Gas Fireplace Question

[teejk01]

Doug, I know all that, but it doesn't have anything to do with fire code, clearances, etc. The gas fireplace at our last house still had code requirements for non-combustable materials on the face around the fireplace for a certain distance from the opening. As far as fire code is concerned, it's still a "flame" inside the walls/framework of a home, and they don't really differentiate whether it's direct vent or not -- that's more about airflow and gasses.

If you look at the drawings for your fireplace at that link you gave, it has face clearance requirements just like any other gas or wood fireplace. I suspect if you look at building/fire code for your location, it's going to forbid openings into the wall framing within a certain radius of the fireplace (it's normally in the 5-10' range, but I don't know the exact numbers for your situation). There are similar requirements that prevent stoves and fireplaces from being located near HVAC ducting and other types of "chases" within a home. Anything that provides a possible path into the guts of the framing is not allowed.

Been awhile since I installed mine but as I recall the "clearances" all involved the unit and the interior framing that enclosed it (with one further caveat for any mantle). None of them amounted to much because the unit itself is totally enclosed and is insulated (not unlike your kitchen oven). I was thinking about trying to add vents on the chimney chase to recapture any heat going up and out and was told I could. Not so sure what I would gain though...double wall pipe with exhaust on the inner tube, intake air on the outer tube. I'm not so sure how hot that pipe gets and whether it would be worth it.

 

[s219]

There are internal clearances between the unit and the wall/chimney framing and external "face" clearances to combustable wall/flooring materials, mantels, etc. All of that varies depending on the type of unit.

For pre-fab units, gas or wood, the internal clearances are often a lot less restrictive than the face clearances. For instance, the fireplace surround in our new house is 2x4 framing with drywall over it, then metal lathe and stone veneer on the outer surface (room walls). There were lots of restrictions about distance from the fireplace opening face to flooring and wall materials, and the 16" above the opening was required to be a masonry material. But inside the wall, it was absolutely fine to have exposed 2x4 framing and the paper backside of the drywall within 6" of the fireplace box. As you note, they are heavily insulated and should not get warm enough to be a problem. The majority of the heat should stay inside the inner firebox or go into the home or up the chimney.

At our old house we had a nice gas fireplace that really belted out heat into the room. That was required to have 12" of masonry surround around the entire face (we used slate). It also had very minimal clearance requirements for the backside of the wall. That particular home had a TV cutout built into the wall above the fireplace (which we installed shelving into and used for books/etc), and I never noticed any heat in that area. At least for that fireplace, there didn't seem to be any heat going up into the cavity around the fireplace.

 

[ray66v]

My gas fireplace was installed during the original construction, before I bought the home, so I don't know everything they did.

The airspace you are referring to, leaks cold air into my house when the fireplace is not being used. Since I only use my fireplace on special occasions, I would not want to give that air an easier path inside.

The interior walls of the bump out were not originally insulated, just the exterior ones. That led to the interior walls being ice cold all winter.

I removed the exterior siding, and sheathing, and insulated the interior walls as best I could. And, I sealed up any places I found air coming in, in the winter.

The fireplace still causes a loss of heat in the winter, when it's windy.

 

[sailfast]

If it is direct vent there will not be much residual heat due to the nested design of the pipe.

 

[Dougryan]

Done!!! Did a corner mount portrait style unit and built a ledger stone front with a recycled pallet mantel.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Your installer should know the code rules "if" he provides a permitted and inspected installation. Some rural/country areas are lacking in enforcement and a lot of non-code compliant installations occur by marginal installers. BEWARE

Code issues are becoming easier for the novice to find in today's digital age and even small contractors have become more aware of the issues because of the complexities of continuing updates every 3 years.

SIDE ISSUE ON CODES:

Even when I know the codes involved in issues presented here on TBN I am reluctant to quote or provide copies of the code sections as there are many who are adamant that codes are a waste of time and money and produce a lot of negative comment on those type posts. Everyone to there own philosophies to preserve our freedom. "ALL" LIVES ARE IMPORTANT

I recently retired from being a construction quality control specialist and had a shelf and computer full of code, design, and compliance references. In QC we go way beyond what your normal city/county/state inspectors know and/or do. We find many code violations in construction design documents. That is why designers always always use the term "per local code requirements".

Ron