For years, our industry has faced a growing challenge—how to balance the performance of traditional fireplaces with the increasing demand for energy efficiency in UK homes.
One of the most overlooked factors in that conversation is the chimney itself.
Often described as “a great big hole in the roof,” an open chimney continues to draw warm air out of a property 24 hours a day when a fireplace isn’t in use. While it plays a vital role in safely removing smoke and fumes when you light your fire, it can massively work against the very efficiency standards now shaping the future of housing.
As an industry, we’ve all seen the impact this has had. Fireplaces are too often viewed as a liability in energy calculations—something to be removed, sealed, or designed out altogether.
But that view is about to change!
At Chimella, we’ve spent the last 14 years focused on one goal: helping our industry adapt, without losing what makes fireplaces so valuable in the first place. The aim has never been to replace or rethink the fireplace—but to support it.
The Chimella Chimney Umbrella is designed to give installers and homeowners control over chimney airflow in seconds, reducing heat loss by over 75% when the fireplace is not in use. At the same time, it helps prevent damp and keeps debris out, improving the overall condition and usability of the fireplace chimney airflow system..
More importantly, it allows us to reframe the role of the fireplace in modern homes.
Following years of government testing, development, and industry engagement, Chimella is now the only chimney airflow control product recognised within Sap 10.2 and RdSAP. This is a significant step forward—not just for us, but for the wider fireplace sector.
For the first time, chimney performance can be directly accounted for within official energy assessments. Each Chimella installation has the potential to contribute measurable improvements to a property’s rating, supporting the push toward EPC band C and beyond.
For installers and retailers, this creates a new opportunity.
Instead of working against energy efficiency conversations, we can now be part of them—offering solutions that both preserve and enhance the role of fireplaces within the home. Chimneys no longer need to be seen as a weakness; with the right approach, they can become part of the value proposition.
This isn’t about changing what we do. It’s about strengthening it.
By addressing airflow and heat loss in a simple, practical way, Chimella helps ensure that fireplaces remain not only desirable, but relevant in an evolving market.
As the industry continues to adapt, solutions like this allow us to move forward together—protecting fireplace sales, supporting installers, and ensuring that the future of our trade remains as strong as its heritage.
