Child proof hearth

[Timnus]

I am trying to think of some options for keeping my little one from either hitting the 12" high hearth or touching the stove. I don't have space to put a gate or fence further away, and thought about using some aluminum screening like this: (broken link removed to http://www.northboundelements.com/pages/products/woodscreens.php)

The screen is rather cheap ($6), and I am toying with the idea of using either right angle aluminum or black pvc pipe for the frame. (It has to look somewhat nice). The pvc would be softer in case my child runs into it at full speed, but I am wondering what temp the pvc could handle. I am a bit worried with the pvc about 14 inches from the front glass of my Progress Hybrid.

So, here are my key questions:

1. Would the pvc pipe be able to handle the heat (it was around 350 on the outside glass with IR meter)?
2. Would solid aluminum be too hot in the same situation?
3. Is there another material or idea that could work?

Thanks, and happy fall fires to all...

 

[Wisneaky]

I am trying to think of some options for keeping my little one from either hitting the 12" high hearth or touching the stove. I don't have space to put a gate or fence further away, and thought about using some aluminum screening like this: (broken link removed to http://www.northboundelements.com/pages/products/woodscreens.php)

The screen is rather cheap ($6), and I am toying with the idea of using either right angle aluminum or black pvc pipe for the frame. (It has to look somewhat nice). The pvc would be softer in case my child runs into it at full speed, but I am wondering what temp the pvc could handle. I am a bit worried with the pvc about 14 inches from the front glass of my Progress Hybrid.

So, here are my key questions:

1. Would the pvc pipe be able to handle the heat (it was around 350 on the outside glass with IR meter)?
2. Would solid aluminum be too hot in the same situation?
3. Is there another material or idea that could work?

Thanks, and happy fall fires to all...

pvc is only rated for 140 degrees. I'd use aluminum.

 

[xman23]

I don't have any answers to your questions. Our littlest grandkids learned before they could speak what hot stove ment. They would sit in front of it, but would never touch it.

 

[Babaganoosh]

Please don't worry like a typical parent of today. Wood stoves and kids have been coexisting in houses for a long, long time now. They will not combust from getting close to the stove, they almost certainly will not touch the stove if you do your job as a parent. On the off chance they do, they will only do it once. I know your probably have visions of your kid stuck to the stove while his skin melts off but experience has told us otherwise. You are going to risk burning the house down with some ridiculous pvc and aluminum fence to try to gain a margin of safety that isn't needed.

 

[Wisneaky]

Please don't worry like a typical parent of today. Wood stoves and kids have been coexisting in houses for a long, long time now. They will not combust from getting close to the stove, they almost certainly will not touch the stove if you do your job as a parent. On the off chance they do, they will only do it once. I know your probably have visions of your kid stuck to the stove while his skin melts off but experience has told us otherwise. You are going to risk burning the house down with some ridiculous pvc and aluminum fence to try to gain a margin of safety that isn't needed.

Well said

 

[quotejso]

I have the fence around mine, but there is the stove in the other room with no protection. I wouldn't worry about the kids mine do basically whatever they want and they don't mess with the stove.

 

[kennyp2339]

I use to worry about my stove with my 2 nephews when they were toddlers, Things quickly got out of control with them, one moment the room was clean and quiet, then suddenly everything exploded with toys, laughing, screaming and running everywhere.
What I did was I took both boys, (1) could talk, the other couldn't yet, brought them in front of the stove when I lit it and explained how hot it was and how dangerous it was, I then took there hands (while the stove was just warming up) and let them touch the stove and I kept saying danger, hot, when the stove was fully rocking and rolling I took there hand again and held it near the stove and said very hot, I let them feel the radiant heat standing next to them. We never had any problems, they new to stay away, even in the most wildest play times it was like the both of them were preprogrammed no matter what to avoid the stove.
Now my dad on the other hand pretty much lit himself on fire sitting next to his stove. If anyone needs a gate it would be for my dad.

 

[mass_burner]

Modeling, supervision, respect for fire are the best safeguards.

 

[begreen]

Kids learn the meaning of "Ow-wee" and "HOT" when very young. We wouldn't be here today if hundreds of generations preceding us didn't learn to respect fire at an early age.

 

[Timnus]

Thanks all for the advice. I certainly agree that kids can learn to not touch the stove. I am more concerned about the running and falling next to the tiled hearth since it is in the middle of the house - which first made me think about the idea, and thought it might be 2 birds with one stone (head opening protection plus protection from the stove, tools, ashpan,etc).

I don't know if kids learn early on about the danger or "ow-wee" for simply running around. They would have to slow down every time they go near the stove in our small house. Not sure if this would work or is worth the battle. So for now, a simpler edge protection for the hearth might be fine. Often, there is more to the story - (we have a good number of kids over at times, so a 12" tall hearth with corners right in the middle of our house isn't something I am willing to ignore).

 

[begreen]

I can understand the concern if you have a lot of kids over that are not your own. If that's the case make the guard robust enough to stand up to regular opening (3 times a day) for tending the fire and completely non-combustible. Or tell the kids to take their rough house play outdoors.

 

[dougstove]

I would worry more about the tripping and bashing a head on the edge of the hearth, than about the stove per se.
I have had a lot of kids of all ages around my stove in the middle of our living room, and never had a problem, but have a flat hearth.

 

[Woody harrelson]

I never did the fence either and I have 3 little ones. the only thing you have to watch is when company is over with kids that haven't been brought up in a house with a wood stove.

 

[Oregon aloha]

My grandparents had a wood stove. My parents always heated with wood. We raised our 3 boys on wood heat. I now have 6 grad children and the only time I can remember anyone one getting hurt or burned was my dad. He slipped on the floor as he was loading the wood stove and grabed the stove to help break his fall. He got hurt and burned his hand that day.
He must have learned as he never did it again.

I would think something like what you want to do would be more likely to get someone hurt then the stove itself.