Vermont Castings 1655, 1656, 1657, 1658, 1659 Installation And Operating Manual page 9

To meet these requirements, a floor protector must
be at least 54" (1372mm) wide ("A",Fig. 12) and 52"
(1320mm) deep ("B", Fig. 12).
Fireplace Hearth Protection
Do not assume that your fireplace hearth is completely
noncombustible. Many fireplace hearths do not satisfy
the "completely noncombustible" requirement because
the brick or concrete in front of the fireplace opening is
supported by heavy wood framing. (Fig. 13) Because
heat is readily conducted by brick or concrete, it can
easily pass through to the wood. As a result, such
fireplace hearths can be a fire hazard and are consid-
ered a combustible floor.
For all fireplace installations, follow the floor
protection guidelines described above.
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 protec-
tor requirement from the front of the stove: 18" (460
mm) from the front in the United States and 18" (460
mm) from the front in Canada.
Hearth rugs do not satisfy the requirements for
floor protection as they are only fire-retardant, not fire
proof.
Floor Protection Requirements
Top Vent
C
E
C
D
A
U. S.
A: 48"
B: 48"
C: 4"
D: 18"
E: 16"
F: 10"
Fig. 12 These dimensions are minimum requirements only.
Use greater dimensions whenever possible.
Rear Vent
F
C
B
E C
D
A
Canada
54" (1372mm)
52" (1321mm)
8" (203mm)
18" (460mm)
18" (460mm)
10" (254mm)
ST500a
Vermont Castings Madison
Wood framing
requires protection
from radiant heat
Fig. 13 Supporting timbers under fireplace hearths are
considered to be combustible.
Clearance to Surrounding
Combustible Materials
When the stove is operating, both the stoveplate and
the chimney connector radiate heat in all directions. A
safe installation requires that adequate clearance be
maintained between the stove and nearby combustible
materials to ensure that those materials do not
overheat.
Clearance is the distance between either your
stove or chimney connector, and nearby walls, floors,
the ceiling, and any other fixed combustible surface.
Keep furnishings and other combustible materials
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 drying
clothes, furniture, newspapers, firewood, etc. Keep
this area empty of any combustible material.
Safe Ways To Reduce Clearances
The Madison clearance requirements, listed and
diagramed on pages 12-13, have been established
through testing to UL and ULC standards to meet most
installation configurations. These involve four basic
variables:
• When neither the chimney connector nor the wall
has a heat shield installed.
• When only the chimney connector has a heat
shield installed.
• When only the wall has a heat shield mounted on it.
• When a heat shield is installed on both the
chimney connector and wall.
In general, the greatest clearance is required when
the stove will be positioned with no heat shield near a
wall with no heat shield. The least clearance is re-
quired when both the stove and the wall have heat
shields. Reducing a stove clearance may require
installation of a listed heat shield on the chimney
connector as well.
Clearances may be reduced only by means
approved by the regulatory authority, or in accordance
with the clearances listed in this manual.
ST247a
9