How Much Clearance is Needed for a Wood Stove From Concrete?

Solid Slabs and Masonry Walls

• Slabs on-grade and solid masonry walls have the least stringent clearance requirements. Most building codes allow low-lying wood stoves, such as stoves with legs shorter than 2-inches, to sit directly on a solid concrete floor slab without additional protection. The same unrestricted clearance applies to solid masonry walls. However, wood stove manufacturers recommend setting stoves several inches away from a wall to facilitate heat circulation and stove efficiency.

Special Provisions

• The minimal clearance requirements for slabs and concrete walls only apply to solid concrete surfaces. If you have wood or another combustible material attached to the front or rear of your concrete floor or wall, then you must install your stove according to the clearance requirements for the combustible surface covering. For example, if wooden siding covers the the concrete wall's exterior or paneling covers its interior surface, you must adjust your installation to meet the clearance requirements for the wall covering materials. Although second story slabs are rare in residential construction, the same principle would apply to an elevated concrete floor.

Area Requirements

• The concrete wall or floor must extend a minimum area around the wood stove to qualify for clearance exemptions. Codes commonly require that the noncombustible concrete floor extend at least 18-inches around the stove in every direction. For a wall, the concrete surface usually must extend 36 inches to either side and above the wood stove. If the room's floors and walls are entirely concrete, as is the case in many basements, you don't need to worry about area requirements. Note that if the ceiling above the concrete walls contains combustible materials, you need to follow clearance recommendations for stovepipe installation.

Model Specific Requirements

• There are several special installation circumstances among the vast variety of wood stoves. Before designing your stove's hearth or installing any appliances, read your stove manufacturer's installation guidelines. Even if you're installing your appliance on solid concrete, the stove manufacturer may recommend clearances to improve performance or protect stove components from damage.