¨E. Construct the Chase

Gas line holes and other openings should be caulked with

A chase is a vertical boxlike structure built to enclose the fire-

high temperature caulk or stuffed with unfaced fiberglass in-

sulation. If the fireplace is being installed on a cement slab,

place and/or its vent system. Vertical chimneys that run on

we recommend that in cold climates, a sheet of plywood or

the outside of a building must be installed inside a chase.

other raised platform be placed underneath to prevent con-

Construction of the chase may vary with the type of build-

ducting cold up into the room.

ing. These instructions are not substitutes for the require-

Three examples of chase applications are shown in Fig-

ments of local building codes. Local building codes MUST

ure 3.6.

be checked.

 

Chases should be constructed in the manner of all outside

 

1. Fireplace and chimney enclosed in an exterior chase.

walls of the home to prevent cold air drafting problems. The

2. Chimney offset through exterior wall and enclosed in

chase should not break the outside building envelope in any

chase.

manner. All outer walls need to be insulated.

3. Chase constructed on roof.

Building codes require false ceiling and ceiling firestops at

 

each floor of the chase or every 10 ft (3.05 m) of clear space

 

to control spread of fire.

All outside walls should be insulated.

 

Walls, ceiling, base plate and cantilever floor at the first level of the chase should be insulated. See Figure 3.5. Vapor and air infiltration barriers should be installed in the chase as per regional codes for the rest of the home. Additionally, Hearth

&Home Technologies recommends that the inside surfac- es be sheet rocked and taped (or the use of an equivalent method) for maximum air tightness.

Round Termination Cap

 

 

1

2

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

Metal Chase Top

 

Figure 3.6

Chase Constructions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceiling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Firestop

 

F. Chimney Requirements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When planning your fireplace location, the chimney con-

 

 

 

struction and necessary clearances must be considered.

 

 

 

The fireplace system and chimney components have been

 

 

 

tested to provide flexibility in construction. Vertical distances

 

 

 

are measured from the base of the fireplace as shown in

 

 

 

Figure 5.2.

 

 

 

 

False Ceiling

 

Minimum overall straight height

16.5 ft

(5.03 m)

 

 

 

 

Attic

 

Minimum height with offset/return

16.5 ft

(5.03 m)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tabs

Insulation

 

• Maximum height

90 ft

(27.43 m)

 

Shield

 

• Maximum chimney length between an offset

20 ft

(6.10 m)

 

Ceiling

Insulation in the

 

 

and return

 

 

 

 

outside walls

 

 

 

 

 

Firestop

• Maximum distance between chimney

35 ft

(10.67 m)

 

of the chase

 

 

Insulation

Insulation

 

 

stabilizers

 

 

 

False Ceiling

False Ceiling

 

Double offset/return minimum height

20 ft

(6.1 m)

 

Chimney

 

• Maximum unsupported chimney length

6 ft

(1.83 m)

 

 

 

 

between the offset and return

 

 

 

 

 

• Maximum unsupported chimney height above

35 ft

(10.67 m)

 

 

 

 

the fireplace

 

 

Figure 3.5

Chase Assembly

 

• Maximum unsupported chimney above roof

6 ft

(1.83 m)

 

 

 

Note: A maximum of two pairs of offsets and returns may

 

 

 

be used.

 

 

 

12

 

Heat & Glo • EM-415/EM-415H • 31317 Rev Q • 10/06

 

 

Page 12
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Hearth and Home Technologies EM-415H owner manual ¨E. Construct the Chase, Chimney Requirements