Many homes in the United States use wood stoves as a primary and secondary source of heat. It

is important that such items and associated flues and chimneys operate properly and are well

maintained, as they may pose a fire hazard. Wood stoves are very popular in rural areas. The

following information details the issues surrounding woodstoves, and provides some helpful tips

that you may wish to consider and apply in your own home.

The single largest concern with a wood stove is its clearance to combustibles. Many stoves are

often installed by the homeowner or unqualified people who violate the required clearances.

Manufacturer’s specifications should be obtained in order to verify that the clearances are indeed

accurate and comply with regulations. A common mistake that installers make is they assume

that if a fireproof material is installed between the wood stove and combustible materials, they

are safe. What they fail to realize is that heat will conduct through ceramic tile, asbestos boards,

metal or other materials that are fireproof. Generally, clearance should be at least 3 times the

pipe diameter (i.e. 6” diameter pipe requires 18” clearance). Clearance also depends on the

quality of wall protection.

Wood stoves are very hazardous to young children for obvious reasons. Consider installing a

screening or children’s fence at or around the stove to protect small children.

Hearths for wood stoves must be the same as they are on fireplaces. (See masonry fireplaces.)

• Sharing a flue with a fireplace of another device

• Improper clearance to combustibles

• Routing a stovepipe through an interior wall without proper clearance to combustibles

• Unsupported stovepipes

• Sags in stovepipes

For more information, please visit the NFPA’s website at www.NFPA.org or contact the AMERIND

Safety Services Team at 800.352.3496 and visit www.amerindrisk.org/Safety.aspx.