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Wood burning Stoves - Essential
Information What size of hearth do I need for a Woodburning Stove? |
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Wood burning Stoves - Essential
Information What size of hearth do I need for a Woodburning Stove? |
| Is woodburning eco-friendly Is it safe to buy on the Internet Is my home suitable for a stove How big does the stove need to be Woodburning, Multi-fuel. What's the difference Which Fuel is best Can I burn coal I live in a smoke control area, what's defra? What is EN13240 & Does it affect me Where can I buy wood Which type of wood is best Cast Iron or Steel - Which is best Why should my chimney be lined What is "Airwash" What is "Cleanburn" What is HETAS and how does it affect me What size of flue do I need I have not got a chimney What clearances do I need around the stove Do I need a hearth Who should fit it, can I fit it myself Do I need to inform the Local Council |
Yes. A hearth is always required in
one form or another. If the stove is designed to work with the door(s) shut, the hearth should extend a minimum of 225mm in front of the stove and 150mm either side. We feel that 225mm is not enough, as there is a real risk of embers missing the hearth and landing on the floor when the door is opened. If the stove is designed to operate with the doors open, the clearance at the front is increased to 300mm which, again, we feel is insufficient. If the stove is in an inglenook, the 150mm dimension should be either side of the inglenook, not the stove. Thickness of the hearth is dependent on whether or not the stove is certificated as creating a hearth temperature no more than 100oC. With certification, the thickness needs to be only 12mm above a combustible floor. A non-combustible floor merely needs an area marked by eg. differend coloured tiles corresponding to the areas outlined above. Without certification, it is a little more complicated. A "superimposed hearth" of a minimum thickness of 50mm should be on top of a "constructional hearth" at least 125mm deep. The distance to the front of the constructional hearth depends on the position of the stove. A non-combustible floor requires just the 50mm superimposed hearth. This highlights the absurdity of some of the Building Regulations when 1oC difference changes the hearth thickness from 12mm to 175mm. |