Vermont Casting 2463 manual Floor Protection, Fireplace Installations

Floor Protection

Freestanding Installations

A constructional hearth should be provided of solid, noncombustible material at least 125 mm thick (which may include the thickness of any solid, noncombustible floor under a hearth) and at least 33” (838 mm) deep by 40” (1016 mm) wide. Note that at these minimum dimensions, the stove will be offset toward the right side of the hearth (as you face it) to maintain proper protec- tion beyond the side loading door. If you wish to place the stove symmetrically on the eharth, add 6” (152 mm) to the right side.

Combustible material should not be placed under a constructional hearth unless:

(a)it is to support the edges of the hearth, or

(b)there is an air space of at least 50 mm between the material and the underside of the hearth, or there is a distance of at least 250 mm between the material and the top of the hearth. (Fig. 13)

Fireplace Installations

You may install your Dutchwest Convection Heater in an existing fireplace as a fireplace insert with no legs, or with the standard legs attached.

To install the heater without legs as a fireplace insert, the floor must be completely noncombustible, such as an unpainted concrete floor over earth.

Many fireplaces do not satisfy the “completely non- combustible” requirement because the brick or con- crete hearth in front of the fireplace opening usually is supported by heavy wooden framing as in Figure 13. Because heat passes readily through brick or concrete,

Dutchwest

	6“ (152 mm)
12”	22” (559 mm)			6“
		15”
(305 mm)		(381 mm)	(152 mm)

12” (305 mm)

Minimum Dimensions for Noncombustible Floor Protectors (Depth x Width)”

33” x 40” (838 x 1016 mm)

ST422

Fig. 12 Be sure to follow exactly the floor protection require- ments on all four sides of the stove.

Top surface of hearth

C

A

B

Combustible

material supporting

Combustible material (not sup- hearth porting edge of hearth) should

not be nearer than either (but not both) of distances A or B

A: At least 250 mm

B: Air space at least 50 mm

it can easily pass through to the wood. As a result, such fireplace hearths are considered a combustible floor. You may not install a heater on a combustible

C: At least 125 mm thick

Fig. 13 Hearth construction.

ST846

hearth without legs. Standard leg installations must include the bottom heat shield. The floor protector must also meet standard requirements for freestanding

installations.

Floor Protection for Fireplace

Installations with Standard Legs

Fireplace installations with the standard legs and the bottom heat shield must have a floor protector of the same construction as that specified for freestanding in- stallations: 1/4” non-asbestos mineral board or equiva- lent, or 24 gauge sheet metal (that may be covered with a decorative noncombustible material if you desire). The floor protector must extend at least 16” (406 mm) from the front of the stove and from the left (loading door) side, and at least 6” (152 mm) from the right side and rear. It must also provide protection beneath any

horizontal runs of the chimney connector, including 2” to either side.

Many raised hearths will extend less than the required distance from the front of the heater when it is installed. In such cases, sufficient floor protection, as described above, must be added to extend the hearth 16” (406 mm).

Hearth rugs do not satisfy the requirements for floor protection.

Fireplace insert installations also have specific clear- ance requirements to the side walls, side decorative trim, and fireplace mantel. This information is found in

“Fireplace Installation Clearances” in this section.

REMINDER- FIREPLACE INSERT INSTALLATIONS WITHOUT LEGS ARE PERMISSIBLE ONLY IF THE HEARTH IS COMPLETELY NONCOMBUSTIBLE, SUCH AS UNPAINTED CONCRETE OVER EARTH.

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