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Chimney & Fireplaces/K-23 9" x 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" Insulating Firebrick

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Expert: - 2/27/2008


Question
Randy, I am making a hearth for a Franklin Style Wood Stove.  I am making the hearth out of regular house brick.  I am coming up on the sides of the will as high as the stove or maybe a little higher.  If I use the brick above on the walls can I set the stove closer that 12" to the wall?  I was told 12" with regular brick.

Answer
Roy,

First off, a "Franklin style" stove is usually an unlisted stove. Unlisted means that there is no consumer product safety testing done that specifies clearances to combustibles. This being said, I would recommend getting a permit from the authority having jurisdiction to see if an unlisted and uncertified stove can be installed under any circumstances. Second the clearances provided by the National Fire protection Association, NFPA-211 standard require an unlisted unit to be placed a minimum of 36" inches away from an unprotected wall. You can reduce that by 24" inches, down to 12" inches by including a one inch ventilated air space between your standard red brick. You can get no closer than that. Good Luck.

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Randy Brooks

Expertise

Inspection of Masonry, Pre-cast Tilt-up, and Factory Built Fireplaces as well as Free Standing & Insert, Gas, and Wood Appliances. We also provide Hearth Fire Loss Investigations, Litigation Support, Consulting Services, Flue Sweeping, Installation and Repair. Additionally, I’ve been a chimney sweep for 23 years, service and install hearth appliances as well as being recognized by the Superior Court of California as an expert witness.

Experience

Brooks Chimney Sweeping Since 1989 Ojai, CA Owner / President www.brooks-hearth.com

Organizations
NCSG, MEMBER,(National Chimney Sweep Guild), Member since 1990, Board of Directors representing Region 6, (CA, NV, AZ, UT, OR, WA, ID, WY, MT, AK and HI,) 2004-2011, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. CSIA, BOD (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Board of Directors, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Secretary, 2005-2006, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. HPBA, MEMBER, (Hearth, Patio, & BBQ Association,) since 2002. NFPA Member, (National Fire Protection Association) Since 2009. Technical Committee member for the 211 Standard.

Education/Credentials
California State Licensed Contractor, C61-D34, #750710. http://www2.cslb.ca.gov C.S.I.A., (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Certified Chimney Sweep, #2580. Held since 1990 re-certified in ‘93, ‘96, ‘99, ‘02, ‘05, '08,'11. http://www.csia.org F.I.R.E. (Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Certified Inspector, #FP-006. Held since 2000, re-certified in ’03, ‘06. http://www.f-i-r-e-service.com Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Advance Expert Consulting & Witness, certificate, ’05 N.F.I. (National Fireplace Institute,) Certified Gas & Wood-Burning Specialist, #133851. Held since 2002, re-certified in '05,‘08. http://nficertified.org

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