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Fire Glass

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Fire Pit Media: An Overview

What Is Fire Pit Media

Fire Pit Media is a term used which covers all types of materials used in gas fire features which cover or surround the burners and fire pit pans

Before the advent of fire glass, the only choice of fire media was Lava Rock or faux logs. People created some pretty spectacular looking fire pits and fireplaces using one, or possibly both. When fire glass came on to the market, though, we suddenly had a whole kaleidoscope of colors with which to play.

With fire glass, we could now make a fireplace look as spectacular un-lit in the daylight, as it was when alight at night. The fireplace could command the room decor with brightly colored glass or subtly blend into the decor of a room with a complementary hue.

An image of a fireplace having Fire Glass installed

Mixing Fire Glass colors in a fireplace

Decoding Fire Glass: An In-depth Explanation

Fire Pit Glass

Fire Pit Glass is a high-quality colored tempered glass that is either shaped or broken into individual beads or irregular 'chunks'.

An image of Copper colored Fire Glass

Copper Fire Glass from American Fireglass

It must be high quality because when it gets very hot, it should not discolor, warp, emit smoke or toxic fumes. All the fireplace glass on The Magic Of Fire comes with a Lifetime Warranty.

It is unsafe to use old wine or beer bottles or domestic type jars in fire pits and fireplaces. There is a risk of fumes and exploding glass.

Fire Pit Glass is suitable for either indoor or outdoor use in fire pits and fireplaces and is fully compatible with either Propane or Natural Gas.

Varieties of Fire Glass

Types of Glass Available

By far, the most popular is the irregular broken chunks style. If you imagine a large piece of glass, broken into a thousand pieces, the only regular dimension would be the thickness of the original plate of glass.

You will find these in a range of colors in the Classic or Reflective listings. there are 9 color options for the Classic and 10 for the Reflective.

Pre-Mixed is just what it sounds like, a pre-mixed selection of glass colors from the Reflective range. There are 6 color combinations from which to choose.

Fire Beads are smooth, round and regular, whilst Zircon are equally smooth but irregularly shaped.

Fire Glass 2.0 is the latest addition to the collection. As you can see below, they are cube-shaped with smooth edges.

An image of American Fireglass Azuria Classic Fire Glass
An image of American Fireglass Black Reflective Fire Glass

Classic and Reflective Fire Glass

An image of American Fireglass Zion Pre-Mixed Fire Glass
An image of American Fireglass Copper Luster Fire Glass 2.0

Pre-Mixed Fire Glass and Fire Glass 2.0

An image of American Fireglass Coastal Blue Zircon Fire Glass
An image of American Fireglass Royal Blue Fire Beads

Zircon Fire Glass and Fire Beads

Mastering Fire Glass Usage

How to use Fire Pit Glass?

It is best to check first with the fire pit burner manufactures’ recommendation regarding depth of fire glass over the Burner

Generally, you should cover a standard burner beneath 1-2″ of Fire Pit Glass. For Propane systems we would recommend a covering maximum of 1″ deep but for Natural Gas, up to 2″ deep.

Bullet Burners and Torpedo Burners are very different to Standard Burners so again, check with the burner’s installation manual, but in general the gas nozzles/jets must not be buried under any media.

You do not need to use only glass. To reduce the cost you can use medium sized Lava Rock as a filler. Place the Lava Rock into the base of the fire pit tray up to the top of the burner or even a little higher. Do not compress the Lava Rock. Then gently pour your fire pit glass on top of the Lava Rock and do not compress the Glass.

TIP: If you have chosen a ‘clear’ colored Fire Glass, using Lava Rock as a filler may spoil the appearance of the clear glass, as the ‘dark’ hues of the Lava rock may show through the clear glass.

A diagram show how to use Lava Rock as a filler under Fire Glass

How to use Lava Rock as a filler

Calculating Fire Glass Quantity

How much Fire Glass do I need?

Most good fire pit websites will have a fire glass calculator, you can find a link to ours at the bottom of every listing page.

If you wish to use lava rock as a filler measure the depth of the tray up to and just over the burner height. Use the lava rock option in the calculator to determine how much you would need.

Next measure from the top of the burner to the level you wish your glass to finish at. Make another calculation using that figure as the depth. The result is how much fire glass you need on top of your lava rock filler.

If you want to read more about fire glass, Wikipedia has a short article you could take a look at.

Maintenance

Occasionally, you might need to give your fire glass a wash to keep it looking at its best. A simple solution of 50/50 household vinegar and water will clean the glass nicely. Rinse thoroughly and make sure the glass is completely dry before putting it back into your fire pit.

More Options

What Size Fire Glass is Best for my Fire Pit

The Classic and Reflective ranges come in two sizes, 1/4″ and 1/2″. From an aesthetic perspective, there is no right or wrong here; it is a matter of personal preference.

Although one thing to bear in mind when choosing the size is that the larger styles can overwhelm a smaller fire pit, and conversely, smaller types of glass can look a little overwhelmed in large fire features.

However, many fire pit burner (standard) manufacturers recommend that only the larger size glass should be used with Propane and a minimal layer at that.

Using lava rock as a base for fire glass can help with the proper distribution of gas throughout the pan. in fact, lava rock is required as a base for other types of larger sized fire media.

A diagram showing the sizing of 1/4 Inch Fire glass

Size Guides for 1/4 and 1/2 thick Fire glass

Mastering Fire Glass Usage

Lava Rock - Lava Stone - Fire Logs

Lava Rock is well known for its wide-ranging use in everything from landscaping to fire pits. For more detailed information visit our Lava Rock Page.

Over the past couple of years, American Fire Glass has released some new ranges of Fire Stones for gas fires and fire pits. The stones look amazingly realistic.

They are colored with an environmentally friendly ceramic stain which is absorbed into the porous material. They are extremely durable, in fact, so much so that they are covered by a Lifetime Warranty.

There are several options and colors for a unique look for your fire pit or fireplace.

Fire Logs have come a long way in the last decade or so. Click the link to view our incredibly lifelike range of Fire Logs.

HPC River Rock Fire Stones

HPC River Rock Fire Stones

An image of Aspen Birch Fire Logs for Fire Pits and Fireplaces

Aspen Birch Fire Pit Logs from HPC Fire

Fire Glass and Lava Rock Calculators

Click to go to the Calculators