Clearances: Protecting Surrounding Materials

Adequate clearances are one of the two most important safety features of any wood stove installation. (The other is proper materials.) A properly installed and maintained wood stove can be one of the safest appliances in your home. But cheating on clearances can create a very dangerous situation.

Clearance Requirements

Without Shielding

• 18” from back of stove to combustibles
• 16” from sides of stove to combustibles
• 18” from single wall pipe to combustibles

With Air-Cooled Heat Shield

• 6” from back of stove to combustibles
• 5.33” from sides of stove to combustibles
• 6” from single wall pipe to combustibles
• Read about building an air-cooled heat shield

With Air-Cooled Heat Shield Attached to Stove/Pipe

• 9” from back of stove to combustibles
• 8” from sides of stove to combustibles
• 9” from single wall pipe to combustibles
• Read about building an attached heat shield

With Insulated Heat Shield

• 9” from back of stove to combustibles
• 8” from sides of stove to combustibles
• 9” from single wall pipe to combustibles
• Read about building an insulated heat shield

With Masonry Heat Shield

• 12” from back of stove to combustibles
• 10.66” from sides of stove to combustibles
• 12” from single wall pipe to combustibles
• Read about building a masonry heat shield

With Tile or Metal Attached to the Wall

• 18” from back of stove to combusitbles
• 16” from sides of stove to combustibles
• 18” from single wall pipe to combustibles
• No clearance reduction! Learn why.