
How far should wood stove be from the wall?
HOW FAR SHOULD A WOOD STOVE BE FROM AN UNPROTECTED WALL OR COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL?The standard clearance for appliances installed in rooms which are large in comparison to the size of the appliance is 36 inches from the top, sizes, back or front of the appliance. Otherwise, install according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Can you put drywall behind a wood stove?
Drywall is a combustible material and should be removed from a wall behind a stove. This includes removing it from behind any wall shield used to protect the wall from the heat of the stove, as wall shields can still get as hot on the back of them as they do on the front. Wall protection ideas for wood stoves include:
How much clearance do you need for a wood burning stove?
Follow the 18-inch guideline if your stove should adhere to the 36-inch recommendation for wall clearance. You can reduce the clearance for the stovepipe to 12 inches if you are following the 18-inch wall clearance recommendation; and you can reduce it down to 9 inches if you are using the 12-inch wall clearance recommendation.
Can you put a fire protection behind a wood stove?
The NASD also states that using such protection behind a wood stove won’t allow you to provide reduced clearances from the stove to the wall. Sufficient distance to combustible material must still be provided.

How far away from the wall should a wood burning stove be?
36 inches1. Standards for clearances from walls and ceilings that are the basis for many local building codes state that all combustible materials, woodwork, unprotected walls, furniture, firewood, etc., should be no closer than 36 inches to a wood stove.
How close to wall can wood stove be with heat shield?
FAQs. Do I need a heat shield for my stove? The Fire Protection Association recommends that the common radiant-type stove must be spaced out by 900mm (36 inches) from a combustible wall.
What are the clearances for a wood stove?
All stoves require a minimum 36-inch clearance to unprotected combustibles above and on all sides of the stove. A single wall stovepipe must have a clearance to combustible walls and ceilings, measured at right angles to the pipe of at least 18 inches.
How close can stove be to wall?
There should be two inches of space between the back wall and a drop-in or slide-in (gas or electric) style range. A freestanding range (gas or electric) requires no space between it and the back wall. There should be at least twelve inches between any style range and the closest sidewall.
How do I fireproof a wall behind a wood stove?
A common way to help protect the wall behind a wood stove and create a backdrop for your stove includes using masonry veneer faux panels. Stone or brick is a common material to use behind a wood burning stove.
Is cement board a good heat shield?
Safe wood stove installations require a heat shield that will prevent heat from the wood stove from creating a fire hazard in the building materials that form the exterior wall. Hardi cement board is an inexpensive solution that will form the foundation of an effective heat shield for any application.
Do I need a heat shield behind a wood stove?
Wood stoves require heat shields both under and behind them to protect your home from heat damage. While many wood stoves include heat shields in their design, some do not. Refer to your wood stove to determine if external heat shields are necessary.
What is considered a non-combustible wall?
when exposed to fire or heat. Examples of non-combustible materials include steel, masonry, ceramics and certain insulating materials (such as fiberglass or mineral wool insulation). Gypsum wallboard is considered by the codes to be non-combustible although it does have a thick paper backing that is combustible.
How close can a wood stove be to cement board?
A combustible floor must be protected by a non-combustible material (like tile, concrete board, or certified to UL-1618 or as defined by local codes) extending beneath the heater and a minimum of 6" from each side and minimum 16" from the front face of the stove and minimum 6" (or the rear clearance to combustibles ...
Where should a wood burning stove be placed?
The ideal location for a wood stove is close to the center of the area to be heated. This gives the best heat distribution. Avoid locating it near an exterior wall as this increases the heat loss to the outside, and decreases the heat gained from the stove.
Should my stove be flush against the wall?
If you have an electric stove or range, there is no gas line to worry about. On the other hand, you still need to leave approximately two inches of space between the stove and the back wall. This is important for making sure the electric stove has room to vent itself appropriately.
How much space do you need around a stove?
A minimum of 12 inches of landing space on one side of the stove, and another 15 inches on the other side, are the required landing area widths. As this is hardly enough room to set a single pot or pan, this should be considered an absolute bare minimum, with greater widths highly recommended.
How close can a wood stove be to cement board?
A combustible floor must be protected by a non-combustible material (like tile, concrete board, or certified to UL-1618 or as defined by local codes) extending beneath the heater and a minimum of 6" from each side and minimum 16" from the front face of the stove and minimum 6" (or the rear clearance to combustibles ...
Do I need a heat shield behind wood stove?
Wood stoves require heat shields both under and behind them to protect your home from heat damage. While many wood stoves include heat shields in their design, some do not. Refer to your wood stove to determine if external heat shields are necessary.
What can be used as a heat shield for a wood stove?
The best wood burning stove heat shieldsVlaze Solid Colour Vitreous Enamel Wall Mounted Heat Shield.Vlaze Embossed Glaze Vitreous Enamel Wall Mounted Heat Shield.Vlaze Crackle Glaze Vitreous Enamel Wall Mounted Heat Shield.
How much clearance do you need for double wall stove pipe?
6"Most of the double wall stove pipe allows for 6" clearance from wall combustibles and 8" from ceiling combustibles. Using a "Heat Shield" on a single wall stovepipe allows you to reduce the clearances from 18" to 6" to the wall and 9" to the ceiling.
How far away from combustible materials should a stove be?
Building regulations dictate that your stove must be positioned three times the diameter of the uninsulated flue pipe away from combustible materials. So, if you have a 6-inch flue, that’s at least 450mm (18in) from combustible materials.
How close to a stove can you put a stove?
We’d recommend leaving at least a space of at least 80mm to allow air circulation.
How far away from a stove should a heat shield be?
You can reduce this to one-and-a-half-times the diameter away from non-combustible materials by using a heat shield. If your stove is being placed within 300mm of a wall, and will sit on a hearth that abuts a wall, then the wall must be non-combustible to at least 300mm above the appliance and 1.2m above the hearth.
What is a small woodburner?
A small woodburner takes up less space and is therefore less likely to encroach too close to surrounding materials. Take a look at some of the smallest woodburners available. Make sure you’ve considered all the possible costs associated with wood-burning stove installation.
How high should a gas stove be above a hearth?
As long as the surrounding materials are non-combustible to at least 300mm above the appliance and 1.2m above the hearth, then that’s fine.
Where to find stove distance?
This information can usually be found on the back of the appliance and in the stove manual.
What is a cassette stove?
These are designed to slot snugly into a recess and generally need much less space around them than traditional wood-burning stoves. A good example of this is the Arada Hamlet ...
How much less fuel does an EPA approved stove use?
EPA approved stoves burn 30% to 50% less fuel than this old monster. Less time and money spent working the woodpile.
What is the most important tool in the wood burning process and the largest variable?
The most important tool in the wood burning process and the largest variable is the one that is running the stove.
What is the purpose of ventilated airspace between the shield and the wall?
It's the ventilated airspace between the shield and the wall that buys you the vast majority of your clearance reduction. Build something that pleases you, but use the spacers, and don't slam the thing down against the floor...the whole idea is to allow airflow (natural convection) to carry the heat from the stove up and away. Rick
Can you replace a beastie with a stove?
Stove design has come a long way: you could easily replace this ugly old beastie with a much better -looking stove.
What is the benchmark temperature for a stove?
The benchmark temperature, which determines safe clearances, is typically 115 degrees F over the ambient room temperature. In other words, if the ambient room temperature is 70F, the benchmark wall temperature cannot exceed 185F. If temperatures exceed 185F, the stove must be located further away from the wall. That is why movable walls on tracks are used. If the temperatures exceed 185F, the walls are moved back until the temperatures recorded are less than 185F. In a nutshell, the stove is run through the complete test, the temperatures are recorded, and safe clearances are established.
How to measure a stove clearance?
If the listed clearance to a bare, unprotected wall is 36”, then you would measure in a straight line from the stove to the wall. The same goes for corner installations—-straight line to the wall. What part of the stove you begin your measurement depends on the brand stove. Some require that you measure from the top plate, some from the body of the stove. Check your owners guide for this information.
How deep should a fireplace mantel be?
Most stoves today have been tested specifically for a fireplace installation. The areas to focus are the mantel, top trim (under the mantel), and side trim. First, when it comes to this installation, check the specs. Review if theres a specific measurement of maximum mantel depth. Why? If the maximum depth is 10”, and your mantel is 13”, then the mantel could trap heat underneath. If the mantel traps heat, it will become hot itself and possibly overheat. The same goes for the top and side trim. If the depth exceeds the maximums quoted, you may need to shield those areas. Hopefully, that flexibility exists with your product.
How does a stove work?
As the stove operates, temperatures are tracked. The stove is fired as hot as possible using oven dried softwood strips which are stapled together to create a “firebrand” which burns much hotter and faster than cord wood.
What temperature is a stove movable?
That is why movable walls on tracks are used. If the temperatures exceed 185F, the walls are moved back until the temperatures recorded are less than 185F. In a nutshell, the stove is run through the complete test, the temperatures are recorded, and safe clearances are established.
What is a protected wall?
To many, a protected wall is one where a non-combustible shield is placed a minimum of 1” away from the wall, and allows air to flow unimpeded from the bottom to the top. Non-combustible spacers are used to attach the shield to the wall. The most commonly used spacers are made of ceramic, sold at most retail shops and hardware stores.
What is a shield on a stove?
The shield can be constructed of sheetmetal, copper, Durock, cement board with tile attached, or masonry such as brick. The true key is to allow air to flow. This keeps the house wall cool, as the shield is a barrier to heat. The airflow behind the shield keeps the backside of the shield and the wall cool. The size of the shield required will depend on the stove.
How thick should a stove be?
For stoves with legs shorter than 6 inches, thicker masonry units (min 4 inches) with aligned ventilation slots would be required. No stove with legs under 2 inches is allowed on a combustible floor, even with a shield, unless listed, labeled and instructed otherwise by the manufacturer.
What is the minimum combustible wall clearance?
See, e.g., NFPA 211 (2010): Table 12.6.2.1 Reduction of Appliance Clearance with Specified Forms of Protection. Twelve (12) inches is the minimum combustible wall clearance with any sort of protection unless the manufacturer provides otherwise.
How many inches of safety zone around heating equipment?
Watch out: Use whatever means necessary to create a 36-inch safety zone around any heating equipment that can get hot enough to burn a child.
Is drywall considered a combustible wall?
Note that drywall mounted on wood-framed walls is considered a "combustible wall" for clearance distance purposes. Note that some jurisdictions may require a greater distance between the wood or pellet stove and the ceiling. Clearance from the woodstove vertical flue to unprotected wall surface = 18".
How much wall clearance is needed for a ceiling?
However, these distances may be reduced by EITHER the amounts shown in the installation manual for a listed and labeled unit OR the larger distances required in the standard charts for percentage, but not less than 18 inches as wall clearance or 24 inches as ceiling clearance, depending upon materials used and spacing.
Is there a fireplace in a 1990s Lindal log home?
We have a 1990's Lindal log home with a heatilator fireplace installed. I believe this is a zero clearance fireplace with no actual masonry except for the faux rock surrounding it.
Can a mistake in a wood stove cause a fire?
Making a mistake can lead to a dangerous building fire. In some jurisdictions for certified woodstoves clearance distances permitted may be as follows:
How thick should a stove be?
Starting from the ground up, you will need to place your stove on a non-combustible hearth, be it stone or toughened glass, with a minimum thickness of 12mm. In terms of the distance between the stove’s external surfaces and surrounding walls, the minimum to the rear and sides is 150mm.
Can a freestanding stove be installed in a home?
Safety should be your first priority when installing any appliance in the home but none more so than with a wood burning or multi-fuel stove. Freestanding stoves can be installed almost anywhere in the home, but you will need to consider its proximity to other surfaces and objects in the room before going ahead. Building regulations stipulate strict minimum distances between a stove and its surroundings to reduce the risk of household fires and therefore protect property and its inhabitants. Each individual stove will come with pre-approved measurements that your fitter will refer to when recommending the right design for your home setting.
How thick should a fire heater be?
For heaters set on legs or pedestals that provide not less than 6 inches of ventilated space beneath the fire chamber or base of the appliance, use closely spaced solid masonry bricks or blocks not less than 2 inches thick. The top surface of the bricks should be covered with sheet metal not less than 24-gauge.
How much clearance is required for a wall protector?
For example, when required clearance with no protection is 36 inches, a 3 1/2-inch-thick masonry wall with ventilated air space used as a wall protector, reduces clearance by maximum of 66 percent, to 12 inches from the combustible wall.
How far from the top of the appliance is the standard clearance?
COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL?The standard clearance for appliances installed in rooms which are large in comparison to the size of the appliance is 36 inches from the top, sizes, back or front of the appliance. Otherwise, install according to the manufacturer's instructions. IS A MASONRY VENEER COVERED WALL CONSIDERED SAFE FOR REDUCED CLEARANCE?
Why is it important to have an insulated chimney?
It is important to have an insulated chimney, particularly with an airtight wood stove. Interior chimneys are preferable to exterior because they are warmer . Also, round liners are more efficient than rectangular ones. Appearance and price are other considerations.
How far should a floor protector extend?
The floor protection should extend not less than 18 inches beyond the appliance on all sides. A floor protector listed by a recognized testing laboratory such as UL may be used if installed in accordance with the installation instructions. HOW FAR SHOULD A WOOD STOVE BE FROM AN UNPROTECTED WALL OR.
How much clearance can you reduce with a heat shield?
For example, with sheet metal you can reduce the clearance by two-thirds, from 18 inches to 6 inches.
Can a UL listed stove be a heat shield?
Yes. If a UL-listed stove has a heat shield attached, the clearance can be reduced as specified. Or build a heat shield to be mounted 1 inch off the wall on non-combustible spacers. To reduce the standard clearance to 12 inches, the heat shield should be of 28-gauge sheet metal, mounted off the floor to provide unrestricted circulation of air between shield and wall (see Figure 1). WHAT SIZE HEAT SHIELD DO I NEED?
How close to wall can wood stove be with heat shield?
Do I need a heat shield for my stove? The Fire Protection Association recommends that the common radiant-type stove must be spaced out by 900mm (36 inches) from a combustible wall. Using a heat shield can reduce the space required to 95mm as stated by HETAS.
Can you put a wood burning stove against a wall?
Wood stoves are commonly placed up against a wall in home, and so what should be put behind a wood burning stove? Any materials placed behind a wood burning stove should be fire resistant and must meet offset distances in line with your local and/or national building regulations.
How far should a stove be from the wall?
There should be two inches of space between the back wall and a drop-in or slide-in (gas or electric) style range. A freestanding range (gas or electric) requires no space between it and the back wall. There should be at least twelve inches between any style range and the closest sidewall.
How much clearance do you need for a wood burning stove?
All stoves require a minimum 36-inch clearance to unprotected combustibles above and on all sides of the stove. A single wall stovepipe must have a clearance to combustible walls and ceilings, measured at right angles to the pipe of at least 18 inches.
How do you protect a wall from stove heat?
If your walls are combustible, you can install a shield on a wall to reduce the stove's clearance area. Like the floor pad, the shield should be made of a noncombustible material, such as sheet metal.
What is considered a non-combustible wall?
Examples of non-combustible materials include steel, masonry, ceramics and certain insulating materials (such as fiberglass or mineral wool insulation). Gypsum wallboard is considered by the codes to be non-combustible although it does have a thick paper backing that is combustible.
Can cement board be used as a heat shield?
Strong, durable and resistant to water damage, DUROCK® Next Gen Cement Board is ideal for use in partitions, walls, floors and ceilings in residential construction and can be used as a heat shield.
How far away from a wood stove should you cover?
The NASD explains that any area within 36 inches of the stove in all directions should be covered. The NASD also states that using such protection behind a wood stove won’t allow you to provide reduced clearances from the stove to the wall . Sufficient distance to combustible material must still be provided.
How to protect the wall behind a wood burning stove?
A common way to help protect the wall behind a wood stove and create a backdrop for your stove includes using masonry veneer faux panels. Stone or brick is a common material to use behind a wood burning stove. These panels help create more of a focal point for a room. Panels put behind a wood stove can help create a nice backdrop.
What To Put Behind A Wood Burning Stove?
Wood burning stoves are commonly installed within existing open fireplaces because, not only can a stove help to improve the heat output compared to open fires, but a chimney provides a suitable pathway for installation of a flue, and a suitably sized hearth fit for a stove is often provided.
How does a wood burning stove work?
Wood burning stoves work by using the metal body of the stove to absorb the heat from the fire inside and radiate that heat out into the room. As a result, sufficient distance must be provided to any nearby objects, and more clearance must be provided to combustible objects than non-combustible objects. Protection can come in form of decorative ...
Why do you need a heat shield on a stove?
A heat shield can be installed on the back of a stove to help reduce the distances between the stove and any combustible materials. Heat shields are typically specific to each stove and so must be bought as an optional extra when buying a stove, or can potentially be retrofitted at a later date.
What must be protected from the heat generated by a wood burning stove?
The wall behind a wood burning stove must be sufficiently protected from the heat generated by stoves.
What is a fireback on a stove?
Firebacks. A fireback is a cast iron object that can be placed behind a stove to help protect a wall. Firebacks are also very decorative features that can help to enhance the look of your stove. You can find the list of firebacks available here.
