Hearth and Home Technologies RUTHERFORD-42 owner manual Chase Installations, Construct the Chase

9 Chase Installations

A. 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
	insulation. If the fireplace is being installed on a cement
fireplace and/or its vent system. Vertical chimneys that
	slab, we recommend that in cold climates, a sheet of
run on the outside of a building must be installed inside a
	plywood or other raised platform be placed underneath to
chase.
	prevent conducting 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 9.2.
ments of local building codes. Local building codes MUST
be checked.
	1. Fireplace and chimney enclosed in an exterior chase.
A chase should be constructed in the manner of all outside
	2. Chimney offset through exterior wall and enclosed in chase.
walls of the home to prevent cold air drafting problems. The
	3. Chase constructed on roof.
chase should not break the outside building envelope in
any manner. All outer walls need to be insulated.	Note: In cooler climates, all chase walls should be insulated.
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.
Walls, ceiling, base plate and cantilever floor at the first
level of the chase should be insulated. See Figure 9.1.
Vapor and air infiltration barriers should be installed in the
chase as per regional codes for the rest of the home. Addi-
tionally, Hearth & Home Technologies recommends that the
inside surfaces be sheet rocked and taped (or the use of an	1	2	3
equivalent method) for maximum air tightness.

Round Termination Cap		Figure 9.2	Chase Constructions
Metal Chase Top		WARNING! You must install false ceilings and ceiling fire-
	Ceiling	stops at each floor of the chase or every 10 ft (3.05 m) to
	Firestop	control spread of fire.
		WARNING! Risk of Fire! DO NOT seal area between
		firestop opening and chimney pipe except where they enter
		the attic or leave the warm-air envelope of the home (use
		600° F sealant).
	False Ceiling	WARNING! Risk of Fire! You must maintain a minimum
	Attic	2 in. (51 mm) air space clearance to insulation and other
		materials surrounding the chimney system.
Tabs	Insulation
		• Insulation and other materials must be firmly secured to
	Shield
	Insulation in the	prevent accidental contact with chimney system.
	outside walls	• Failure to prevent contact between insulation or other
	of the chase	materials and chimney system may cause overheating
Insulation	Insulation
		and fire.
False Ceiling	False Ceiling
	Chimney
Ceiling
Firestop
Figure 9.1	Chase Assembly
32	Heat & Glo • RUTHERFORD-42 • 4059-309 Rev G • 11/08