Does This Sound Like Excessive Ceiling Clearance?

[drewboy]

I did do my homework and went way back and searched the site and the NFPA Install guidelines and I question why the tag on the back of my stove

calls for a minimum 59" clearance from stove top to ceiling - This seems excessive even when I went back through all the clearance posts...

As the stove sits on my hearth I have 56" ... There is nothing in the actual install manual that states 59", only the tag on the stove which I realize

probably trumps all else, but 56" seems like a very reasonable space. And yes it is EPA cert. on the tag and new as of last season...


Any thoughts - I would appreciate them,
Rob

 

[webbie]

Well, your house is not gonna burn down....if that is the question! In fact, I doubt the ceiling will be more than lukewarm.

Ceiling clearances are usually larger than the other ones for a couple reasons:

1. Heat rises
2. Most stoves have a flame path which puts the hottest part of the fire toward the top of the stove......
3. Stoves are tested in a black painted booth.......and sometimes tested for alcoves (walled in sides).

 

[drewboy]

Well I kinda figured it was fine but sometimes I spend way to much time on this forum and I start feeling that paranoia about my install not being

perfect...I get the general feeling that you should be a stickler for clearances and safety so that's why I questioned that #.

Oh, only my wife thinks I spend too much time on Hearth.com ;-P

Thanks

 

[thechimneysweep]

Generally, we only see stovetop-ceiling clearance requirements in alcove installations. Check back on that label and see if the ceiling requirement isn't tied somehow to an alcove installation.