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how to Determine if alternate Floor
protection Materials are acceptable
All floor protection must be noncombustible (i.e. metals,
brick, stone, mineral fiber boards, etc.). Any organic materi-
als (i.e. plastics, wood paper products, etc.) are combus-
tible and must not be used. The floor protection specified
includes some form of thermal designation such as R-value
(thermal resistance) or k-factor (thermal conductivity).
procedure:
1. Convert specifications to R-value:
i. R-value given - no conversion needed.
ii. k-factor is given with a required thickness (T) in
1
inches:
R = x T
k
iii. K-factor is given with a required thickness (T) in
1
inches:
R =
K x 12
iv. r-factor is given with a required thickness (T) in
inches: R = r x T
2. Determine the R-value of the proposed alternate floor
protector:
i. Use the formula in Step 1 to convert values not ex-
pressed as R.
ii. For multiple layers, add R-values of each layer to
determine overall R-value.
3. If the overall R-value of the system is greater than the
R-value of the specified floor protector, the alternate is
acceptable.
eXaMple: The specified floor protector should be 1/2-inch
thick material with k-factor of 0.84. The proposed alternate
is 4" brick with an r-factor of 0.2 over 1/8" mineral board
with a k-factor of 0.29
Step a: Use formula above to convert specification to R-
1
value:
R =
x T =
k
0.84
Step b: Calculate R of proposed system.
4" brick of r = 0.2, therefore:
R
= 0.2 x 4 = 0.8
brick
1/8" mineral board of k = 0.29, therefore
1
R
=
x 0.125 = 0.431
0.29
mineralboard
R
= R
+ R
total
brick
mineralboard
Step c: Compare proposed system Rtotal of 1.231 to
specified R of 0.59. Since proposed system Rtotal is
greater than required, the system is acceptable.
Definitions
(ft
)(hr)(°F)
2
R =
Btu
(Btu)(ft)
K =
(ft
)(hr)(°F)
2
30005220
Defiant
x T
1
x 0.5 = 0.59
= 0.8 + 0.431 = 1.231
(Btu)(in)
k =
= K x 12
(ft
)(hr)(°F)
2
(ft
)(hr)(°F)
2
r =
=
(Btu)(in)
FlexBurn
1975 Non-Catalytic / Catalytic Woodburning Stove
®
™
Floor protection for Fireplace installation
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. Because heat passes readily through
brick or concrete, it can easily pass through to the wood.
As a result, such fireplace hearths can be a fire hazard and
are considered a combustible floor.
For all fireplace installations, follow the floor protection
guidelines described above, including the need for a bottom
shield. Keep in mind that many raised hearths will extend
less than the required clearance from the front of the heater.
In such cases, sufficient floor protection as described
above must be added in front of the hearth to satisfy the
minimum floor protector requirement from the front of the
stove: 16" (410 mm) in the United States and 18" (460 mm)
in Canada. Hearth rugs do not satisfy the requirement for
floor protection as they are not fire proof.
Fireplace installations also have special clearance require-
ments to the side walls, side decorative trim and fireplace
mantel. Refer to the information on fireplace and mantel
trim shields in this section.
keep the Stove a Safe Distance
From Surrounding Materials
Both a stove and its chimney connector radiate heat in all
directions when operating, and nearby combustible materi-
als can overheat dangerously if they are too close to the
heat source. A safe installation requires that adequate
clearance be maintained between the hot stove and its
connector and nearby combustibles.
Clearance is the distance between either your stove or
chimney connector, and nearby walls, floors, the ceiling,
and any other fixed combustible surface. The Defiant has
specific clearance requirements that have been established
after careful research and testing. These clearance require-
ments must be strictly observed.
In addition, keep furnishings and other combustible ma-
terials away from the stove. In general, a distance of 48"
(1219 mm) must be maintained between the stove and
moveable combustible items such as drying clothes, furni-
ture, newspapers, firewood, etc. Keeping those clearance
areas empty assures that nearby surfaces and objects will
not overheat.
Safe ways to Reduce clearances
Clearance requirements are established to meet every
installation possibility, and they involve the combination
of these variables:
1
•
When the stove pipe has no listed heat shield mounted
k
on it.
•
When the wall has no heat shield mounted on it.
11
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