[VoodooChile]

I've seen a few sunken firepits posted on GTX, and while the craftsmanship has been top-notch, I have always wondered

1) How people, especially kids, keep from accidentally walking into them when they are not in use?

And 2) how many mishaps occur when overly-indulged clients take one too many steps closer to the fire?

We've only built firepits that are sunken below grade but with barrier walls between 16" and 18" high. I would like to claim that is forethought, but in reality the 3 we've built were like that because the clients wanted them like that...

Anyway, are you folks who build sunken firepits getting liability waivers signed?

Are you pushing the client one way or the other when it comes to design, that is sunken vs. protected firepits?

Does anyone know of a block manufacturer who specs firepits?

Thanks for the input!

[johnkeegan]

...another thing about those pits is that they don't seem too conducive to good air circulation and, therefore, to good fires.
Also, if you really want to feel the heat, you'd have to be hovering over it to feel it. It wouldn't radiate heat as well as a "normal" fireplace.

[Stonehenge]

To the liability question - we don't ask for signatures on any waivers, but would be interested to hear other experienced voices on this topic.

We do build them according to the codes for that municipality, which I would expect affords some sort of liability protection.

That being said, I don't recall ever signing waivers for the fireplaces in the homes I've lived in. Or the stoves I've owned.

I've always wanted to, and maybe I'll have to include the following clause in our contracts:

If you do something stupid, bad consequences may be the result. This is inclusive of everything and anything you might do on, in, near, to or with our work.

[Nebraska]

Our legal jargon has a sentence which reads:

Contractor will not assume liability for any action by Client marked by lack of intellectual acuity.

[Stonehenge]

I love it.

[VoodooChile]

Contractor will not assume liability for any action by Client marked by lack of intellectual acuity.