How far should a wood-burning stove be from the wall?
Unless the manufacturer specifies otherwise, a wood-burning stove must be 36 inches from a combustible wall to be safe. To safely install a wood-burning stove closer to the wall, a noncombustible wall must be erected in front of the combustible wall as a heat shield, and a space must be left in between the heat shield and the wall itself.
How much clearance do you need for a stove pipe?
A single wall stovepipe must have a clearance to combustible walls and ceilings, measured at right angles to the pipe of at least 18 inches. No clearance is needed to noncombustible walls (i.e., concrete).
How do you measure clearance for a wood burning stove?
To measure the clearance distance, simply take a tape measure and run it in a straight line from the back body of the stove to the wall, even if the stove is placed in a corner. If the wall is protected with some form of insulation or heat-resistant material, the clearance can be less than 36 inches.
What temperature is too high for a wood burning stove?
If temperatures exceed 185F, the stove must be located further away from the wall. That is why movable walls on tracks are used. If the temperatures exceed 185F, the walls are moved back until the temperatures recorded are less than 185F.
How far away from the wall should a non-combustible shield be?
To many, a protected wall is one where a non-combustible shield is placed a minimum of 1” away from the wall, and allows air to flow unimpeded from the bottom to the top.
What temperature is a stove movable?
That is why movable walls on tracks are used. If the temperatures exceed 185F, the walls are moved back until the temperatures recorded are less than 185F. In a nutshell, the stove is run through the complete test, the temperatures are recorded, and safe clearances are established.
What is a safe clearance?
What is a Clearance? A clearance is the safe distance from the stove to a combustible surface. Examples of combustible materials include paneling, wood, sheet rock (even fire rated), and plaster (lathe). Safe clearances for your model were determined using a very specific and detailed U.L. protocol test procedure.
How does a stove work?
As the stove operates, temperatures are tracked. The stove is fired as hot as possible using oven dried softwood strips which are stapled together to create a “firebrand” which burns much hotter and faster than cord wood.
What is a non-combustible spacer?
Non-combustible spacers are used to attach the shield to the wall. The most commonly used spacers are made of ceramic, sold at most retail shops and hardware stores. Spacer Example (NFPA) The shield can be constructed of sheetmetal, copper, Durock, cement board with tile attached, or masonry such as brick.
Is it safe to install a stove?
After the difficult decision of what stove to buy has been made, you’ll need to install the stove safely. However good the stove is, it’s still not safe unless installed to manufacturers specifications. First, review the owners guide that came with the stove. Discuss the installation with your retailer.
Is a non-UL stove NFPA 211?
For this reason, the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) has provided generic clearances for these Non-UL stoves in their NFPA 211 Handbook. Most retail shops, chimney sweeps, and installer have this information. NFPA has their stove and fireplace standard 211, available at this link.
How far away should a stove be from a fire?
This means that the back of the stove should be 36 inches away from any combustible material, such as woodwork, unprotected walls, furniture and even firewood. The 36-inch recommendation applies to any type of heat-resistant material, such as one-quarter-inch millboard that is nailed directly to the wall. To measure the clearance distance, simply ...
What is clearance space for a wood stove?
Clearance space is set by the National Fire Protection Agency and testing labs. When you use less than the recommended clearance space for a wood stove, you can create the perfect conditions for your home to catch on fire.
How to measure clearance distance on a stove?
To measure the clearance distance, simply take a tape measure and run it in a straight line from the back body of the stove to the wall, even if the stove is placed in a corner. Advertisement.
What is the standard clearance for a stove?
The standard clearance recommended by the National Fire Protection Agency is 36 inches.
What is a listed stove?
A "listed" stove is one that has undergone tests by an independent laboratory to determine the recommended wall clearance. Most new stoves are listed, and some may even have clearances as low as six inches.
How much air space between sheet metal and millboard?
However, if you allow one inch of air space between the sheet metal and attach it to either one-quarter- or one-eighth-inch millboard, the recommended clearance is reduced to 12 inches. Advertisement.
How old is a stove?
Stoves that are listed often state so on the back ID plate for the stove and in the owner's manual. If you have a stove that's 10 years old or more, it is safe to assume that it is probably unlisted. However, you can check your owner's manual and the back plate on the stove to be sure.
How far away should a flue pipe be from a combustible material?
This means that your 5″ flue pipe should be 15″ away from combustibles and your 6″ flue pipe should be 18″ away from combustibles in any direction.
How hot is a stove flue?
In normal operation a flue pipe will be at 150 to 250 degrees centigrade but can go a lot higher.
What is a twin wall flue?
Twin Wall Flue is used to build complete chimney systems where no chimney is present but is also used in place of the usual vitreous steel stove pipe in areas where a combustible material is close by and is often used in place of steel in order to protect wooden beams or surrounds.
What is a steel flue pipe?
Steel Flue Pipe (vitreous pipe, usually black) Steel flue pipe (often called vitreous pipe) is the pipe that comes out of the top of the top or rear of the majority of stoves. Flue pipes GET EXTREMELY HOT and should be located as to avoid igniting combustible materials. See clause 2.15 and diagram 19 of ADJ ( Document J ...
How long is a vitreous pipe to bypass a beam?
In order to bypass a wooden beam one requires, from the bottom up: short length steel vitreous pipe (usually 25cm length), vitreous to twin wall adaptor, length of twin wall (usually a metre or a metre and a half), twin wall to flue liner adaptor, chimney liner.
Is plasterboard a combustible material?
Plasterboard is officially a combustible material. Materials such as “pink plasterboard” might have increased levels of fire resistance but this does not make them A1 fire-rated (e.g. pink plasterboard might be rated as holding back fire for “x” minutes but this is not the same as A1 fire-rated). A1 fire-rated means that it will not catch fire, ...
Is a stove combustible?
The floor underneath a stove or in front of the glass can get much too hot to touch and a suitable hearth is imperative. A “combustible material” is any material that is not A1 fire-rated or to as high a specification as this (your sofa and that wooden beam are definitely combustible materials!).
How far away from a wood burning stove should a heat shield be?
A heat shield protects your wall from spontaneous combustion behind your stove. Unless the manufacturer specifies otherwise, a wood-burning stove must be 36 inches from a combustible wall to be safe. To safely install a wood-burning stove closer to the wall, a noncombustible wall must be erected in front ...
How do I install a wood burning stove?
Step 1. Determine the placement of the wood-burning stove, then mark the area of the wall that must be protected with a noncombustible wall. Follow all clearance requirements provided by the manufacturer of your stove. Measure the height and width of your heat shield as marked on your wall, accounting for a 1-inch gap on the top, ...
Is stone a combustible material?
Stone, tile and brick, while not combustible materials, still conduct heat from the air to the wall behind it. Over time, this can create a hazardous situation. Combustible materials consistently exposed to extreme heat may have a lowered ignition point. Advertisement.
Can a wood stove be placed in front of a combustible wall?
To safely install a wood-burning stove closer to the wall, a noncombustible wall must be erected in front of the combustible wall as a heat shield, and a space must be left in between the heat shield and the wall itself. Many homeowners believe that a shield of stone, tile or brick over a combustible wall will provide adequate protection from heat, ...
Why do I Need to Fireproof the Wall Behind a Wood Stove?
You must fireproof the wall behind a wood-burning stove for several reasons. First, the floor protection will prevent the wall from getting too hot and potentially burning or fire hazard. This simple protection can save you and your family from a tragedy.
How to Fireproof Wall Behind Wood Stove
There are a few different ways you can fireproof the wall behind a wood stove. As long as the material you choose is fire and heat-resistant, you will be able to experience the benefits. However, no matter what material you choose, you need to make sure it covers the entire surface of the back of the stove.
What to Put Behind a Wood Burning Stove
There are so many different combustible materials that you can use to fireproof the wall behind your wood stove. Some of these combustible materials include faux panels, brick, a heat shield, firebacks, and more.
Conclusion
If you have a wood-burning stove in your home, you must fireproof the wall behind a wood burning. This can save you from damage to your wall and prevent a tragedy from occurring. You can fireproof the wall in different ways, but the most important thing is to remember to give enough clearance between the newly fireproofed wall and the wood stove.
