ᐅ Installing a Through-Wall Fireplace in a Load-Bearing Wall? Clearance Requirements?

Hello,

we are planning to retrofit a see-through fireplace in our house. Currently, there is no fireplace or stove in the house. The see-through fireplace is intended to be installed between the living room and the current office. The office will later be converted into a kitchen. There is a load-bearing wall between these two rooms. Ten years ago, an opening was already made in this load-bearing wall, with a steel beam as a lintel and a glass sliding door installed. This opening is now to be replaced with a see-through fireplace and a door.

Below are the current photos and concept images:





My questions are as follows:

- Is it possible to install a see-through fireplace in a load-bearing wall?
- What clearance distances must be maintained around a see-through fireplace, for example to a door, a radiator, electrical wiring, etc.?
- In images on the internet, I have often seen ventilation slots above or on the sides of the fireplace glass. Can these ventilation slots also be placed on the top of the fireplace?
- Are there options to limit visibility through one glass panel of the see-through fireplace if needed?
- Which see-through fireplaces are recommended?
- For closing the opening, is it better to use a drywall partition or to build a masonry wall with sand-lime bricks? What are the implications for sound insulation?
- What is the approximate cost to carry out this construction project?

Blaustift schrieb:

- Is it possible to install a tunnel fireplace in a load-bearing wall?

I don’t quite understand your question. You’re installing the fireplace instead of a glass wall, right? Whether you place it in the existing opening or in front of the front door doesn’t change the outcome.

Blaustift schrieb:

- What clearance distances must be maintained for a tunnel fireplace from, for example, a door, a radiator, electrical wiring, etc.?

You’ll need to do some research yourself, but ultimately the chimney specialist (sweeper) will make the final decision.

Blaustift schrieb:

- In pictures online, I always see that tunnel fireplaces have ventilation slots above the glass or on the side. Can these ventilation slots also be placed on top of the fireplace?

Usually, the ventilation slots are located both at the bottom and the top. You should do the same. It doesn’t matter if the upper ventilation openings are on a side wall or on top.

Blaustift schrieb:

- Are there ways to reduce visibility through one of the tunnel fireplace glass panes if needed?

The only option would be to place a screen or room divider at a sufficient distance in front of it. Otherwise, no.

Blaustift schrieb:

- Should the wall closing the opening be constructed as a drywall partition or built with sand-lime bricks? What are the effects on sound insulation?

There are special fireplace construction boards made for this purpose. Otherwise, the way you build the wall doesn’t really matter.

Blaustift schrieb:

- How much does it approximately cost to carry out this project?

Having it done professionally? Including everything I’ll mention below? Maybe around 30,000 euros (about 30k). Possibly more.

I myself have several questions:
- Can the floor support the combustion chamber, or is there underfloor heating installed?
- How will the chimney be constructed? It needs to go through the upper floor and the roof.
- Where will the chimney get its combustion air? Is there a controlled residential ventilation system with a pressure monitor?
And so on.

You should have a fireplace specialist and chimney sweep come and take a look.

SaniererNRW123 schrieb:

Have a chimney specialist and the chimney sweep come.

These would also be my first contacts. The chimney would be my starting point since it also needs to pass through the rooms above.

hanse987 schrieb:

... The chimney would be my first concern, as it also needs to pass through the rooms above.

I actually thought that the chimney shouldn’t cause major issues, since the fireplace on the office/(later kitchen) side could be routed along a gallery directly next to the wall. The only opening required would then be through the roof. Of course, chimney installers and sweepers would be consulted later on. The purpose of my questions is primarily to gather initial advice.

SaniererNRW123 schrieb:


Have it done? Including everything I’m asking about below? Maybe around 30,000 euros? Maybe even more.

That’s quite a lot. I was expecting around 10,000 euros.

SaniererNRW123 schrieb:

- Can the floor support the fire area, or is there maybe underfloor heating underneath?

The stove would partially stand on the foundation of the load-bearing wall. Since the stove will likely be wider, part of it would have to rest on the wooden floor, which is probably not possible (for fire safety / structural reasons?). The wooden floor is Australian maple parquet, screwed onto wooden joists. Underneath is about 30cm (12 inches) of insulation material (glass wool) in the floor for thermal insulation. There is NO underfloor heating installed.
So, a "foundation" might need to be built for the portion corresponding to the stove’s base, as I strongly assume the stove shouldn’t rest directly on the wooden floor.

SaniererNRW123 schrieb:

- How will the chimney be installed? It will have to run through the upper floor and the roof.

See my previous post — the chimney could run through the gallery directly through the roof.

SaniererNRW123 schrieb:

- Where will the chimney get its combustion air from? Controlled mechanical ventilation due to pressure monitoring?

I’m not sure what you mean by combustion air? There is no ventilation system in the house. The house was built in 2005.

Blaustift schrieb:

That’s quite a lot. I was expecting around 10,000 EUR.

LOL. That’s just the cost of the fireplace insert with the completed surrounding chimney. We already paid that 5 or 6 years ago.

Blaustift schrieb:

Part of the chimney would rest on the foundation of the load-bearing wall. Since the chimney will likely be wider, part of it would have to sit on the wood floor, which probably won’t be possible (due to fire safety or structural reasons?). The wood floor is made of Australian maple parquet, screwed onto wooden joists. Underneath is about 30cm (12 inches) of insulation material (glass wool) in the floor for thermal insulation. There is NO underfloor heating installed.
So, it might be necessary to build a partial “foundation” for the chimney footprint because I strongly assume the chimney should not stand directly on the wood floor.

Exactly. Then the entire floor has to be removed. I assume a) you’re not allowed to place the chimney on wood and b) it won’t be structurally stable given a 250–300 kg (550–660 lbs) insert and the resulting point load (it only stands on four small feet).
That will also be expensive.

Blaustift schrieb:

I’m not sure—what do you mean by air supply? There is no ventilation system in the house. The house was built in 2005.

I assume that for a house this new (and airtight) the chimney inspector will prefer a room-sealed fireplace (I personally think, for example, considering my own inspector, that you will definitely need a room-sealed unit). That means fresh air supply from outside the house—which can be complicated and costly. Otherwise, you’d have to open a window every time you want to use the fireplace (you might also need a window contact switch linked to the fireplace). If you have an exhaust hood installed, this will be mandatory so that the hood doesn’t operate when the fireplace is on and the window is closed.

Also, keep in mind that there are clearance and height regulations for the chimney that must be followed.