9
Clearances
The Importance of Clearances
Warning to the structural engineer and/or building contractor:
It is your responsibility to be certain that the Grand Meridian
Fireplace can be properly supported by the combustible floor
system on which the fireplace will rest. Be advised that this
engineering equation will be in addition to any live or dead
weights that the floor has to carry.
Clearances to Combustibles
Nothing is more important than paying strict attention to
giving clearance between fireplace surfaces and surrounding
“combustibles” the most common of which are:
Drywall
•
Wood flooring
•
Plywood sub-flooring
•
Framing materials
•
Particle board
•
Mill board
•
Plywood paneling
•
Required Clearances are:
Unit front, sides, rear: ..........................................0"
Combustible Floor: .............................................0"
Combustible Sheathing above opening top: .......8" (200 mm)
Sheathing or trim to opening sides: ....................8" (200 mm)
Mantle above opening: .......................................12" (300 mm)
Opening to sidewall: ...........................................24" (500 mm)
Insulation from firebox: .......................................0"
The Grand Meridian Vent-Free fireplace may be installed
at “zero clearance” to plywood sheathing and to uninsulated
wood framing members at the unit bottom, sides, rear and top
when used for enclosing any listed vent-free gas-fired log set
with maximum heat input ratings up to 40,000 Btu/hr. However,
when a Vent-Free fireplace is to be installed on carpeting, wood
flooring, or any combustible material other than tile or concrete
,
the Vent-Free fireplace shall then be installed on a metal or
wood platform extending the full width and depth of the Vent-
Free fireplace.
Clearance to Combustible Trim:
Grand Meridian Vent-Free Fireplaces are designed to be
custom finished with facing trim and mantle to be an owner
option. However, all such trim material must meet standard
fireplace code requirements.
Non-combustible facing material must be applied to a
minimum of eight inches (8”) beyond the sides of the finished
opening of the Vent-Free fireplace and non-combustible facing
material must cover a minimum of twelve inches (12”) above
the finished opening of the installed unit.
Figure 11
1-1/2”
8” MIN
NON-
COMBUSTIBLE
FACIA
Figure 12
1-1/2”
12” MIN
NON-COMBUSTIBLE
FACIA
Clearance to combustible trim are those distances required
to ensure that combustible mantle and facing material will not
be exposed to excessive heat while the unit is operating.
These clearances should be adequate to prevent
discoloration or warping of trim facings due to heat. However,
circumstances unique to each installation create variables that
may be beyond the scope of this manual. Therefore be sure
to follow gas log appliance manufacturer’s explicit installation
instructions regarding all minimum trim facing, mantle height
and side wall clearance requirements.
Figure 13
Parts of the combustible mantle assembly located above
and projecting more than one and one-half inches (1-1/2”)
inches from the firebox opening shall be kept at least twelve
inches (12”) from the top of the opening.
Mantle shelves with horizontal projection of ten inches (10”)
from the face of the fireplace must be hel
d to a minimum vertical
distance of twenty inches (20”) from the top of the finished
fireplace opening.
Note
:
Mantle height clearances may vary among gas log
appliance manufacturers or with the use of firebox canopies.
Be sure to follow the gas log appliance manufacturer’s
explicit installation instructions for mantle height clearance
requirements.
