15
20300058
VSW30 Series Wood Stove
INSTALLATION
Figure 16 -
Installation on a Combustible Floor
E
E
D
C
D
D
ST1051
floor protection
A
B
ST1051
US
Canada
A. 41”
41” (1016 mm)
B. 45”
47” (1194 mm)
C. 16”
18” (457 mm)
D.
8”
8”
(203 mm)
E.
2”
2”
(51 mm
iv. r-factor is given with a required thickness (T) in
inches: R = r x T
2. Determine the R-value of the proposed alternate floor
protector:
i. Use the formula in Step 1 to convert values not ex-
pressed as R.
ii. For multiple layers, add R-values of each layer to
determine overall R-value.
3. If the overall R-value of the system is greater than the
R-value of the specified floor protector, the alternate is
acceptable.
EXAMPLE:
The specified floor protector should be 3/4-inch
thick material with k-factor of 0.84. The proposed alternate
is 4” brick with an r-factor of 0.2 over 1/8” mineral board
with a k-factor of 0.29
Step a: Use formula above to convert specification to R-
value:
Step b: Calculate R of proposed system.
4” brick of r = 0.2, therefore:
R
brick
= 0.2 x 4 = 0.8
1/8” mineral board of k = 0.29, therefore
R
mineralboard
= x 0.125 = 0.431
R
total
= R
brick
+ R
mineralboard
= 0.8 + 0.431 = 1.231
Step c: Compare proposed system Rtotal of 1.231 to
specified R of 1.19. Since proposed system Rtotal is
greater than required, the system is acceptable.
Definitions
r = =
(ft
2
)(hr)(°F)
(Btu)(in)
1
k
(Btu)(ft)
(ft
2
)(hr)(°F)
K =
k = = K x 12
(Btu)(in)
(ft
2
)(hr)(°F)
R = (ft
2
)(hr)(°F)
Btu
FLOOR PROTECTION FOR FIREPLACE IN-
STALLATIONS
Do not assume your fireplace hearth is completely non-
combustible.
Many fireplace hearths do not satisfy the “completely non-
combustible” requirement because the brick or concrete in
front of the fireplace opening is supported by heavy wood
framing as in
Figure 17
. Because heat passes through brick
or concrete readily, it can easily pass through to the wood.
As a result, such fireplace hearths can be a fire hazard and
are considered a combustible floor.
ST1098
floor install
Wood framing
requires protection
from radiant heat
ST1098
Figure 17 -
Supporting timbers under fireplace hearth
are considered to be combustible
Keep in mind that many raised hearths will extend less than
the required clearance from the front of the heater when
it is installed. In such cases, sufficient floor protection as
described above must be added in front of the hearth to
satisfy the minimum floor protector requirement from the
front of the stove: 18” (460 mm) from the front in Canada.
Fireplace hearths must also offer the required protection
of 8” (203 mm) on either side.
Optional 3” (76 mm) short legs may be used only on such
hearths that meet the width and depth requirements out-
lined previously under “floor protection.”
Hearth rugs do not satisfy the requirements for floor pro-
tection.
Fireplace installations also have special clearance require-
ments to the side walls, side decorative trim, and fireplace
mantle. Refer to the information on fireplace and mantel
trim shields in this section.
R = x T = x 0.5 = 0.59
1
k
1
0.84
1
0.29
f i r e - p a r t s . c o m
