TV above working fireplace - definitive answer!

[James1979]

Hi,

I’ve read so many contradicting posts about this, I’m confused as to what’s actually allowed and what’s best practice.

I have a chimney breast above an open fireplace that we do still use. There’s a mantelpiece above it.

My questions are is there anything in building regs that says you can’t install a tv above the fire and chase the cables into the chimney breast (as long as you don’t exceed the depth for chasing specified for normal walls).

secondly, if there’s nothing official that prevents it, is it actually ok to do this? I’m worried about the depth of brick behind the chase and screw holes for a mount and whether this will be sufficient to maintain the heat within the chimney breast.

I’m not so concerned about the heat as using a temp gun where the tv would be shows only a marginal increase in heat to the room temp.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

 

[flameport]

Cables can go there, subject to the normal criteria for zones and depths in the wall.

Whether the TV can go there depends on the manufacturer's instructions, which will almost certainly state to not mount it above a heat source.

Even if the unlikely event they don't say that, it's still an exceptionally poor choice of location. While the wall itself may not get hot, there will be hot air rising from the fireplace over the TV. It's also far too high for viewing from a seated position.

 

[motorbiking]

A couple of things you have to be very careful about.
- Mounting bolts/frame fixers breaching the chimney - massive fire risk to have the little bits of plastic exposed to heat and flame
- you need some sort of decent heat shield. Big block of oak to stop the head from the fire.
- the angle is often wrong (too high for your eyes).
- seriously consider installing a log burner - way safer and efficient.

 

[BlueLoo]

Horrendous idea to watch a tv above a fireplace unless you have a low profile electric doohickey.

 

[SFK]

definative answer!

is there anything in building regs that says you can’t install a tv above the fire

There is nothing in building regs that says you cannot install a Tv above the fire place.
But you have to ensure you ar enot bearhing other rules (structral and damge to chimney).
And you have to be sensible as there are going to be issues with heat and location requements for say a stove that has its dimensional requrements.

 

[James1979]

Thanks all - confirmed what I thought and, although it’s not in breach of regs, I’ll look for an attractive corner stand for it instead! Would have looked better to be wall mounted with cables hidden and there’s no other wall suitable but would rather the house didn’t burn down so corner it is!

 

[motorbiking]

No but there are plenty of sections that would be non compliant depending on the exact location of the TV and its fittings.

I've had one above a log burner and used 3" x 7" oak beam to protect the TV, it never got hot or even warm, even when the burner was belting out 5-6kw of heat.

 

[sparkymarka]

Large living room …ok …..small living room you will be taking it down in a few months after your neck is crooked….

 

[bernardgreen]

Heat isn't the only problem, the fumes and soot particles from an open fire can damage the internals of a TV