What is a fireplace grate? Many have mistakenly identified this as a fireplace. Fireplace grate is responsible in raising the coal or wood in order to have the air to circulate the source of the heat. It can be made of steel or iron. Each of these materials has different effects on the fire. For steel iron grates, it has a pipe-like structure that can hold the burning coal or wood in place. It allows cinders to burn the fire efficiently from below thus making the heat to last a longer time. There are so many fireplace grate that you can pick in the market. In choosing, pick the one that will compliment your fireplace.