the scent of the fire spreads throughout the room. Fans of open fireplaces say this is the most original and best way to enjoy a wood fire. That is why BRUNNER calls its open fireplaces simply Urfeuer® fireplaces – as they are considered the earliest and most original source of heat for humans. Legally, an open fireplace in Germany is not classified as a stand-alone heating appliance. It is therefore not subject to the same regulations and standards as a conventional fireplace or tiled stove.
- What does “open fireplace” mean?
Open fireplaces are not classified as heating appliances in Germany. In the Federal Immission Control Ordinance, an open fireplace is described as a masonry appliance for solid fuels that is designed to be operated without a glass front. This means there is no pane of glass between the fire and the viewer. Excluded from this definition are open fireplaces used exclusively for cooking.
An open fire stirs emotions. It is the perfect choice for anyone who wants not only to feel but also to experience wood fire. It provides quick warmth directly to the room and an unobstructed view of the flames. A fireplace is one of the most popular types of wood-burning appliances because it fits well with a modern lifestyle. Especially in busy times, when you come home, bring in some wood, light it, put your feet up and simply relax in front of the open fire.
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