Tech Talk – CLEARANCES: Safety First

Introduction:

As Always HPC Fire Inspired has your back, creating safe functional designs that deliver every time. HPC puts safety at the forefront, developing features that create layers of protection. One of the most important safety features are proper clearances. HPC has developed clearances for every fire design from a match lit to electronic ignition. To ensure that HPC creates product lines safe for our users, we take special care in developing clearances as well as installation protocols. All HPC clearances, protocols and fire designs receive a continuous review by CSA and have received CSA stamp of approval. HPC also provides product installation instructions and guidelines clearly laying out the step-by-step process. These tools can be located on HPC’s website through our online Learning Center. In addition, HPC’s Tech team is ready and available to provide their expertise. This Tech Talk is dedicated to the explanation of the developed safety clearances as well as the importance of proper installation.

Purposes of Clearances:

HPC’s safety clearances have been developed to ensure that our fire features are installed and utilized properly. Proper spacing from combustible materials is imperative. Several factors are taken into account such as the space from the burner to the edges as well as anything that is overhead. HPC refers to these as horizontal and overhead clearances. Horizontal clearances refer to the safe distance required from the edge of the burner pan to any combustible. Overhead clearances refer to the safe distance from the top of the fire pit burner to the enclosure ceiling. HPC also developed a recommendation for the valve box to have a minimum of 2-inch clearance from the bottom to the underneath surface area. Doing so allows for proper drainage and keeps the valve box from sitting directly on the ground to avoid any damage to the fire components. Another factor of consideration is the BTU range of the fire appliance. The higher the BTU, the greater distance a fire appliance needs to be installed away from combustibles.

Square Fire Pit on a Patio With a Pool

Standard Burners up to 200K BTU:

  • Horizontal Clearance- There must be 36” away from the edge of the burner pan to any flammable or combustible.
  • Overhead Clearance- There must be 84” away from the top of a fire pit enclosure to a ceiling or overhang and there must be a minimum of 2 open walls to ensure proper ventilation.
  • Valve Box Clearance- There must be a minimum of 2” clearance underneath the valve box.

Standard Burners 201K to 400K BTUs:

  • Horizontal Clearance- There must be 48” between the end of the burner pan to any flammable or combustible.
  • Overhead Clearance- To safely operate there should be NO overhead structures. If the fire feature is installed near an overhang of a structure or an eave of a building the burner must not be positioned under the overhang.
  • Valve Box Clearance- There must be a minimum of 2 “ clearance underneath the valve box.
200k BTU fire Pit
200k plus BTU fire Pit

Installation Requirements for a Fire Pit on Combustible Material:

HPC works with our consumers to help them achieve their desired fire designs. In turn, HPC developed a Deck Insulation Kit for instances where customers desire to install a fire feature on combustible material, such as a wood or composite deck. The kit includes basalt insulation and instructions for proper installation. The kit provides flame and excess heat protection creating a safety barrier between the fire feature and the combustible material. The basalt insulation measures 39.3”x39.3”. Larger fire features may require using multiple pieces and for smaller fire features the insulation can be cut to fit accordingly. Getting a good seal where the gas line protrudes through the pavers is imperative. Using the extra basalt material can create an appropriate seal. In addition to the basalt materials, it is recommended that the entire bottom of the inside of the fire pit be covered with pavers. The pavers are not included in the kit but can be purchased separately from a vendor. Refer to our step-by-step Deck Insulation Kit Instructions on HPCFire.com.

Customer Service:

Our goal is to make our customer experience as seamless as possible. Let our HPC Fire Inspired Team guide you with their expertise to help innovate your outdoor lifestyle. Check out our online learning center at hpcfire.com. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our NFI Certified Tech team at 877-433-7001.