Planning information, Vermont castings ewf36a, The ten foot rule – Vermont Casting EWF36 User Manual

Page 7: Mounting the fireplace, Planning the chimney run

Vermont Castings EWF36A

20005167

Planning Information

Determine how the chimney will be run, length of run
and chimney components required to complete the
job. (Fig. 4) Never install a chimney below minimum
heights.
In planning a chimney system, it is important to know:
1. The height of a chimney is measured from the hearth

to the exit point on the termination.

2. A chimney cannot be offset more than 30° from a

vertical plane.

3. A chimney may run straight up or it may be neces-

sary to offset it to avoid obstructions.

4. The maximum length of an angled run (total chimney

system) is 20 feet.

5. No more than 2 offsets (4 total 30° elbows in U.S./or

2 total 45° elbows in Canada) per ﬁreplace may be
used.

6. A guy wire stabilizer is required for chimneys extend-

ing more than 6’ (1.8m) above a roof line.

The Ten Foot Rule

Major U.S. building codes specify a minimum chimney
height above the roof top. The “Ten Foot Rule” is a ﬁre
safety rule and not a draft rule. To ensure proper draft,
it is recommended that you always meet or exceed the
“Ten Foot Rule,” especially when installing a termination
on a high pitch roof. (Fig. 5)
The key points of the “Ten Foot Rule” are:
1. If the horizontal distance from the chimney to the

peak of the roof is 10’ (3m) or less, the top of the
chimney must be at least 2’ (610mm) above the peak
of the roof, but never less than 3’ (914mm) in height
above the highest point where it passes through the
roof.

2. If a horizontal distance from the chimney to the peak

of the roof is more than 10’ (3m), a chimney height
reference point is established that is on the surface
of the roof a distance of 10’ (3m) from the chimney in
a horizontal plane. The top of the chimney must be
at least 2’ (610mm) above the reference point, but
never less than 3’ (914mm) in height above the high-
est point where it passes through the roof.

2' Min.

Min.

0 To 10'

Min.

0 To 10'

AC246

4/1/96

Reference

Point

AC246

Fig. 5 Ten Foot Rule illustration.

Planning an installation is very important to ensure
safety and to save time and money. An installer must
predetermine where a ﬁreplace will be set and how the
chimney system will be run.

NOTE: If installing the EWF36CFTK at a later date and
if the hearth is being raised in front of the ﬁrepalce, the
ﬁreplace must be raised to the same height.

Mounting the Fireplace

The ﬁreplace is shipped with lifting handles attached to
each side with lifting straps. NOTE: The lifting straps
are intended for ligting unit off of the skid and ﬁnal po-
sitioning. Unit should remain on skid until ﬁnal position-
ing. After ﬁreplace is in position, the lifting handle and
straps may be removed or left in place.
A ﬁreplace may only be mounted on the following sur-
faces:
1. A ﬂat combustible surface.
2. A raised wooden platform.
3. A concrete block or other solid object placed beneath

each of the four (4) corners of the ﬁreplace.

The ﬁreplace must be spaced 1” from a combustible
back wall and 1” from a combustible side wall or sup-
port. (Page 13, Fig. 17)

Planning the Chimney Run

TOTAL

LENGTH

(LT)

INSTALLED

LENGTH

(L1)

��

FP288A

MBUF-INSTALLED LENGTH

Triple wall

1/28/99 djt

TRIPLE

WALL

818

FP288a

Fig. 4 Installed lengths of chimney sections.