Vermont Casting 2310 Floor Protection Freestanding Installations, Vermont Castings Vigilant

Floor Protection

Freestanding Installations

A tremendous amount of heat radiates from the bottom plate of a Vigilant Coal Stove, and the floor beneath re- quires special protection. A Vigilant Coal Stove Bottom Heat Shield (be sure to install the included shield insert when the shorter 7⁷⁄₈ (197 mm) legs are used) provides heat protection. A floor protector provides spark and ember protection.

Most installations will require the bottom heat shield together with its shield insert or “double bottom” and a floor protector be used. Only when the stove is placed on a completely non-combustible surface such as unpainted concrete over earth may it be used without either. In Canada, the double bottom heat shield is always required.

When using the standard 10” (250 mm) legs on the stove over a combustible floor, a single bottom heat shield must be used in conjunction with a floor protec- tor that consists of a minimum of one layer of 24 guage galvanized sheet metal or .25” thick mineral board or the equivalent. The floor protector must be at least 45” (1140 mm) wide x 48” (1220 mm) deep and must extend under the full length of any horizontal run of chimney connector. For the 6” (150 mm) connector that is standard with the Vigilant Coal Stove, the protector must be a minimum of 10” (250 mm) wide, centered under the connector. When the optional 8” (200 mm) connector is used, the protector must be a minimum of 12” (300 mm) wide and centered under the connector.

When the shorter 7⁷⁄₈" (197 mm) legs are used on the stove over a combustible floor, the double bottom heat shield must be used as well as a floor protector. The

	F
E	E

Vermont Castings Vigilant

floor protector must meet the same requirements as for

standard legs.

Floor Protection for Fireplace Installations

In many fireplaces the brick or concrete hearth in front of the fireplace opening is supported by heavy wooden framing. Bricks and concrete are not good insulators, so heat radiated to the hearth under the stove will pass through the hearth directly to the wooden framing.

Such fireplace hearths must be protected like any other combustible floor. If a bottom heat shield and regular legs are used, the existing fireplace hearth may provide adequate spark and falling ember protections if it meets the necessary size requirement of 45” x 48”. Without a bottom heat shield (regular legs), or with the double bottom heat shield (short legs), the hearth construction must meet the requirements given in the previous sec- tion.

We recommend always using a bottom heat shield

when using regular legs, so that your hearth/floor pro- tector may reflect your personal design preference.

VIGILANT�

Heavy
Wooden Framing	ST690

Fig. 13 Additional protection may be required when the hearth is built over wooden framing.

Fireplace Mantel and Trim Clearance

If your installation will utilize an existing fireplace and its masonry chimney built to code, you must check your fireplace mantel and trim clearances.

Ventilated shields (noncombustible shields installed on

					B
						C		C
	D						D
	A						A
		A.	45”	(1143 mm)
		B.	48”	(1219 mm)
		C.	8”	(203 mm)
		D.	16”	(406 mm)
		E.	12”	(305 mm)
ST689		F.	2”	(51 mm) to either side of connector

non-combustible spac- ers 1” away from the combustible surface) may be used to reduce clearances. (Fig. 14)

Mantel and top trim shields for the Vigilant Coal Stove must be at least 48” long, centered over the stove; side trim shields must extend the

full length of the trim.

	Mantel
	Spacer
	1" (25mm)
	Custom-
	formed
	Mantel
	Shield
ST501	1/4" (6mm)

Fig. 12 Minimum floor protection requirements.

2000898

Fig. 14 A custom formed man- tel shield.

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