Safety setbacks of sauna heater to combustible materials, such as wood sauna
walls, wood benches, etc...
Follow these minimum safety distances outlined below, and recommendations from your local
fire and safety authorities.
4
1. The minimum distances between the sauna heater and
any vertical combustible material such as the sauna wood
walls and benches which are unprotected should be a
minimum of 20 inches. (DIA 1)
2. The safety distances mentioned in item 1 can be decreased
to a minimum of 10 inches if a single shield protection is used.
This type of single shield protection can be made from using
a 1/4 inch thick non-combustible cement board reinforced with
fibre, or by attaching a 1 millimeter thick metal shield to the wall.
A minimum of 1-1/4 inch air gap must be left between the protective
metal shield and the wooden wall surface to be protected.
Pipe cuplings or bushings can be used as intermediate spacers/
supports for fastening. (DIA 2)
3. Safety distances stated in item 1. may be further decreased up to
a minimum of 5 inches provided that a double layer of protection is
used. The double layer of protection may be fabricated using two
shields described in item 2., in addition to an additional air gap of
1-1/4 inch is provided between each plate and the wood sauna wall.
(DIA 3)
4. The distance between the top of the heater and the wood
non protected ceiling finish should have a minimum distance
of 48 inches. With this distance, no protection is required for
the ceiling. If a single shield is added as in item 2., then the
distance from the top of the heater to the ceiling can be a
minimum of 36 inches. (DIA 4)
1-1/4 inch air gap
1 mm (0.40") meta shield or 1-1/4 inch
non-combustible cement board reinforced
with fiber.
anchor screw and pipe spacer
anchor screw and pipe spacer
1 mm (0.040") metal shield or 1-1/4 inch
non-combustible cement board reinforced
with fiber.
1-1/4 inch air gap
DIA 1
DIA 2
DIA 3
DIA 4
Non-protected ceiling - 48 inches clearance
Protected ceiling with single metal shield
panel with 1-1/4 inch air gap - 36 inches
clearance
wall
wall
wall
wall
ceiling
wall
wall
wall
stove
stove
stove
stove