Fire Glass
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.
Mixing Fire Glass colors in a fireplace
Fire Pit Glass is a high-quality colored tempered glass that is either shaped or broken into individual beads or irregular 'chunks'.
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.
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.
Classic and Reflective Fire Glass
Pre-Mixed Fire Glass and Fire Glass 2.0
Zircon Fire Glass and Fire Beads
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.
How to use Lava Rock as a filler
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.
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.
Size Guides for 1/4 and 1/2 thick Fire glass
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
Aspen Birch Fire Pit Logs from HPC Fire