| How
easy is this, I could recite the code word for word when it
comes to installing a gas range, or so I thought. The
standard installation for household cooking appliances is 30”
to combustibles, or 24” when the underside is protected, a
ventilation hood is installed, or a upper cooking appliance
is installed according to the upper appliances clearance.
Regulations for household cooking appliances can be found in
N.F.P.A. 54, Chapter, 9. For the most part these regulations
are written for a standard gas range, the kind you would
find in the average persons home. In fact in the hand book
there is a photo of a range, the identical range I have in
my kitchen. However the standard stove has become less and
less popular. Who wants to be average anyway? Many
homeowners are opting for so called high end
appliances.
Many of these appliances
look like commercial products. They are big and heavy. Many
are made of expensive stainless steel and have multiple
burners. All of these stoves have their own clearances to
combustibles - clearly written in the manufacturers’
instructions. For example, for a 60” Wolf range the
minimum vertical clearance between the gas range and
combustible materials above the range is 44”. For a
Thermador range the distance to the bottom of the hood is 30”,
and 40” to an unprotected cabinet. For a Bosch range the
maximum that an overhead cabinet may protrude over the range
is 13” with or without a hood. And most of these products
require a hood above the range vented to the outside; this
is not a code requirement. One important note: the equipment
must be rated for residential use, if installed in a
residence. This also will be clearly stated in the
instructions.
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The important thing to remember is that the manufacturers’
installation instructions most always supersede the code.
Quote, “The readers attention is directed particularly to
the following subsection 9.1.1, listed gas utilization
equipment shall be installed in accordance with their
listing and the manufactures instructions. This statement
applies to all of Chapter 9. The chapter contains
requirements that apply to the range of appliances
manufactured. Listing of the appliance allows instruction
specific to the appliance tested to be included in the
manufactures installation instructions and may supersede the
specific requirements of Chapter 9”. This is true for all
gas equipment. So this is what happens when you become
complacent. Perhaps after all these years I am starting to
lose my edge, or maybe not.
I’m just glad I have
people around to jump start me back to form. In this case I
have Bill Kinsman, Plumbing Inspector from The Town of
Needham to thank. Bill is one of the most knowledgeable
inspectors I know. Why? Because he is a good reader. I have
learned that many people miss the point simply by not
reading the entire section of the code they are researching.
Some would read the first couple of lines and think they
have the answer, but miss much of the most important
parts.
I have been sharing
information with other inspectors from the beginning - 20
years ago.
I can safely say it is the most important resource any
inspector can have. And
like Bill, inspectors must also be good listeners, and never
be afraid to admit they missed something, or were wrong.?
For questions, comments, and past articles, please visit,
www.plumbingcodearticles. com.
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