Fire resistant material design suggestions for alcove housing a VC Encore

[triceps]

Hello, would appreciate any ideas/suggestions for how to finish the design work on top of the hardy board areas surrounding our new Encore.

We're not sure if tile, slate, stone -- something else -- is best.

Looking for ideas on both materials and color. The stove color is brown and the pipe is black.

Also attaching the previous photo of the zero-clearance fireplace for reference. Unfortunately the installer had to cut into the paneling above the stove to meet clearance requirements. Also had to put some hardy board in the back right corner of the alcove to enclose a floor furnace vent running up through the chimney.

Thanks and please share photos if you can to help us visualize suggestions.

 

[begreen]

I'm sorry to say that this is not permitted. Check the manual. The Encore 2040 manual states in bold print:

NOTE: Installation of the Encore® is not permitted in alcoves.

 

[triceps]

I'm sorry to say that this is not permitted. Check the manual. The Encore 2040 manual states in bold print:

NOTE: Installation of the Encore® is not permitted in alcoves.

Sorry, on what page do you see that?

 

[begreen]

Sorry, on what page do you see that?

At the bottom of page 11 on my copy. It's at the end of the clearances information, right before wall shields.

 

[triceps]

What year is your manual from, or is it non-US manual?

There is no such warning about alcoves in the current manuals. Attaching PDFs and link here:

Encore Wood-Burning Stoves by Vermont Castings

Shop Encore Two-in-One Convertible Wood-Burning Stoves - Quality Cast Iron Construction from Vermont Castings

forgenflame.com

 

[begreen]

That's a bit odd, the stove has not changed since the 2018 manual. Now, they make no mention of alcove clearances whatsoever. Check with Vermont Castings. This is a very radiant stove, so they should provide guidance.

 

[triceps]

The Defiant mentions no installation in alcoves (p. 12):

https://downloads.hearthnhome.com/installManuals/8390-975_Defiant_Model_1975-CAT-C.pdf

But there is no mention of alcoves in the Dauntless or Intrepid either.

 

[begreen]

What is the distance from the side of the stove to the hardiboard? What is boxed in to the right above the stove?

 

[begreen]

I tried reaching customer support to clarify, but they are closed, so I filled in their support form. This has come up before, so I want to determine if it is now allowed and if so, get alcove clearances.

 

[begreen]

@triceps I heard back from Forge & Flame support this morning.

"You will need to follow the installation manual for the unit to be installed. Changes do occur over time. If there is no mention of alcoves, then it can not be installed in one. The Dauntless, Aspen and Intrepid (all current models) can be installed in alcoves.

Based on your specific appliance model and configuration, a local authorized dealer is the best resource to provide technical support and assist with ordering parts."

According to tech support, the dealer should have known this.

 

[triceps]

Thanks for sharing that.

What a mess!

A poor job by Vermont Casting’s with not explicitly discussing alcove installations in the Encore manual like they do in every other manual.

Also curious how they define “alcove”? The attached photo is a screen grab from the marketing video on their website for the Defiant, which purportedly shouldn’t be installed in an alcove. Is this not an alcove?

 

[begreen]

I agree and responded to the tech person that it was much better to have this explicitly stated in the manual as it used to be.

Regarding the picture: we know nothing of this setup. It could be entirely made of masonry and non-combustible, which is safe. This is permitted for installing in a masonry fireplace for example. Or this could be an improper installation with studs behind a stone veneer. There is no way of knowing for certain, though I suspect the latter. This looks like veneered stone. It would need a support structure of metal studs with no combustibles to be safe if that is the case.

There definitely are marketing pictures of improper installations. They happen all the time, often photoshopping a stove image in place. Lately, AI has been coming up with even more implausible fantasies.

 

[triceps]

It could be entirely made of masonry and non-combustible, which is safe. This is permitted for installing in a masonry fireplace for example.

Just to clarify, is the Defiant in the picture inside an "alcove"?

In other words, some alcove installations for the Defiant and Encore can be ok?

If a Defiant or Encore can be installed inside an alcove entirely made of non-combustibles, then the install pictured in my initial post above would be ok, right?

 

[begreen]

Yes, it looks like it, but to reiterate, showing a stove in a picture does not make it a code legal or proper install. According to the Forge and Flame tech, no alcove installs are permitted. Masonry fireplace installs, otoh, are permitted because they have a known amount of masonry surrounding the stove.

 

[triceps]

Thanks for all the info and replies. Have spoken with Vermont Castings and they also confirmed the Encore is a no go in our alcove.

I imagine the least painful/costly solution here is to swap out the Encore for a Dauntless (which Vermont Castings confirmed would be ok for our space). Does that sound like a good plan?

Before you or anyone else answers that, you did ask earlier about the back right encasement. That was installed around a vent pipe from the propane floor furnace. Hopefully that doesn't pose added complications?