Construct The Chase; Chimney Requirements - Heatilator EL36 Series Owner's Manual

E. Construct the Chase
A chase is a vertical boxlike structure built to enclose the fi re-
place and/or its vent system. Vertical chimneys that run on
the outside of a building must be installed inside a chase.
Construction of the chase may vary with the type of build-
ing. These instructions are not substitutes for the require-
ments of local building codes. Local building codes MUST
be checked.
Chases should be constructed in the manner of all outside
walls of the home to prevent cold air drafting problems. The
chase should not break the outside building envelope in any
manner. All outer walls need to be insulated.
Building codes require false ceiling and ceiling fi restops at
each fl oor of the chase or every 10 ft (3.05 m) of clear space
to control spread of fi re.
Walls, ceiling, base plate and cantilever fl oor at the fi rst level
of the chase should be insulated. See Figure 3.5. Vapor and
air infi ltration barriers should be installed in the chase as per
regional codes for the rest of the home. Additionally, Hearth
& Home Technologies recommends that the inside surfac-
es be sheet rocked and taped (or the use of an equivalent
method) for maximum air tightness.
Round Termination Cap
Metal Chase Top
Ceiling
Firestop
False Ceiling
Attic
Insulation
Tabs
Shield
Ceiling
Firestop
Insulation Insulation
False Ceiling
False Ceiling
Chimney
Figure 3.5 Chase Assembly
12
Insulation in the
outside walls
of the chase
Heatilator • EL36/EL42 • 4044-132 Rev P • 02/07
Gas line holes and other openings should be caulked with
high temperature caulk or stuffed with unfaced fi berglass in-
sulation. If the fi replace is being installed on a cement slab,
we recommend that in cold climates, a sheet of plywood or
other raised platform be placed underneath to prevent con-
ducting cold up into the room.
Three examples of chase applications are shown in Fig-
ure 3.6.
1. Fireplace and chimney enclosed in an exterior chase.
2. Chimney offset through exterior wall and enclosed in
chase.
3. Chase constructed on roof.
All outside walls should be insulated.
1
Figure 3.6 Chase Constructions
F. Chimney Requirements
When planning your fi replace location, the chimney construc-
tion and necessary clearances must be considered. The fi re-
place system and chimney components have been tested to
provide fl exibility in construction. The following fi gures are
the minimum distances from the base of the fi replace.
• Minimum overall straight height
• Minimum height with offset/return
• Maximum height
• Maximum chimney length between an offset
and return
• Maximum distance between chimney stabiliz-
ers
• Double offset/return minimum height
• Maximum unsupported chimney length be-
tween the offset and return
• Maximum unsupported chimney height above
the fi replace
• Maximum unsupported chimney above roof
Note: A maximum of two pairs of offsets and returns may
be used.
2
13 (3.96 m)
14.5 ft (4.42 m)
90 ft (27.43 m)
20 ft (6.1 m)
35 ft (10.67 m)
20 ft (6.1 m)
6 ft (1.83 m)
35 ft (10.67 m)
6 ft (1.83 m)
3