Air gap

[RandyBoBandy]

I don’t want to sound dumb but I have to admit I’m a little confused on the necessity of a 1” air gap at the top and bottom of a hearth if you have maintained proper distances to combustibles.

 

[Diabel]

In order for me to reduce clearances to 12” i had to build a secondary wall behind the stove with 1” air gap. No air gaps anywhere on the hearth

 

[bholler]

I don’t want to sound dumb but I have to admit I’m a little confused on the necessity of a 1” air gap at the top and bottom of a hearth if you have maintained proper distances to combustibles.

You do not need anything if you maintain proper clearances to combustibles. The air gaps are to reduce clearances if allowed by the manufacturer

 

[begreen]

Yes, the 1" gap pertains to wall shielding only, which is held 1" off the wall by standoffs. The 1" gap at the bottom and top allows air to freely convect behind it.

 

[Highbeam]

You do not need anything if you maintain proper clearances to combustibles. The air gaps are to reduce clearances if allowed by the manufacturer

I agree, anything outside the clearance requirement is purely decorative. That said, it doesn’t hurt to make it super extra safe.

I am amazed by how many people that think they need to build an antique, ventilated, nfpa compliant wall shield when they’ve already exceeded the clearance to combustible requirements in their stove’s manual. Further, and more dangerously, many folks believe that they can reduce the stove manual’s clearance requirements with this nfpa wall shield.

Some stove manuals specifically allow for different clearance requirements if you build an nfpa wall shield but not very many and the manual must specify this allowance.

 

[bholler]

I agree, anything outside the clearance requirement is purely decorative. That said, it doesn’t hurt to make it super extra safe.

I am amazed by how many people that think they need to build an antique, ventilated, nfpa compliant wall shield when they’ve already exceeded the clearance to combustible requirements in their stove’s manual. Further, and more dangerously, many folks believe that they can reduce the stove manual’s clearance requirements with this nfpa wall shield.

Some stove manuals specifically allow for different clearance requirements if you build an nfpa wall shield but not very many and the manual must specify this allowance.

Well said

 

[Highbeam]

I don’t want to push my luck here but I think this whole wall shield section should disappear from the fire code. It’s illegal to install the unlisted heaters that were the intended audience of that nfpa code section.

While they’re at it, the garage heater section needs some changes as well!

 

[bholler]

I don’t want to push my luck here but I think this whole wall shield section should disappear from the fire code. It’s illegal to install the unlisted heaters that were the intended audience of that nfpa code section.

While they’re at it, the garage heater section needs some changes as well!

It is not illegal to install unlisted appliances everywhere.

I completely agree on the garage thing I really wish we would go to the Canadian standard

 

[RandyBoBandy]

Thanks all.