I don't understand this. The installation gets grandfathered, not the owners. Unless you pulled a permit to do major renovations, the previous certification should still be valid.
So your ignoring the fact that it doesn't meet minimum Clearance requirements required for safety by the manufacturer??
We are going to use it, yes. We have firewood. No I dont know how to use this thing, I need to work all that out!
We had two inspectors come in and tell us that this doesnt meet current code, but is totally safe and does meet the manufacturer requirements. The manufacturer wants 8 inches from the firebox (which we more than have). Code called for 8 inches of clearance around the entire unit from where the stone ends, and that applies to all wood stoves. There is a difference to a unit with very little or no soapstone insulation and one with lots like ours. But the code doesnt differentiate between those. Both inspectors told us that this was installed at the time to European standards (Finnish is 3" and Swiss can in fact be right against the wall when there is as much soapstone as here, provided the drywall is non combustible drywall, which is what we have around the fireplace, plus steel studs rather than wood studs). I would never use this if I did not believe it to be safe, and the previous owner used this heavily without issue for many years. That, combined with two inspectors telling me that it is safe, makes me believe that it is.
correct, but the code people do not see it that way. They say "clearance = air only". Fair enough, it doesnt meet current code, according to some guy. I can sleep at night knowing that.
And you have talked to the manufacturer about this? They are really the only one that knows
yes, and several authorized dealers. That is how I learned everything in the post.
