Hearth and clearances?

[Wallace]

I am laying my hearth tomorrow. It is a corner install. I have a heat shield on the stove and have my corner and rear and left side clearances met by several inches. My question is the right side door clearance. The manual states that I must have the side door locked unless the clearance is 36" to a combustible wall. From the back corner of the stove to the wall is just at 30-31"...if you move to the center of the door side to the wall it is 34-35". Moving the stove any further away from the wall is going to reduce my 18" clearance from the front door of the stove. I have 18" of hearth on the front and side door clearances. My only issue is the 1-2" I am lacking to the corner wall. I am GUESSING that the large 36" clearance is just in case we leave the side door open and forget it? BTW my hearth is slate tile that sits on concrete slab.

 

[webbie]

It would seem that an inch or two in such a case - especially on a diagonal, would be acceptable! Radiant heat on a diagonal is much less - and, as you say, the 36" is probably for a door which is opened full time...or a lot!

Assuming your door hinges are toward the wall (corner), this is even better...since the door itself then is in the way of any heat or sparks.

But, in my experience, it would seem almost impossible for that wall to get hot.

BTW, what stove model do you have?

 

[Wallace]

It would seem that an inch or two in such a case - especially on a diagonal, would be acceptable! Radiant heat on a diagonal is much less - and, as you say, the 36" is probably for a door which is opened full time...or a lot!

Assuming your door hinges are toward the wall (corner), this is even better...since the door itself then is in the way of any heat or sparks.

But, in my experience, it would seem almost impossible for that wall to get hot.

BTW, what stove model do you have?

My stove is a Jotul Oslo. The hinges are towards the wall so the door does offer some protection in the event it was left open. Thanks for your reply. I cannot wait to get that floor down tomorrow and get my stove fired up! We probably won't need it for another 3 weeks though.

 

[webbie]

The manual is a bit confusing on the issue - because it talks about a left side door.
Did they start offering a right side door as an option?

They state the LEFT SIDE door must be locked in corner and alcove installations......BUT, my assumption is that this is specific to certain installations when the corner installation is CLOSE as per their minimum standards. If your corner installation is much further out, and it sounds so, then that might not apply.....

It certainly is confusing. From a common sense standpoint....well, it doesn't make sense. It's impossible for a manual to cover every specific choice...just most.

So, to backtrack a bit.....as it is shown on their brochure and the manual, it has only a left side door...AND...the manual seems to state that in ANY case, the side door must be locked - it does not make a exemption when clearances are met......at least the manual I see does not!

That being the case, I would contact the tech dept at Jotul (through the dealer) and see if the locking can be skipped if you have the 36" clearance on the side.....don't bother them with the one inch part short part....just see if you can keep that door unlocked in any case.

It's hard to imagine why it would be needed to be locked in a case where the stove was further out like yours...

 

[fossil]

...I would contact the tech dept at Jotul (through the dealer) and see if the locking can be skipped if you have the 36" clearance on the side.....don't bother them with the one inch part short part....just see if you can keep that door unlocked in any case...

^ +1 Safest way to go. If they give you the thumbs up, try to get something in writing from them. Rick

 

[Wallace]

The manual is a bit confusing on the issue - because it talks about a left side door.
Did they start offering a right side door as an option?

They state the LEFT SIDE door must be locked in corner and alcove installations......BUT, my assumption is that this is specific to certain installations when the corner installation is CLOSE as per their minimum standards. If your corner installation is much further out, and it sounds so, then that might not apply.....

It certainly is confusing. From a common sense standpoint....well, it doesn't make sense. It's impossible for a manual to cover every specific choice...just most.

So, to backtrack a bit.....as it is shown on their brochure and the manual, it has only a left side door...AND...the manual seems to state that in ANY case, the side door must be locked - it does not make a exemption when clearances are met......at least the manual I see does not!

That being the case, I would contact the tech dept at Jotul (through the dealer) and see if the locking can be skipped if you have the 36" clearance on the side.....don't bother them with the one inch part short part....just see if you can keep that door unlocked in any case.

It's hard to imagine why it would be needed to be locked in a case where the stove was further out like yours...

It is the left side door! I was saying the right side as if I was standing next to the stove facing the same way! I will call them on Monday and check with them. But either way I cannot see what would be the issue if all tolerances are met and the 36" inch thing is an inch short. Thanks again!

 

[fossil]

...It is the left side door! I was saying the right side as if I was standing next to the stove facing the same way!

Hah! Mystery solved. Good luck with it...explain it carefully and be patient...they're likely to be very reluctant to say it's OK to do ANYTHING other than what's shown in the manual. Let us know how it turns out. Rick

 

[begreen]

If they say no way, ask them if an NFPA wall shield would make it permissible.

 

[fossil]

If they say no way, ask them if an NFPA wall shield would make it permissible.

Excellent thought. After all the work you've done to get this thing in, you could quickly add a shield to the left side wall. Rick

 

[Wallace]

If they say no way, ask them if an NFPA wall shield would make it permissible.

Excellent thought. After all the work you've done to get this thing in, you could quickly add a shield to the left side wall. Rick

I read through the above posts again and saw where someone thought this was an alcove and not a corner install...it is true that the door must be locked in alcove, but for corner install you have to have 36" to combustible surface. The front clearance is 18" to the combustible floor. So I reason that the side door clearance is 18" to combustible floor and 36" to the combustible wall. I am 34-35" to the wall. I feel pretty comfortable with my tolerances and really do not want to put a shield on the wall. I don't foresee a time when the side door would be left wide open. The only time it would be left partially open would be on starting the fire, even then the angle of the door being open would not allow direct heat to be projected towards the wall. What do you think?

 

[begreen]

I think as you use the stove you will really prefer to use the side loading door. There is a lot less mess loading the stove from the side.

 

[Wallace]

I think as you use the stove you will really prefer to use the side loading door. There is a lot less mess loading the stove from the side.

From what I have been told and the reason I bought the Oslo was for the side load. So I am pretty sure we will use the side door. Just won't be able to leave it wide open after starting. Not like we would anyhow!