Buying New house ? woodstove install

[jotulburner]

Just put an offer on a new house. It has a 3 year old Vermont Castings Encore wood stove. Looks like a nice stove. My question is it is installed into a fireplace opening. The front of the stove sits flush with the outer edge of the hearth. They showed me the paper work and it was a proffesional install. My question is it can be front loaded or top loaded. With front doors doesnt it need at least ember protection in front. Or can I assume that it was proffesionaly installed so it must be up to code. From the look of it it seems per code you should never open thoose front doors? Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[jotulburner]

(broken link removed)
I just found this in Mannual for that stove I dont get how a proffesional installer can overlook such a thing.
For all fireplace installations, follow the floor protection guidelines described above, including the need for a bottom shield. Keep in mind that many raised hearths will extend less than the required clearance from the front of the heater. In such cases, sufficient floor protection as described above must be added in front of the hearth to satisfy the minimum floor protector requirement from the front of the stove: 16†(410 mm) in the United States and 18†(460 mm) in Canada. Hearth rugs do not satisfy the requirement for floor protection as they are not fire proof.
Fireplace installations also have special clearance requirements to the side walls, side decorative trim and fireplace mantel. Refer to the information on fireplace and mantel trim shields in this section.

 

[begreen]

Take a look at the UL plate on the back to get the model number. The 2 n 1 Encore just came out last year. This is most likely an older model, either the 2550 cat model or the 1450 non-cat (downdraft) model.

Is this a raised hearth? Regardless, you are correct. It needs hearth protection in front. How much insulation is uncertain without more specs. If this is a high, raised hearth, ember protection might be sufficient. Fortunately, there is an easy solution such as putting a proper hearth extension pad in front of the hearth. Post a picture and we may be able to offer other solutions.

Here is an extension example:
http://www.woodlanddirect.com/Wood-...h-Safe-Hearth-Extender-Aluminum-Edge-Africana

 

[jotulburner]

Thanks for your help. It is a raised hearth. I know the sellers assume it is code because they had a pro install it. They showed me the invoice cost them $600 for install ,stove was $2500, and parts $600. You would think a very large company I wont name them but a very big name here in Maine would make such a mistake

 

[begreen]

Perhaps the installer was assured by the homeowner that a hearth pad was to be installed? If you love the house, then this is a small negotiating point in case you need it. But I wouldn't stress over it. At least the issue is quite apparent and remediable.

 

[DanCorcoran]

Why not contact the installer and send them the photo? Just ask if you need protection in front and let them give you their story. Not to be accusatory, just for info (since they installed it, I wouldn't think they'd need to visit to answer the question).

 

[jotulburner]

Great ideas I always get the best support from this forum thanks again

 

[firefighterjake]

Thanks for your help. It is a raised hearth. I know the sellers assume it is code because they had a pro install it. They showed me the invoice cost them $600 for install ,stove was $2500, and parts $600. You would think a very large company I wont name them but a very big name here in Maine would make such a mistake

Nope . . . I would believe it . . . a) everyone makes mistakes from time to time and b) just because a company is big or has been around a long time does not mean they installed everything to code . . . one of the reasons we inspect new installs of heating equipment here in Bangor.