Safe install / insurance requirements

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cstamm81

Member
Nov 5, 2011
27
Leesport, PA
I am looking for a little advice here. I have an Englander add on wood furnace in my basement. I have it sitting on 12" of cement lintels to make loading easier. Single wall black pipe from the stove into a block foundation wall where it meets up with my stainless steel liner inside a block chimney.
It seems my only issue is that where my black pipe goes through the wall, the top of the pipe is only 10" below my joists. I have a copy of the inspection checklist for my homeowner's insurance. It says if I hang a 24 gauge piece of sheet metal with 1" of spacers between the metal and the joists, I can get away with 9" of clearance. I picked up some ceramic 1" spacers and a 3' x 3' piece of 24 gauge aluminum. This should get me right at 9".
Questions are... based on this does anyone see an issue with the safety of the install or the passing of the inspection? Anything wrong with using aluminum vs steel? How about the fact that the heat shield will need to be right against the back wall, but the other three sides of the sheet will be open for air flow? It states you can also use millboard behind the sheet metal but this does not reduce the required clearance. I would like to stay away from double wall pipe if I can, and keep this installation as simple and cheap as possible. However, I need to rest easy knowing my install is as safe as possible. I can get pics if need be, and I appreciate any advice!
 
It sounds like you are ok. I'd prefer a thicker gauge of aluminum so that it is even without waviness, but it should get the job done. You'll be fine if it's open on 3 sides of the spacers. Note, the 9" clearance is to the wood joists, so you will have an inch to spare with the heat shield properly in place.
 
Thanks for the 9" clearance clarification. I thought the same thing about the thin gauge of aluminum, it will hang wavy being so thin. I may try to find something thicker. I am assuming that 24 gauge is just the minimum? Any preference to material; aluminum, galvanized steel, stainless?
 
22 ga steel will do just fine. It doesn't need to be galvanized. You can paint it with some high temp paint if you like.
 
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