PROTECTING SURROUNDING
WALLS, FLOORS & CEILING
How do I prepare my floors for protection and safety?
Protect combustible floors from radiant stove heat, flying sparks, and hot ashes by extending the material used to protect the floor. Non-combustible materials commonly used to improve the appearance of the installation, such as stone, tile, brick or marble chips can be place over the basic NFPA recommended materials.
| Recommended Floor Protection |
| Distance between Floor and Base of Stove |
Recommended Protection |
| Stove has less than 2 inches of open space beneath the fire chamber or base. |
May not be placed on floors of combustible construction. |
| Stove has 2 to 6 inches of open space beneath the tire chamber or base. |
Protect combustible floors with 4 inches of hollow masonry block, laid with ends unsealed and joints matched to allow air circulation. The masonry must extend 18 inches on all sides of the unit and be covered with 24-gauge sheet metal. |
| Stove has legs that provide over 6 inches of open space beneath the fire chamber or base. |
Protect combustible floors with 2 inches thick closely spaced brick, concrete or stone. The masonry must extend 18 inches on all sides of the appliance and be covered by 24-gauge sheet metal. |
| Adapted from the American National Standard ANSI/NFPA 2 1 1, Feb. 1984 |
How do I prepare my walls and ceilings for protection and safety?
The 36" clearance between the stove and combustibles can be reduced considerably if the walls and ceilings are protected with mineral fiber, masonry, or 24 gauge sheet metal spaced out 1 inch from the combustible wall. The space allows air to circulate behind the panel to cool the wall. The spacers must be made of non-combustible material, such as a stack of washers, small diameter pipe, electrical conduit or tubing. Ceramic fence insulators, stacked washers, or a small-diameter pipe will work well, but don't use copper or aluminum because it will conduct too much heat. Click here for a chart of the National Fire Protection Association's suggestions for wall protection.
Nail or screw the panel to the wall studs through the hole in the center of the spacer. Use a screw and spacer every 16 inches horizontally and vertically, but do not use any directly behind the stove or connector. Mount the panel 2 inches off the floor, leaving the top and bottom edges open to allow for air circulation.
| Recommended Wall and Ceiling Protections & Clearances |
| Protection Materials |
Recommended Clearance
from Walls |
Recommended Clearance
from Ceiling |
| None |
36 inch |
36 inch |
| 3 1/2 inch thick Masonry (brick) wall without ventilated air space |
24 inch |
Does not Apply |
| 1/2 inch thick non-combustible insulationboard over 1" mineral wool batts, without ventilated air space |
18 inch |
24 inch |
| 24-gauge sheet metal with or without insulated backing and with ventilated air space |
12 inch |
18 inch |
| 3 1/2 inch thick masonry (brick) wall with ventilated air space |
12 inch |
Does not Apply |
| 1/2 inch thick non-combustible insulation board with ventilated air space |
12 inch |
18 inch |
| Adapted from the American National Standard ANSI/NFPA 2 1 1, Feb. 1984 |