Parts of the mantel assembly located along the sides of the fireplace opening which project more than 1 1 2 inches 38mm from the face of the fireplace shall have additional clearance equal to the.
Gas fireplace mantel height code.
Mantel height is not an arbitrary decision.
Installing a fireplace means meeting the code set by local governments.
The average height for a fireplace mantle varies by personal preference as well as locality.
Your fireplace may fit this dimension or it might be on the shorter or taller end of the spectrum when it comes to mantel height above fireplace.
If you install the mantel before the brick or stone face is put on the fireplace the mantel can often be mounted to the stud wall first and the brick or stone can then be put on around the mantel.
Again proper height is relatively subjective to your fireplace but average or standard fireplace mantel height construction is around 54 above the hearth s floor.
The proper height of a fireplace mantel depends on the height of the hearth the size of the fireplace s fire box and the requirements of the local building codes.
2114 3 masonry built fireplaces 4114 3 10 all combustible mantels and similar trim shall be kept at least 6 inches from the fireplace opening.
As a general rule they range between 50 and 60 inches but are a number of factors can influence the actual height ranging from the type of stove or fireplace you are installing to the material your mantle is created from plus national and local fire codes.
The national fire protection association the nfpa sets standards regarding placement of a mantel in relation to the fire box local building codes.
The international code council sets standards that can offer a good blueprint but local government codes take precedence.
In addition the national fire protection association proposes codes relating the width of the mantel to its distance from the fireplace.
The standards should ensure that the fireplace will be safe to use for many years to come.