Gas Fireplace Mantel Height Code

The national fire protection association the nfpa sets standards regarding placement of a mantel in relation to the fire box local building codes.

Gas fireplace mantel height code. The average height for a fireplace mantle varies by personal preference as well as locality. If you install the mantel before the brick or stone face is put on the fireplace the mantel can often be mounted to the stud wall first and the brick or stone can then be put on around the mantel. In addition the national fire protection association proposes codes relating the width of the mantel to its distance from the fireplace. The international code council sets standards that can offer a good blueprint but local government codes take precedence.

Icc digital codes is the largest provider of model codes custom codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe sustainable affordable and resilient structures. As a general rule they range between 50 and 60 inches but are a number of factors can influence the actual height ranging from the type of stove or fireplace you are installing to the material your mantle is created from plus national and local fire codes. The seattle residential code specifies that woodwork mantels and trim must be at least 6 inches away from a fireplace opening and regulates the size and placement of a mantel hung within 12. Mantel height is not an arbitrary decision.

Your fireplace may fit this dimension or it might be on the shorter or taller end of the spectrum when it comes to mantel height above fireplace. The proper height of a fireplace mantel depends on the height of the hearth the size of the fireplace s fire box and the requirements of the local building codes. 2114 3 masonry built fireplaces 4114 3 10 all combustible mantels and similar trim shall be kept at least 6 inches from the fireplace opening. The easiest way to do this is to first lag a piece of plywood measuring about 12 high and the length of the mantel to the backside of.

Again proper height is relatively subjective to your fireplace but average or standard fireplace mantel height construction is around 54 above the hearth s floor.