Confused about hearth pad size vs clearance

[snowydays]

I recently ordered a Harman Absolute43 pellet stove. I am building a tile hearth pad along a wall before it gets installed. It will not be a corner installation and it will be vented through the wall directly outside. The stove is not here yet, I've got a store model I've been looking at and the spec sheets and install manual online.

The spec sheet has the following dimensions for the stove:
Width: upper- 24 1/16, lower - 24 9/16
Depth: 26 1/2

Clearance is listed as
Sides: 6" to each side of the stove
Front: 6"
Back: 2" (to the back of the vent stub)

When I add the front and back clearances to the stove depth, I get a total hearth depth of 26.5+2+6 = 34.5
When I add the side clearances to the larger stove width, I get a total hearth width of: 24 9/16+6+6 = 36 9/16

The minimum floor protection hearth pad is listed as: 25 7/8 (width) x 28 (depth)

Why do these not match up? Can I get away with a tiled hearth pad of 32x32? Do I need to have 6" of tile to the front of the stove and on each side from the widest points?

Thanks for any insight.

 

[Whitenuckler]

I recently ordered a Harman Absolute43 pellet stove. I am building a tile hearth pad along a wall before it gets installed. It will not be a corner installation and it will be vented through the wall directly outside. The stove is not here yet, I've got a store model I've been looking at and the spec sheets and install manual online.

The spec sheet has the following dimensions for the stove:
Width: upper- 24 1/16, lower - 24 9/16
Depth: 26 1/2

Clearance is listed as
Sides: 6" to each side of the stove
Front: 6"
Back: 2" (to the back of the vent stub)

When I add the front and back clearances to the stove depth, I get a total hearth depth of 26.5+2+6 = 34.5
When I add the side clearances to the larger stove width, I get a total hearth width of: 24 9/16+6+6 = 36 9/16

The minimum floor protection hearth pad is listed as: 25 7/8 (width) x 28 (depth)

Why do these not match up? Can I get away with a tiled hearth pad of 32x32? Do I need to have 6" of tile to the front of the stove and on each side from the widest points?

Thanks for any insight.

Those clearances are the stove to combustibles. A hearth pad is not combustible, and is under the stove where there is almost no heat as the ash pan is down there.

 

[Tonyray]

I recently ordered a Harman Absolute43 pellet stove. I am building a tile hearth pad along a wall before it gets installed. It will not be a corner installation and it will be vented through the wall directly outside. The stove is not here yet, I've got a store model I've been looking at and the spec sheets and install manual online.

The spec sheet has the following dimensions for the stove:
Width: upper- 24 1/16, lower - 24 9/16
Depth: 26 1/2

Clearance is listed as
Sides: 6" to each side of the stove
Front: 6"
Back: 2" (to the back of the vent stub)

When I add the front and back clearances to the stove depth, I get a total hearth depth of 26.5+2+6 = 34.5
When I add the side clearances to the larger stove width, I get a total hearth width of: 24 9/16+6+6 = 36 9/16

The minimum floor protection hearth pad is listed as: 25 7/8 (width) x 28 (depth)

Why do these not match up? Can I get away with a tiled hearth pad of 32x32? Do I need to have 6" of tile to the front of the stove and on each side from the widest points?

Thanks for any insight.

Although corner install, might help u to visualize yours.. this was installed by dealer for a P61A.. No heat anywhere near bottom so no issues. probably a bit larger all around than needed..nothing down there but the ash pan..

 

[bogieb]

As stated before, clearance to combustibles needs for floor protection are not the same thing. DO NOT scrimp on the forward

Here is what my P61a manual states (it has different requirements)

You definitely need the 6" in front of the door in case a spark or ember escapes while cleaning the burn pot.

Before making the pad to a specific size, think about how far from the wall you are placing the stove. You may want a bit extra room than required for maintenance (you do not want to be a pretzel trying to get back there in a super tight space). Aesthetically, you will probable want the pad to reach all the way to the wall - which may require the pad to be a bit larger in order to maintain the 6" requirement past the front. Also, some pipe manufacturers say that the pad should be under the pipe all the way to the wall.

 

[snowydays]

So it sounds like I shouldn't scrimp on front and back.

The hearth pad will be surrounded by hardwood floor, and the pad will be about 2-3" higher than the hardwood.

There will be no furniture, curtains, etc. within 6" of each side but if I scrimp on the sides, the hardwood will technically be within 6". Do I need to worry about complying with the full 6" on side to protect the hardwood?

I've owned a pellet stove before and with very rare exceptions, did not open the door if any pellets were still burning. So I'm not too concerned about an ember but I do want to make sure it doesn't fail permit inspection. If I was an inspector, I would be scratching my head trying to figure out if an install of 36.5" depth by 32" width is compliant.

 

[Whitenuckler]

So it sounds like I shouldn't scrimp on front and back.

The hearth pad will be surrounded by hardwood floor, and the pad will be about 2-3" higher than the hardwood.

There will be no furniture, curtains, etc. within 6" of each side but if I scrimp on the sides, the hardwood will technically be within 6". Do I need to worry about complying with the full 6" on side to protect the hardwood?

I've owned a pellet stove before and with very rare exceptions, did not open the door if any pellets were still burning. So I'm not too concerned about an ember but I do want to make sure it doesn't fail permit inspection. If I was an inspector, I would be scratching my head trying to figure out if an install of 36.5" depth by 32" width is compliant.

Re the back - leave as much space as you are comfortable with. It will make cleaning and servicing easier. I have a corner install and don't have much room. For the front leave at least the code amount or more if you want, but don't worry about embers flying out like a wood stove. The best time to scrap the burn pot is when it's out anyway.
If you have the hearth pad the size per the manual, the inspector will likely only be checking the clearance from the back edges of the stove to the walls.
I ran mine 24/7 during the winter, and I did open the door to scrap, but you really can't do a good job. It would be better to shut it off for 20 minutes and let it go out.
If you know who the inspector is you might discuss the install ahead of time.