Expert: James Ball - 8/18/2009

Question
I have recently purchased a Martin fireplace from a distributor in the Los Angeles, CA. area and have it installed in the framing stages of a remodel job.  I have been informed that LA Dept. Building and Safety must have OK'd the unit for installation by assigning a research release # that gives the unit an OK from the city for use here.  Since Martin Industries is gone.  Is there some other way to get the info that the city needs to give this unit and OK.  I noticed that the installation instructions noted that this unit had a Warnock-Hersey OK and a UL 127.  Does that help and where will I be able to get the information to proceed for an approval.  I really stuck here as this fireplace was the only one I found that was configured to allow a wide-screen TV/entertainment center to be (just barely) placed above the fireplace unit.  Any kind of help with this would be sincerely appreciated.  Thanks, Ken

Answer
Hello Ken, if the town requires it then you have to have it. the unit you bought sounds like a very old unit, I hope you have the pipe and all components that go with that system (you cant use different components from different systems. I am not a big fan of TV's over fireplaces as most run the wires in the chase and are to close to the pipe.
Ken check you local wood stove store for a new unit that you can have installed safely and move the TV.
James