TV niche/Fireplace vent/building codes?
If anyone can help with this, I would appreciate it. I’m thinking about building a niche above my fireplace for a plasma TV. The fireplace is gas only and puts out very little heat. A thermometer above the fireplace taped to the wall showed very little change maxing out at about 84 degrees. Our plan would be to not have the tv on when the fire is going just for peace of mind. Also, the tv will be on a pull out mount so it won’t be generating unescapable heat along the back of the TV in the niche.
So my one unanswered question so far would be about the vent tube. The fireplace is non-masonry with a metal vent in a wood framed chimney. If I build a niche into 6 or 8 inches of this space, is there a building code for how far that metal vent has to be away from the back of the niche?
Thanks for your help!
Mike
Replies
Most fireplace instructions include a clearance for framing, about 6 to 8 inches as I recall, though proably varies by brand. We also backed up framing with durarock. Install instructions should contain a clearance. Also, right above fire box most units have stand offs to prevent your from occupying space with framing. Stand offs varied by the size of each unit.
As grahammay said, you're better off looking at the installation instructions from the manufacturer. They will specify how far away the various parts need to be.
Our inspector requires everything be installed per installation instructions or if it's an older unit of unknown origion she uses the most strict guidelines known to mankind.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Mike
Here is a picture of a plasma built into a box above a gas fireplace.
The box is mounted 1 1/2" - 2" away from the chimney and the plasma is mounted on one of those articulating arms so that it can be turned in the event that the HO want to watch it from their formal dinning room.
The box that I built to house the tv is 10" deep, the shallowest that I could make it to both house the tv and have a face frame to frame the tv into the box.
For the most part the TV sets in the box and does not produce enough heat even when the fireplace is on.
I know the HO talked about installing one of those little fans like your computer tower has to dissipate the heat but it certainly wasn't dangerous heat.
If I remember right I could have had my tv box within 1" of the vent/chimney.
Check your manufacturer to see what the set back from the chimney is and adhere to those guidelines.
Doug