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PART B - INSTALLATION
6 Pre-Installation Masonry fireplace requirements
The masonry fireplace must meet the minimum requirements found in the building code enforced
locally, or the equivalent for a safe installation. Contact your local Building Inspector for
requirements in your area. An inspection of the fireplace should include the following:
1. CONDITION OF THE FIREPLACE AND CHIMNEY:
The masonry fireplace and chimney should be inspected prior to installation, to determine that
they are free from cracks, loose mortar, creosote deposits, blockage, or other signs of
deterioration.
If evidence of deterioration is noted, the fireplace or chimney should be
upgraded and/or cleaned prior to installation.
Masonry or steel, including the damper plate, may be removed from the smoke shelf and
adjacent damper frame if necessary to accommodate the insert's chimney liner, provided that
their removal will not weaken the structure of the fireplace and chimney, and will not reduce
protection for combustible materials to less than that required by the building code.
2. INSTALLATION INTO AN EXISTING FACTORY-BUILT ZERO-CLEARANCE FIREPLACE:
It is possible to install a wood insert into an existing factory-built zero-clearance fireplace.
However, there currently exists no UL or ULC standard specific to that type of installation. The
factory-built zero clearance fireplace must be listed; that is, safety certified by an accredited
certification agency. It must be suitable for use with solid fuel and nothing in the owner's
manual must specifically prohibit the installation of a fireplace insert. When in doubt, check with
the fireplace manufacturer.
thoroughly inspected by a qualified person to ensure that it still meets the manufacturer's
specifications. The chimney must be at least 1" (25 mm) larger in diameter than the stainless
steel liner that will run from the insert flue collar to the top of the chimney termination.
Never remove parts intended to insulate the zero-clearance fireplace from combustible
material. Only readily detachable parts that are easily replaced, such as damper parts, screens,
and doors, are to be removed from the fireplace. These parts should be stored and available
for reinstallation if the insert is ever removed. Removal of any parts which render the fireplace
unfit for use with solid fuel requires the fireplace to be permanently labeled by the installer as
being no longer suitable for solid fuel until the removed parts are replaced and the fireplace is
restored to its original certified condition. Also, any air vents, grilles, or louvers that allow air
circulation around the fireplace must not be removed or blocked.
3. CHIMNEY CAPS:
Mesh type chimney caps must have provision for regular cleaning, or the mesh should be
removed to eliminate the potential of plugging.
Installation and Operation Manual
Solution 1.8 Insert
The installation of the zero-clearance fireplace MUST be
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