Floor Deflection and hvac return vent within ten feet questions.

[Fluke216]

Two questions.
445 lb wood stove floor joist are 3x8 actual dimensions spaced 16 inches on center about a 8 foot span before support beam. Do I need to reinforce this?

Second questions can anyone shed some light on the return being within 10 feet of the wood stove. Ive read conflicting things that this applies if it is on only return in a room. any information is greatly appreciated.

 

[begreen]

That should be plenty stout.

I'm not following the second question. Is the return closer than 10 ft to the stove, but in another room? Show a sketch or picture if that is easier.

 

[Fluke216]

There is one closer then ten feet there is another one in that same room. Just wanted to know if there was some kind of exception I had read it or was this incorrect. #5 below says sole source of return air, Then exception #3 pertains to that. I think I’m confused here. Bottom line is a return duct can not be within ten feet of the stove is this correct? Sorry for confusing question.


SECTION M1602 RETURN AIR

M1602.1 Return air.
Return air shall be taken from inside the dwelling. Dilution of return air with outdoor air shall be permitted.

M1602.2 Prohibited sources.
Outdoor and return air for a forced-air heating or cooling system shall not be taken from the following locations:

1. Closer than 10 feet (3048 mm) to an appliance vent outlet, a vent opening from a plumbing drainage system or the discharge outlet of an exhaust fan, unless the outlet is 3 feet (914 mm) above the outside air inlet.
2. Where flammable vapors are present; or where located less than 10 feet (3048 mm) above the surface of any abutting public way or driveway; or where located at grade level by a sidewalk, street, alley or driveway.
3. A room or space, the volume of which is less than 25 percent of the entire volume served by the system. Where connected by a permanent opening having an area sized in accordance with ACCA Manual D, adjoining rooms or spaces shall be considered as a single room or space for the purpose of determining the volume of the rooms or spaces.

Exception: The minimum volume requirement shall not apply where the amount of return air taken from a room or space is less than or equal to the amount of supply air delivered to the room or space.
4. A closet, bathroom, toilet room, kitchen, garage, boiler room, furnace room, unconditioned attic or other dwelling unit.

Exception: Dedicated forced-air systems serving only a garage shall not be prohibited from obtaining return air from the garage.
5. A room or space containing a fuel-burning appliance where such room or space serves as the sole source of return air.

Exceptions:
1. The fuel-burning appliance is a direct-vent appliance or an appliance not requiring a vent in accordance with Section M1801.1 or Chapter 24.
2. The room or space complies with the following requirements:
2.1. The return air shall be taken from a room or space having a volume exceeding 1 cubic foot for each 10 Btu/h (9.6 L/W) of combined input rating of all fuel-burning appliances therein.
2.2. The volume of supply air discharged back into the same space shall be approximately equal to the volume of return air taken from the space.
2.3. Return-air inlets shall not be located within 10 feet (3048 mm) of a draft hood in the same room or space or the combustion chamber of any atmospheric-burner appliance in the same room or space.
3. Rooms or spaces containing solid-fuel burning appliances, if return-air inlets are located not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) from the firebox of those appliances.
6. An unconditioned crawl space by means of direct connection to the return side of a forced air system. Transfer openings in the crawl space enclosure shall not be prohibited.

 

[begreen]

Code is open to the interpretation of the inspecting authority. It's kind of unusual to have 2 returns in one room. Is this a very large, open area? If so, the inspector may let that pass. How close is the nearest return to the proposed stove area?

 

[Fluke216]

Yea it’s a large kitchen dining room area that’s all open