Witold Hawajski
Fireplaces in Polish homes. Today and tomorrow
I am providing the data on Polish construction industry for, after all, it is an apartment or a house that makes a potential place for a fireplace. Although multi-family housing is leading the way to developers, it is still individual housing with single-family houses which provides optimal places for fireplaces. The number of single-family houses is still growing and, according to the numbers provided by the Central Statistical Office, about 70.000 single-family houses were built every year in Poland in the last decade, and in the record period starting in 2019 almost 90,000 houses were built every year. It should be taken into account that the number of houses built in 2019-2022 was negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Both the events translated into drastic supply shortages, an increase in the cost of materials, and a significant growth in interest rates on loans. On the other hand, in 2023, the number of houses built and building permits granted decreased slightly, and this is, among others, the result of high inflation and ongoing problems with obtaining loans, (in quarters I-III of 2023, the decrease was as follows -7.1% of buildings completed and - 15.7% of buildings started).
The majority of Polish single-family houses is built with the use of traditional technologies, which even under normal conditions implies a construction cycle of 1-2 years. Under a high inflation rate (officially exceeding 15%), rising prices and lack of materials, limited access to cheap credits will certainly extend the construction time, as well as lowering the size of the houses built which can already be observed (a decrease from 130.9 m2 to 128.8 m2). If viewed from this side, it seems that in the next 2 or 3 years houses, construction of which was started in the period 2022-2024, will only be at the finishing stage. And from the point of view of the demand for finishing materials, including fireplaces, it is optimistic for in the next few years, neither manufacturers of devices and installation materials nor construction contractors shall be afraid of stoppage in the sector.
According to the Central Emission Register of Buildings (pol. acronym CEEB), at the end of 2023 in Poland there were: 1,541,838 fireplaces and stoves, 1,049,481 tiled stoves, as well as 836,295 kitchen stoves and ranges.
The war in Ukraine, the increase in energy prices and the threat of electricity and gas supply shortages, led to the situation where not only the declared enthusiasts of their own hearthside, but the majority of Polish society started to understand the importance of locally available fuel and the devices that enable its use. Consequently, wood-fueled fireplaces and even more freestanding stoves, which are particularly quick to install, have become a sought-after commodity.
Despite various fluctuations caused mainly by factors outside the industry and the lack of co-funding programmes for the replacement of old heating devices or purchase of new ones, which are popular in many other countries (obviously, all the devices sold currently meet Ecodesign standards), the present-day potential of the Polish fireplace market can be estimated at around 100 thousand devices per year.
However, regardless of these glaring errors in official documents and statistics, many householders in cities and villages use wood in their home fireplaces, which makes wood the most popular renewable fuel in Poland, as it is in many other countries.
ŚWIAT KOMINKÓW has been observing the Polish fireplace-and-stove market for 20 over 22 years and we hope that now the time has come for all the forms of ‘green energy’, and so for renewable wood too, and for ecological fireplaces to not only be socially but also legally acceptable. Both the present and future users as well as manufacturers and distributors of fireplaces and any other kinds of devices for wood and pellets are looking forward to it. After all, you cannot talk forever about ecology, prioritize coal and forget about locally-sourced wood.
Fireplace business in Poland
Since 1989, when Poland entered the path of democratic development and free market economy, we have been facing a dynamic growth of the economic activity of Poles. Poland's accession to the structures of the European Union on May 1, 2004 and to the Schengen area on December 21, 2007 increased the activity of Poles even more and encouraged the presence of foreign companies in Poland. Several European manufacturers of fireplaces, such as SPARTHERM, NORTHSTAR or JOTUL, took advantage of the possibility of doing business and locating their production plants in Poland. However, the Poles themselves also took matters into their own hands. Numerous small workshops that functioned in the shade of large state-owned behemoths, at most using materials the letter rejected, grew into enterprises employing several dozen or even several hundred people.
Among the companies that were created completely from scratch, there are mainly one-person or several-person service establishments. However, whenever the founding ideas were original and supported by the determination and perseverance in pursuing their goals, companies that were created are today appreciated not only on the domestic market but also on the demanding markets of other countries.
Polish fireplace industry, its diversity and current potential are a perfect example of this growth. While in the early 90's the Polish fireplace market was dominated mainly by products imported from France, Norway or Germany, currently these are Polish manufacturers that prevail on the domestic market in terms of the number of devices sold. Attractive products from other EU and non-EU manufacturers only complement the market. Polish fireplace companies have made excellent use of their assets and are more bold to enter foreign markets with their fireplace products.
Fireplace inserts and freestanding stoves
Products of DEFRO, HAJDUK, HITZE, KAWMET, KRATKI.PL and UNICO are today the most frequently installed fireplace inserts and stoves in Polish homes. The size and range of production places some of them among leading producers in Europe. Of course, wood-burning, air-fired and water-jacketed fireplaces are the most popular, but attractive gas and pellet models are also offered.
In every large DIY store in Poland one can find fireplace inserts and stoves from KAWMET or NORDFLAM. To the contrary, manufacturers such as CEBUD or IWONA PELLETS do not produce tens of thousands of hearths, but offer innovative devices which are attractive just for a specific groups of buyers. These are, among others, accumulation stove inserts with a pellet gasification hearth or dual-fuel inserts for wood and pellets. And this is just a part of the list of Polish manufacturers of fireplace inserts and stoves. The total production potential of Polish companies exceeds 200,000 fireplace inserts and free-standing stoves. This can be estimated on the basis of data provided by major manufacturers: KRATKI, DEFRO HOME, HAJDUK, NORDFLAM, HITZE, KAWMET/ SAVEN, UNICO, CEBUD and IWONA PELLETS. Of course, this potential is not fully used every year because there are many market situations beyond the producers' control, but production capabilities allow not only to cover the domestic demand for modern hearths, but to deliver a noticeable number of high-quality devices to outer markets.
Bioethanol fireplaces in Poland
It is one of Polish specializations. The most famous manufacturer of bioethanol fireplaces in the world is, of course, PLANIKA, the creator of the innovative BEV combustion system. However, for several years now at almost every construction fair in Europe one can also meet the INFIRE company, which expands its offer year by year.
Garden fireplaces in Poland
Although various forms of outdoor fire installations have been present for centuries, in recent years they relive their youth. Currently available materials and technologies make it possible to expand the garden and terrace range with various forms of gas, bioethanol or pellet heaters and to create their attractive shapes not only from traditional ceramics but also of steel. This group of products attracted such a great interest that almost every manufacturer of the fireplace industry has garden heating devices in its offer which expands every year. Various interesting forms of fire devices for gardens and terraces are also produced by Polish manufacturers.
Fireplace accessories and control electronics in Poland
A fireplace is not a bare fireplace insert or stove. To build a fireplace or just install a ready-made one, which is a freestanding wood or pellet stove, one needs additional materials. Ropes and insulating tapes as well as ceramics for lining the hearth are necessary already at the stage of production. This is only the beginning, for then one needs materials to connect the fireplace to a chimney, make insulation, accumulation, ventilation grilles, and to create and finish the body of the fireplace. If the fireplace is to perform a heating function, additional elements are required to create a system distributing hot air or accumulating and distributing heated water. The wide gamut of fireplace accessories and electronic drivers can be found in the offer of Polish manufacturers, which is addressed not only to the domestic market, but also to the one overseas.
Fireplace ceramics in Poland
It is difficult to compete with experienced leaders in ceramic production from Austria, Germany or the Czech Republic. Nevertheless, several Polish small , mainly family-run ceramic manufactories managed not only to create an assortment that almost completely meets the demands of the Polish consumer, but also demonstrates attractive modern design solutions and allows to complete ambitious renovations of antique fireplaces. Several Polish ceramic manufacturers also offer ceramic elements for interior decoration, which not only complement the fireplace and stove range but are also an independent proposition addressed to interior designers and decorators.
ŚWIAT KOMINKÓW visits many construction fair events all over the Europe. It must be stressed that for quite a few years also the presence of Polish fireplace products can be noticed. If the trade fair presentations are not made by companies themselves, then the products are exhibited at least by local distributors.
We do remember the timid beginnings of the fireplace market in Poland, so we are all the more pleased with the current production volume and assortment. The thriving activity of the Polish fireplace sector makes us look with optimism to the future.
