This question has been asked many times How can safely I reduce clearances? The common way outlined by NFPA 211, is noncombustible wall protection with 1” air space. Depending upon construction and various materials, clearances can be reduced up to 66% but no less than 12” However manufactures supply heat shields that are tested and certified, that may further reduce clearance closer than 12”. Unfortunately this heat shield may be only attached to the rear or bottom. What about the sides? What about stoves that manufactures do not offer heat shield options?
What if one were to manufacture there own heat shields? And attach them to their stoves with noncombustible spacers? In theory the shields provide air space and natural convection that dissipates heat. Which is what it supposed to do. That heat removed and the stove surface cooled, affords closer distances to combustibles.
Since there are no generic manufactures, I am aware of, or any generic codes governing reductions. There is no safe way to determine what reduced distance is a safe distance?. USA is not the only country with safety standards. Our neighbors to the north, Canada, have even more restrictive codes. It is here where actual codes govern heat shield reductions. “CSA B365 Installation Code for Solid-Fuel-Burning Appliances and Equipment");
“You can find guidelines for installing these uncertified stoves in the solid-fuel-burning installation code, CSA B365. The lowest clearances to combustible materials for uncertified stoves are large – 1200 mm (48 in.) for radiant stoves and 900 mm (36 in.) for stoves surrounded by jackets behind which convection air can flow.
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Clearances to Combustible Material for Appliances Using Solid Fuel
Source: CSA International B365-01, Table 2
Minimum clearance, mm (in.)
Application Top Sides, rear
and corner Fuelling and ash
removal side(s)
Appliances with no shielding* 1500 (60) 1200 (48) 1200 (48)
Appliances with shielding* 1500 (60) 900 (36) 1200 (48)
* Shielding consists of protection such as external jacketing or a metal heat shield attached to the sides and rear of the appliance and spaced out at least 50 mm (2 in.) by non-combustible spacers, with provision for air circulation at bottom and top.
Note: Clearances shall be measured from the outer surface of the appliance to the combustible material; a non-combustible covering applied over the combustible material shall be disregarded.
Reduce Minimum Clearances Safely
Like most homeowners, you probably want your wood stove to take up as little floor space as possible. As a result, heat shields are often used to reduce clearances and protect walls and ceilings. Some stove manufacturers offer certified accessory shields with their products to provide reduced wall clearance. If you aren't offered accessory shields for your stove or if you want to reduce the clearance even further, you can buy effective wall and ceiling shields or have them built.
You can safely reduce the clearances for both certified and uncertified stoves by following the rules set out in standard CSA B365. The common feature of the clearance reduction rules is air space behind the shield material. This space sets up a convection flow of air when the stove is operating and prevents the stove's heat from reaching the wall. (The percentage shown in the following table is the amount by which you can reduce the lowest clearance with the particular shield system listed.) By using heat shields, you can reduce wall and ceiling clearances.”
Adjusting to USA standards 36” not Canada’s 48” would allow 24 gage steel heat shields to reduce that distance 1/3 or 24 “
All forum googlers posters please search for manufactured shields and specs and add the info to this post. This question keeps re occurring ?
Mantle heat shields
I have found one manufacturer that makes them and actually had the tested and the following information is from their web site.
There are codes that govern distances in relationship to the amount the mantle protrudes with the use of a heat shield. The reduction goes like this 6” protrusion with heat shield reduces the distance to 12” 8” protrusion 16” and 10” protrusion 20 “
(broken link removed)
HomeSaver Mantel Shield - This 24-ga., black HomeSaver Mantel Shield attaches to the mantel and allows a clearance reduction from 18" to 9" from stovepipe and from 36" to 18" from the top of an unlisted stove. (For listed stoves, consult stove manual or manufacturer.) Our mantel shield is 47" wide, has a depth or "face" of 10", and the angled lip is 2 3/4" wide. It can be cut to size and comes predrilled and ready to mount. All necessary ceramic spacers, hardware, and instructions are included.
What if one were to manufacture there own heat shields? And attach them to their stoves with noncombustible spacers? In theory the shields provide air space and natural convection that dissipates heat. Which is what it supposed to do. That heat removed and the stove surface cooled, affords closer distances to combustibles.
Since there are no generic manufactures, I am aware of, or any generic codes governing reductions. There is no safe way to determine what reduced distance is a safe distance?. USA is not the only country with safety standards. Our neighbors to the north, Canada, have even more restrictive codes. It is here where actual codes govern heat shield reductions. “CSA B365 Installation Code for Solid-Fuel-Burning Appliances and Equipment");
“You can find guidelines for installing these uncertified stoves in the solid-fuel-burning installation code, CSA B365. The lowest clearances to combustible materials for uncertified stoves are large – 1200 mm (48 in.) for radiant stoves and 900 mm (36 in.) for stoves surrounded by jackets behind which convection air can flow.
top
Clearances to Combustible Material for Appliances Using Solid Fuel
Source: CSA International B365-01, Table 2
Minimum clearance, mm (in.)
Application Top Sides, rear
and corner Fuelling and ash
removal side(s)
Appliances with no shielding* 1500 (60) 1200 (48) 1200 (48)
Appliances with shielding* 1500 (60) 900 (36) 1200 (48)
* Shielding consists of protection such as external jacketing or a metal heat shield attached to the sides and rear of the appliance and spaced out at least 50 mm (2 in.) by non-combustible spacers, with provision for air circulation at bottom and top.
Note: Clearances shall be measured from the outer surface of the appliance to the combustible material; a non-combustible covering applied over the combustible material shall be disregarded.
Reduce Minimum Clearances Safely
Like most homeowners, you probably want your wood stove to take up as little floor space as possible. As a result, heat shields are often used to reduce clearances and protect walls and ceilings. Some stove manufacturers offer certified accessory shields with their products to provide reduced wall clearance. If you aren't offered accessory shields for your stove or if you want to reduce the clearance even further, you can buy effective wall and ceiling shields or have them built.
You can safely reduce the clearances for both certified and uncertified stoves by following the rules set out in standard CSA B365. The common feature of the clearance reduction rules is air space behind the shield material. This space sets up a convection flow of air when the stove is operating and prevents the stove's heat from reaching the wall. (The percentage shown in the following table is the amount by which you can reduce the lowest clearance with the particular shield system listed.) By using heat shields, you can reduce wall and ceiling clearances.”
Adjusting to USA standards 36” not Canada’s 48” would allow 24 gage steel heat shields to reduce that distance 1/3 or 24 “
All forum googlers posters please search for manufactured shields and specs and add the info to this post. This question keeps re occurring ?
Mantle heat shields
I have found one manufacturer that makes them and actually had the tested and the following information is from their web site.
There are codes that govern distances in relationship to the amount the mantle protrudes with the use of a heat shield. The reduction goes like this 6” protrusion with heat shield reduces the distance to 12” 8” protrusion 16” and 10” protrusion 20 “
(broken link removed)
HomeSaver Mantel Shield - This 24-ga., black HomeSaver Mantel Shield attaches to the mantel and allows a clearance reduction from 18" to 9" from stovepipe and from 36" to 18" from the top of an unlisted stove. (For listed stoves, consult stove manual or manufacturer.) Our mantel shield is 47" wide, has a depth or "face" of 10", and the angled lip is 2 3/4" wide. It can be cut to size and comes predrilled and ready to mount. All necessary ceramic spacers, hardware, and instructions are included.
