Hearth and Home Technologies RHW-485H owner manual Construct the Chase, Chimney Requirements

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	high temperature caulk or stuffed with unfaced fiberglass in-
	sulation. If the fireplace is being installed on a cement slab,
fireplace and/or its vent system. Vertical chimneys that run
	we recommend that in cold climates, a sheet of plywood or
on the outside of a building may be, but are not required to
	other raised platform be placed underneath to prevent con-
be, installed inside a chase.
	ducting cold up into the room.
Construction of the chase may vary with the type of build-
	Three examples of chase applications are shown in Fig-
ing. These instructions are not substitutes for the require-
	ure 3.6.
ments of local building codes. Local building codes MUST
be checked.
Chases should be constructed in the manner of all outside	1. Fireplace and chimney enclosed in an exterior chase.
	2. Chimney offset through exterior wall and enclosed in
walls of the home to prevent cold air drafting problems. The
	chase.
chase should not break the outside building envelope in any
	3. Chase constructed on roof.
manner.
Building codes require false ceiling and ceiling firestops at
each floor of the chase or every 10 ft (3.05 m) of clear space	All outside walls should be insulated.
to control spread of fire.

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 surfaces be sheet rocked and taped 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	(6.1 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 • RHW-485 • 33221 Rev O • 08/06