Zero clearance box for freestanding wood heater?

suevi

Hello

I am remodelling a kitchen/dining and am interested in adding in a small wood heater but the place I would like to add it is tight on space. I was wondering if it's possible to "place" a freestanding wood heater into something like a zero clearance box without having to build it in? I would like to have a bench seat near to the heater (like the attached photo) but on a smaller scale. The problem is that I either see heaters which are built in (and placed in a zero clearance box inside a constructed pretend mantle) or they are freestanding and have to have lots of room around them. I wouldn't be doing the work myself.

Cheers Suevi

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @suevi. It's brilliant to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about installing heaters.

A zero-clearance box allows you to have combustible material closer to the heater. Typically they are designed to be hidden within a wall, so they aren't exactly aesthetically appealing. I'd need to know more about this tight space you're working with and potentially speak to the heater manufacturers. Clearance zones are for walls and combustible materials. So, if your bench seat was made of non-combustible materials, then it could be potentially allowable. Having a brief look at heater manufacturers online, plenty appear to have aesthetical items in their promotional images within the clearance zones. 

I'd suggest that it would be best to enquire with your licensed heater installer as to what they are happy with. They're the ones that need to sign off on the installation and decide whether your seating would comply.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell