VSW20 Wood Stove
14
20300059
INSTAllATION
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
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 11
. 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.
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.
ST1098
floor install
Wood framing
requires protection
from radiant heat
ST1098
Figure 11 -
Supporting timbers under fireplace hearth
are considered to be combustible
kEEp ThE STOVE ANd CONNECTOR A
SAFE dISTANCE FROM SuRROuNdINg MA-
TERIAlS
Both a stove and its chimney connector radiate heat in all
directions when operating, and dangerous overheating
of nearby combustible materials can occur if they are too
close to the heat. A safe installation requires that adequate
clearance be maintained between the hot stove and its
connector and nearby combustibles.
Clearance is the distance between either your stove
(measured from the back edge of the stove’s top plate) or
chimney connector, and nearby walls, floors, the ceiling,
and any other fixed combustible surface. Your stove has
special clearance requirements that have been established
after careful research and testing to UL and ULC standards.
These clearance requirements must be strictly observed.
In addition, furnishings and other combustible materials
must be kept away from the stove as well. In general, a
distance of 48” (1220 mm) must be maintained between
the stove and moveable combustible items such as dry-
ing clothes, furniture, newspapers, firewood, etc. Keeping
those clearance areas empty assures that nearby surfaces
and objects will not overheat.
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
