Uses for Clay Heating Thimbles

Reducing Heat

• Stove pipes throw off a great deal of heat, and if combustible materials exist nearby, like wood-framed walls or insulation, these materials can ignite. Clay thimbles help to reduce the risk of combustion.

Reducing Space Clearance Around the Pipe

• Ordinarily, it is not advisable to place a stove pipe through a surface other than a fire partition. However, if one must build through these surfaces, an 18-inch clearance of fire-proof material, such as brick or rock wool insulation, must be made around the stove pipe. If the builder places a burned fire-clay thimble around the stove pipe, however, then the clearance can be reduced to just 8 inches.

Making a Home Up to Code

• Homes with stove pipes passing through combustible surfaces do not meet the National Fire Protection Association's codes unless a thimble and the appropriate amount of space protects them.