That little UL (Underwriters Laboratories) label on power cords and on the back or bottom of most electric powered devices means something. Why don’t I see it on wood burning stoves? I have heated with wood for almost 40 years and have researched this question.
Why are most wood burning stoves not UL listed? There are several standards that
There is, however, one standard that manufacturers are required to meet and some other standards that are in place for the safety of the general public. Let’s take a look at those standards and what they cover.
EPA Standards for Manufacturers
Wood burning stoves started selling in earnest in the mid-1980s. By 1988, the EPA started regulating the wood burning stove industry. Manufacturers were required to install equipment in the stoves to limit the amount of PM or Particulate Matter that stoves expel.
This caused two issues. First, stoves had to be engineered to meet the standard. Then, the stoves had to be tested to be certified that they have met the standard. This added additional equipment and labor to the construction of all new wood burning stoves. Both of these items also caused the price of stoves to increase.
There were two types of stoves developed to meet the standard. Catalytic and non-catalytic. The catalytic stove uses a catalytic device similar to a vehicle catalytic converter to re-burn the smoke and essentially burn up the excess PM.
The non-catalytic stove uses a baffle in the stove to pass the smoke over. Heated air is introduced above the baffle which causes the smoke to re-burn the excess PM before it exits the stove.
The EPA has continued to increase the standards lowering the amount of PM that is allowed to leave the stove and enter the atmosphere. The toughest standards will take e
The good news is that this engineering has produced more efficient wood burning stoves. They are able to burn hotter while burning up more material and at the same time send less polluting emissions into the atmosphere. It’s a more efficient process than a simple fire and a chimney!
The EPA standards must be achieved for a manufacturer to be allowed to sell a new stove in the United States. If a stove receives the EPA certification, it has been tested by an independent company and passes the requirement they have set.
UL Listing Standard
UL listing, on the other hand, is a voluntary set of standards when it comes to wood burning stoves. There are four standards that stoves and fireplaces fall under:
- UL 737 – Standard for Fireplace Stoves
- UL 127 – Standard for Factory Built Fireplaces
- UL 1492 – Standard for Solid Fuel Type Heaters
- UL 1777 – Standard for Chimney Liners
Each of these standards has some input when it comes to wood burning stoves and fireplaces. Each standard, as you can see by their name is unique in what it covers. But the UL standards are not a requirement when it comes to the construction or installation of wood burning stoves or fireplaces.
The UL listing label is well known when it comes to electric and electronic devices, but is still not a requirement for wood burning stoves in their construction or installation. Testing to these standards by an independent laboratory would also increase the cost to the consumer if it was required of all manufacturers.
NFPA Standard
The NFPA or National Fire Protection Association has one standard that directly applies to wood burning stoves. It is standard NFPA 211. This standard mostly deals with the installation of the stove and chimney in a home. The 68-page document is an excellent guide to safely installing a wood burning stove or fireplace and, more importantly, the chimney.
Since chimneys are generally the location of a fire in a wood burning stove system, the type, size, and quality of the install are critical. Following the NFPA 211 guidelines are also not mandatory. On the other hand, a professional installer should follow these guidelines for a safe installation.
Insurance Company Standards
What does an insurance company require if you are installing a wood burning stove? Typically an insurance company will require professional installation. That should mean the stove has been installed to NFPA 211 standards. What are the major requirements?
First that the stove is placed on a fireproof and heat resistant surface that extends in front of the stove to the required distance. A stove on a wood, carpet, or laminate floor does not meet the requirements. It must be brick or other fire resistant material.
Second, the walls behind or beside the stove must also be heat resistant, and the proper setbacks are observed. A wood stove
Third and most importantly, the chimney must be installed correctly. There are too many stipulations on chimneys to go into here, but the standards have been formulated for your safety. They should be followed, and corners should not be cut!
As I mentioned earlier, chimneys are the most likely location for a fire to happen in a wood stove system. The chimney must be installed with the proper distances from combustible surfaces and provide the correct draft to draw the smoke up and out of the firebox of the stove continually.
The insurance company will typically ask a list of questions regarding installation, the type of stove, chimney type. The answers and your documentation will determine your insurance premium with a wood burning stove in your home
Chimneys
Chimneys are the primary focus of NFPA-211 and are also listed as one of the UL standards (UL 1777). We should spend a few more moments on chimneys.
The smoke from a wood fire exits through the chimney. Deposits of PM and material called creosote can build up in the chimney.
If the chimney is not inspected and cleaned on a regular basis, this tar-like, flammable material can ignite and burn. A chimney fire can reach over 1000 degree F in just a few moments.
That is why chimneys are the most critical part of a wood burning stove or fireplace system.
Types of Chimneys
There are three types of chimneys: masonry, double wall, and triple wall. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Masonry chimneys are the oldest and in my opinion best-looking type of chimney. The brick or stone exterior gives a solid, permanent look to a home.
The disadvantage of a masonry chimney is the chimney flue or liner that the smoke needs to stay in. The flue or liner is made of hand-masonry or clay material. An intense fire in the chimney can damage this liner and should,
A double-wall chimney, on the other hand, is constructed of two stainless steel walls with high-temperature insulation in between. This type of chimney is designed to withstand 2300 degree F temperature, generally, less than the average chimney fire.
A triple-walled chimney has three walls of steel with air in between the walls to insulate the inner wall from the outside of the chimney. This chimney is rated for up to 2100 degree F.
Additional Questions
Do wood burning stoves increase insurance premiums? A
If your stove is installed by a professional and you have documentation of the installation and stove type, premiums will not increase.
Is a