On this Page: Introduction. Definitions. Design. Material Selection. Plate steel. Flat stock. Repurposed Materials. Thickness. Production ability. Summary. Introduction. The purpose of this article is to review the challenges that you may face in developing your own product lines for local or regional distribution. In concept, these considerations apply to many products. For the purposes of this article, we will use the production of fire rings for a kit or retail sale as an example. Fire rings fire pits are a simple product that can provide a profitable revenue stream for a fabricator if designed executed properly to meet local demand and demographics. Many municipalities encourage or require some form of containment for “open” fires during the safe “burn season”. In the Pacific NW, this season generally starts once the rain returns and the local Fire Marshal decides that the risk of fire migration via ember or spark is low enough to permit “open” fires. Given the recent run of devastating fires across the West Coast, it is likely that both restrictions regarding equipment and opportunity will be restricted sometime in the future. This market should, therefore, be approached with caution and an eye on enhancing safety and reliability of open fires more than just the aesthetic a fire ring provides before the substantial investment is made. Partnering with local fire departments in terms of design criteria is strategically valuable. Key design elements to review include optimizing diameter, height, cross ventilation, upper edge treatment, the maximum size of un-screened cutouts or openings in the artistic elements, and whether a lid, screen, or other closure/safety device is required. Simply put, it is wiser to address these elements up front than to litigate them later. Particularly, if some deficiency in its design is later alleged. To be clear, the burden for safe use lies with the consumer however in our present litigious society it is far better to have addressed these issues in advance than to respond to them after the fact. The fabricator should begin by deciding whether every ring sold is their “product” or simply a “part” or set of parts made to the customers’ order and specification. While the two cases may result in similar looking outcomes the difference between the two cases may be “distinguishable” in legal terms. You nevertheless likely will encounter customers that solicit your advice. It would be wise to have a conversation with a good attorney before this day comes. Assuming that product liability insurance is a non-issue (too expensive) for the average fabricator, every ring sold (should) include an appropriate Warning and Disclaimer. Ideally, these should be provided in both printed and physical form. Physical form can range from a clearly designed label to laser/plasma engraving in the product itself. Warning language varies with locale but should identify what the product is designed for (wood, charcoal, etc; or what it is not) and include a statement describing safe operation – such as “never leave a fire unattended”, “Ring may be HOT” and/or language taken from sources such as the National Park Service, Forestry Service, and National Fire Prevention (NFPA) and similar sources or associations. (think about what Smokey Bear would say, for example). Once the regulatory and legal considerations having been addressed you can then turn your attention to design and production. Top All Entire DXF Files Packages (Bundle) only $1599.99 Definitions. Beginning with the basics, let us define a fire ring. A fire ring is a containment device for an open fire – regardless of nature. Many serve a purely aesthetic function as an accent or element of a larger design as in (propane/NG) installations designed to help define backyard entertainment space. Fire rings also provide some measure of indirect lighting, smoke management, and heat reflection depending on the design. For the purpose of this article we consider the term Fire Ring to include all forms of device...
