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The Impact of Choices in Design
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It's remarkable how much the choices made at the design phase will impact the daily lives of the people who occupy the space!
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Positioning a Masonry Heater in a Floor Plan
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This design work explores how to open up the original proposed floor plan to place the masonry heater in a central radiant position and include a cookstove for grid independence.
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These clients, in fact, preferred more of a closed floor plan for their lifestyle. In this case, it would be beneficial to create a convection cell between the back of the heater and the partition wall, allowing the room on the other side of the wall to be heated by convection while the main living space benefits from the radiant heat from the heater.
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To See or Not to See the Chimney?
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The manufactured chimney is one of the most significant technologies to affect modern masonry heater design. Whereas traditional masonry heaters were connected to full masonry chimneys, which had their own additional footprint, contemporary masonry heaters are often connected to a manufactured chimney at the top of the unit. This configuration is referred to as "top-vented".
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Choosing to make the chimney visible is a common option. It provides a logical connection for those who see the firebox, as they can also see how it is vented. Additionally, it extends the heat exchange pathway of the warm flue gases and the radiant surfaces of the heater inside the building. A visible chimney also provides for ease of maintenance.
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When placed near a wall, however, there is also the interesting option to conceal the chimney, allowing for a more minimal and modern look.
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"Class A" is the technical way of referring to insulated manufactured chimneys for solid fuel appliances. An "anchor plate" is the necessary hardware to transition from masonry to a manufactured chimney. These chimneys typically require a 2" clearance to combustibles and, in this case, would need an accessible cleanout "T". For specifics, including through-the-wall details, refer to the manufacturers instructions.
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Interested in Design?
Whether you are a homeowner, a professional heater mason, an architect or a builder... we are planning to roll out more design resources for you over the coming months.
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For further reading, here are some useful links to articles on our website:
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If you would like to engage us in custom design or consultation for your project...
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We will send you more information about working with us and our fee schedule as part of our initial response.
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