In short
You can have a real fire in a flat without a chimney: a freestanding bioethanol stove burns clean fuel into heat, water vapour and a little carbon dioxide, so it needs no flue, no gas line and no building work. Cozo FLOGS gives the look of a log burner and 4.4 kW for living rooms from 44 m³; Arcticon gives 3.5 kW and up to 20 hours per tank from 35 m³. In a rented flat nothing is drilled or built in, but check the tenancy agreement and house rules and tell your insurer. The two conditions that always apply: enough room volume and normal ventilation.
Key takeaways
- A freestanding bioethanol stove needs no chimney, no gas line and no installation: it works in flats, rentals, lofts, new builds and holiday homes.
- Two numbers decide where it can stand: the minimum room volume (44 m³ for Cozo FLOGS, 35 m³ for Arcticon) and air exchange of about one room volume per hour.
- In a rental nothing is built in, so you take the stove with you when you move; still read the tenancy agreement and tell your insurer.
- It is an extra source of warmth and atmosphere, 3.5 to 4.4 kW, not the heating of the flat.
Most people who want a fireplace live exactly where a classic one is impossible: in a flat without a flue, in a rented apartment where nothing may be built in, in a new build that was designed airtight and without a chimney, or in a loft where a stove pipe through the roof would cost more than the stove. This guide explains why a bioethanol stove is the one real fire that fits these places, what you need to check first and which of our two freestanding models suits which room.
Why a fireplace is normally impossible in a flat
A wood stove needs its own flue, a non-combustible hearth, approval from the chimney sweep or building control and, in many cities, compliance with smoke-control or emission rules. Blocks of flats rarely have a free flue per apartment. A gas fire needs a gas supply and usually a balanced flue through an outside wall. Electric fireplaces fit anywhere but show a flat flame image. A freestanding bioethanol stove sits in between: a real flame, but no flue, because bioethanol burns without soot or ash into heat, water vapour and a small amount of carbon dioxide.
Where a bioethanol stove works
| Place | Why a classic fireplace fails | What to check for a bioethanol stove |
|---|---|---|
| Flat in an apartment block | no own flue, no gas line | room volume, normal ventilation |
| Rented flat | no building work allowed | tenancy agreement and house rules on open flame; tell the insurer |
| New build or low-energy house without a chimney | no flue planned, airtight envelope | mechanical ventilation alone may supply less air than the stove needs, so open a window slightly while it burns |
| Loft or attic flat | flue through the roof is expensive | free space above the stove, no sloping ceiling directly over the flame |
| Holiday flat or cabin | a stove for a few weeks a year does not pay off | room volume; store fuel safely when you leave |
| Office or showroom | no flue, fire rules | building fire regulations, staff supervision of the flame |
What you need to check before you buy
1. Room volume
The flame uses oxygen from the room, so each stove has a minimum room volume. Cozo FLOGS needs at least 44 m³ (about 18 m² at a 2.5 m ceiling), Arcticon at least 35 m³ (about 14 m²). In an open-plan flat count the whole connected space, not only the corner where the stove stands.
2. Ventilation
The specifications assume an air exchange of about one room volume per hour. Normal windows and vents in an older flat usually provide that; in airtight new builds with mechanical ventilation, open a window slightly or tilt it while the fire burns. Burning 1 litre of bioethanol also releases about 0.9 litres of water vapour, which a short airing every hour or two removes.
3. Landlord, house rules and insurance
A freestanding stove changes nothing in the building: no drilling, no pipes, no connection. That is why it is the usual choice for renters. Some tenancy agreements or house rules restrict open flames, so read them and, if in doubt, ask the landlord in writing. Tell your home insurer that you use a bioethanol fireplace.
4. Placement
Level floor, the clearances from the manual to curtains, shelves and furniture, nothing above the flame and not in a corridor that serves as an escape route. Both stoves are light enough for one or two people to move: 27.5 kg for Cozo FLOGS and 36.5 kg for Arcticon.
5. Smoke and CO detectors
A bioethanol stove does not set off a correctly placed smoke detector in normal use, because it makes no smoke. A carbon monoxide detector in a room with any combustion appliance is good practice.
Cozo FLOGS or Arcticon for a flat
| Cozo FLOGS | Arcticon | |
|---|---|---|
| For a living room of | from 44 m³ (about 18 m²) | from 35 m³ (about 14 m²) |
| Heat output | 4.4 kW | 3.5 kW |
| Burn time per tank | up to 11 h | up to 20 h |
| Footprint | Ø 45 cm | 32.1 × 40 cm |
| Look | log burner: flames around ceramic logs | slim column, fire visible from three sides |
| Installation | none: place, plug in for the electronics, switch on | none: place, plug in, switch on |
Choose Cozo FLOGS if you miss a wood stove: it has the round body and the flames around logs that people associate with a real fireplace, and the most warmth of the two. Choose Arcticon for a smaller living room, a narrow spot or when you want to refill as rarely as possible: one tank lasts up to 20 hours.
Safety in a flat
Both stoves use Planika's BEV (Burning Ethanol Vapours) technology: the fuel stays in a closed tank and only its vapours burn, so there is no open pool of fuel to spill or ignite while refilling. The flame is controlled with the remote. Use fireplace-grade bioethanol only, such as Fanola, keep children's hands and textiles away from the glass, and never move the stove while it burns.
What it costs to run
A tank of Fanola in 5-litre canisters costs about 16 EUR and lasts up to 11 hours in Cozo FLOGS or up to 20 hours in Arcticon, depending on the flame level. There is nothing else to pay: no chimney sweep, no gas contract, no service visit. If you are deciding between a real flame and a flame effect, read our comparison water vapour vs electric fireplace and the guide to ventless fireplaces.
FAQ
Can I have a real fireplace in a flat without a chimney?
Yes, with a freestanding bioethanol stove. It burns without smoke, soot or ash, so it needs no flue and no installation.
Is a bioethanol fireplace allowed in a rented flat?
It is a freestanding appliance, so nothing in the flat is changed. Check the tenancy agreement and house rules for restrictions on open flames and tell your insurer.
Does a bioethanol stove work in a new build with mechanical ventilation?
Yes, if the room volume is large enough; open a window slightly while the fire burns, because airtight buildings exchange less air than the stove needs.
Which is better for a small flat?
Arcticon, from 35 m³ room volume with a slim footprint. For rooms under that size choose a tabletop fire or a water vapour fireplace, which burns nothing.
Planika has designed and manufactured chimney-free fireplaces in Bydgoszcz, Poland since 2001. Figures come from the product specifications of Cozo FLOGS and Arcticon; rules on open flames in rented flats differ by country and building, so check your own agreement.
