Document J Regulations

Stove Installation

When it comes to installing a wood-burning or multi-fuel stove, safety is always the number one priority. In the UK, stove installations are governed by Building Regulations, specifically Approved Document J.

At Suffolk Stoves, our OFTEC-registered engineers handle all the technical details, but we believe it’s helpful for our customers to understand the basic rules required to keep their homes safe and compliant.

The Hearth: Size and Thickness Your stove must sit on a non-combustible hearth to protect your floor from heat and falling embers.

• Hearth Size: For a freestanding stove, the hearth must project at least 300mm in front of the stove doors and 150mm on either side. Usually, this means a minimum total footprint of 840mm x 840mm.

• Hearth Thickness: If your stove is certified not to raise the hearth temperature above 100°C, a 12mm thick superimposed hearth (like glass or slate) is sufficient. If the stove runs hotter, or is placed in a fireplace recess, you require a 250mm thick constructional hearth.

Distance to Combustibles Stoves and flue pipes generate immense heat, so keeping them safely away from combustible materials (like timber frames, plasterboard, or furniture) is critical.

• Single-wall, uninsulated flue pipes must be kept at a distance of at least three times their diameter away from combustibles. So, a standard 150mm (6-inch) flue must be at least 450mm away.

• If space is tight, a specially designed heat shield can be used to reduce this distance safely, or twin wall insulated flue installed.

Navigating Document J can be complex, but you don’t have to do it alone. When you choose Suffolk Stoves for your installation, we guarantee that every measurement, hearth, and flue pipe will meet all current UK regulations.

Please click HERE for an online copy of Document J.