Wall protection Mandatory?

[Cudos]

Hi, I've seen many many wood stoves with wall protection, be it tile, brick, stone ect . I have also seen many installed stoves without any such protection. Many have plain drywall behind their stoves.

What is the rule of thumb on this? is it strictly a clearance issue as to whether protection is required.

Thanks

 

[Highbeam]

There is no wall protection required so long as that wall is outside of the required clearance to combustibles. The only time you need fancy wall shields is if the manual specifically requires it for reduced clearances.

 

[Cudos]

Much appreciated!

 

[SolarAndWood]

Cudos, you have one of the nicest wall shields I have seen. Where did you buy it?

 

[Highbeam]

To be sure, it won't hurt to build a fancy wall shield. Maybe makes you feel safer but is not required.

 

[greythorn3]

wall shield can be anything non comebustable with a 2" air gap behind it right?

 

[CarbonNeutral]

It's more complex than that, requiring air gaps at top/bottom to allow convective airflow

 

[fossil]

Actually, it's more complex than that. If the manufacturer's appliance documentation doesn't specifically mention that the listed required minimum clearances to combustibles may be reduced through the use of an acceptable heat shield...then they can't be. Period. If you're installing an old stove without documentation, then you default to the standards in NFPA 211, provided your local Authority Having Jurisdiction approves of your planned installation. Rick

 

[Highbeam]

What I think Fossil just said was that the only time a wall shield is ever required is when you are using an old stove that doesn't list the minimum clearances to combustibles. Or if specifically required by a modern stove.

Any stove that is less than 15 years old will list the minimum clearances which make these fancy wall shields a thing of the past. Unless you just feel like building one for your own piece of mind.

 

[fossil]

The documentation on some of the newer stoves will say, "Here's the minimum clearance to combustibles", and then in the same sentence or in smaller print somewhere else, they'll say something like, "This clearance may be further reduced by the use of an appropriately constructed and installed heat shield", or words to that effect. If those words or words like those don't appear anywhere in the docs, then the clearances can't be reduced through the use of a shield. Of course, that doesn't preclude the use of a shield for peace of mind or decoration or whatever...it just doesn't allow for reducing the dimension from the stove to the combustible material. You can put any non-combustible thing you want between your stove and anything else. Rick

 

[Russ in Chicagoland]

Anyone used the manufactured floor and wall shields sold at retailers? Hy-C Company is one manufacturer that sells at Menards in our area. They look like they're made of thin metal over a cement board material. They're not pretty, but functional I spose.

 

[littlesmokey]

Anyone used the manufactured floor and wall shields sold at retailers? Hy-C Company is one manufacturer that sells at Menards in our area. They look like they're made of thin metal over a cement board material. They're not pretty, but functional I spose.

I wouldn't trust those tin-sheets to meet the requirements. Especially considering the lack of air gap and certification by a testing lab. Better to get the real thing for a few dollars more or build your own.

 

[firefighterjake]

Hi, I've seen many many wood stoves with wall protection, be it tile, brick, stone ect . I have also seen many installed stoves without any such protection. Many have plain drywall behind their stoves.

What is the rule of thumb on this? is it strictly a clearance issue as to whether protection is required.

Thanks

Yup . . . clearance issue . . . as mentioned. In my case I was at one point thinking about going with some wall protection . . . well actually it wasn't really so much wall protection as just a fancy way to pretty up the corner and make it easier for cleaning by installing copper plating behind the stove . . . but when I saw the estimated cost and realized that it wouldn't have done much for me in terms of protection I thought just plain, painted drywall looked fine.