A brick chimney can be identified by a chimney stack fitted on the roof of a property in the form of either a pot or gas flue terminal. This operates using the natural flow of air through the room and the chimney to remove any products of combustion such as smoke and fumes.
For a class 1 flue, the internal diameter will typically measure 7 inches (180mm) or larger, allowing you to have most types of fires fitted in your home.

A pre-fabricated flue is recognised by a metal flue box fitted behind the fire which connects to a series of metal flue pipes installed throughout the property. A gas terminal is fitted on the roof of the property to replicate the same flow of air as a chimney to filter out any fumes or smoke. The internal diameter of the pipe typically measures around 5 inches and as such, is classified as a class 2 flue. However, in some cases the flue may be constructed using a 7 inch pipe which would be recognised as a class 1 flue, so be sure to establish which size you have in your home before selecting a new fireplace.

As most new modern homes are built without a chimney fitted, pre-cast flues were used as a cheaper solution for homeowners wanting to incorporate a fireplace into their contemporary property. They were constructed using hollow concrete or clay flue blocks which are fitted vertically up through the property to draw fumes from the fireplace by hot air rising to a ridge vent terminal or metal pipe with cowl on the roof. When choosing a fireplace, it is important to bear in mind that these flues are typically rather shallow in depth which can limit your choice.
With modern houses now being warmer and more efficient more and more customers are replacing these slim gas fires with electric fires.

These days, most modern homes are built without a chimney, leaving many homeowners thinking that they cannot have a fireplace installed in their home; this is not the case. Even if your property does not feature a chimney, you are still able to incorporate one of the following fireplaces into the room:
Balanced Flue Gas Fires
These are high efficiency glass fronted designed products available in standard sizes right through to big feature fires and stoves. Please note you will need an outside wall for the fire flue to exit through.
Electric Fires
With no fluing requirements electric fires can be installed pretty much anywhere in your home.
They are highly efficient and offer a maximum heat output of 2Kw. There are vast numbers of designs and size products available. With modern LED lighting and stunning realistic flame effects these are the choice of many homeowners that do not have a chimney or flue