Title 16—Commercial Practices--Volume 1
PART 1406—COAL AND WOOD BURNING APPLIANCES—NOTIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE AND TECHNICAL DATA
§ 1406.1   Scope, purpose, and effective date.
(a) Scope. This part 1406 requires manufacturers, including importers, of coal and wood burning appliances, as defined in § 1406.3(a), to provide consumers with a specified notification concerning the installation, operation, and maintenance of the appliances. The notification is intended to provide consumers with technical and performance information related to the safety of the appliances. This part 1406 also requires these manufacturers to provide to the Commission a copy of the notification to consumers and a statement of the reasons supporting the manufacturer's conclusion that certain clearance distances contained in the notification are appropriate for preventing fires.
(b) Purpose. This regulation is intended to reduce the unreasonable risk of injury from fire associated with inadequate information provided with coal and wood burning appliances. This rule does not replace any voluntary standards applicable to these appliances or any state or local requirements applicable to the installation, use, or maintenance of such appliances that are not inconsistent with this rule. Thus, for example, a local code could require the actual installation of appliances at different distances from combustibles than those specified on the label required by this rule, and voluntary standards or local codes could require labeling or instructions in addition to those required by this rule. The fact that a product complies with this regulation is not intended to be a substitute for the performance tests and other criteria established by listing organizations whose approval is required to meet some state or local requirements applicable to these appliances.
(c) Effective date. (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (c)(2) and (c)(3) of this section, manufacturers, including importers, of coal and wood burning appliances as defined in § 1406.3(a) must comply with this regulation with respect to stoves that are manufactured or imported after October 17, 1983, or that are first introduced into United States commerce after May 16, 1984, regardless of the date of manufacture. For the purposes of this rule, an appliance is manufactured when no further assembly of the appliance is required (i) before shipment by the manufacturer or (ii), if the product is not so shipped, before delivery to the first purchaser. A product manufactured in the United States (U.S.) is first introduced into U.S. commerce when it is shipped by the manufacturer or delivered to the next purchaser, whichever comes first. A product manufactured outside the U.S. is first introduced into U.S. commerce when it is first brought within a U.S. port of entry.
(2) The requirements of § 1406.4(c) apply to sales catalogs and point of sale literature provided by manufacturers after May 16, 1984.
(3) Section 1406.5 is effective December 6, 1983.
§ 1406.2   Background.
(a) Fire data analyzed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission disclose a number of incidents involving coal and wood burning appliances. Many of these cases involve improper installation of the appliances, especially where they are installed with insufficient clearances to adjacent combustibles such as walls, ceilings, floors, draperies, carpets, or furnishings. Another common installation problem involves the use of improper types of chimneys or chimney connectors and insufficient clearances between these devices and combustibles. Other incidents involve improper operation of the appliance, such as by overfiring it or using flammable liquids to start the fire. Still other incidents occur when appliances are improperly maintained and develop mechanical defects or excessive deposits of flammable creosote.
(b) After considering the available data on the causes of fires in these appliances, the Commission concludes that there is an unreasonable risk of injury associated with appliances that are sold without notifying consumers of the information they need to prevent many of these occurrences. Accordingly, the Commission has determined that disclosure of the information required by § 1406.4 is necessary to help the Commission in carrying out the purposes of the Consumer Product Safety Act of (1) helping to protect the public against unreasonable risks of injury associated with consumer products and (2) assisting consumers in evaluating the comparative safety of consumer products.
(c) The Commission has also determined that in carrying out these purposes of the act, it is necessary for manufacturers to provide to the Commission a copy of the information provided to consumers and a statement of the reasons why some of the information was selected, in accordance with § 1406.5.
§ 1406.3   Definitions.
For the purposes of this rule:
(a) Coal and wood burning appliances means fireplace stoves, room heater/fireplace stove combinations, cookstoves and ranges, and radiant and circulating heaters. It does not include central heating units, masonry fireplaces and chimneys, fireplace inserts, or factory built fireplaces (zero clearance fireplaces).
(b) Central heating units include boilers, furnaces, and furnace add-ons. These appliances are designed to be connected to hot water distribution or ductwork systems for heating several rooms. The furnace add-on converts an existing gas, oil, or electric heating system to one capable of using solid fuel as well as its original fuel.
(c) A chimney is a vertical or nearly vertical enclosure containing one or more passageways called flue passages for conveying combustion wastes to the outside atmosphere.
(d) A chimney connector is the stovepipe which connects the appliance flue with the chimney flue.
(e) Cookstoves and ranges are chimney connected solid fuel burning appliances that are used primarily for cooking. In addition to the firechamber, there may be one or more ovens or warmer compartments and several removable cooking space pothole lids. The intensity of the fire is controlled by damper and draft regulators.
(f) A factory built fireplace is a firechamber and chimney assembly consisting entirely of factory made parts. It is designed for component assembly without requiring field construction. These “zero clearance” units are fabricated for safe installation against combustible surfaces and for burning fireplace fuel.
(g) Fireplace inserts are heating units that fit into a fireplace and connect to the fireplace flue. These units function like radiant and circulating heaters.
(h) A fireplace stove is a freestanding, chimney-connected firechamber which is constantly open to view. It is designed to burn regular fireplace fuel and function as a decorative fireplace.
(i) A masonry chimney is a chimney field-constucted of solid masonry units, brick, stones, or reinforced concrete.
(j) A masonry fireplace is an open firechamber built into a structure along with a chimney and hearth. It is constructed of solid masonry units such as bricks, stones, or reinforced concrete.
(k) Radiant and circulating heaters have firechambers which may be airtight 1 or non-airtight and are available in a number of sizes, shapes, and designs. The firechamber is closed in use, but there may be a window of specially formulated glass for viewing the fire. Drafts and dampers are used to control the burning process. There may be a secondary combustion chamber, baffles, a thermostat, a blower, or other components which function to improve combustion efficiency or to control heat output. The primary function of these appliances is as space heaters. However, some have lift-off cooking pothole lids, and the top surface of most can be used for cooking. The fuel may be wood, coal, or both. Radiant heaters transmit heat primarily by direct radiation. Circulating heaters have an outer jacket surrounding the fire chamber. Air enters from the bottom, is warmed by passing over the fire chamber, and exits at the top. Movement is by natural convection or forced air circulation.
1 An airtight stove is defined as “A stove in which a large fire can be suffocated by shutting the air inlets, resulting ultimately in a large mass of unburned fuel remaining in the stove.” Jay W. Shelton, Wood Heat Safety, Garden Way Publishing, Charlotte, Vermont (1979), p. 160.
(l) A “room heater/fireplace stove combination” is a freestanding, chimney-connected fire chamber with doors. It is designed to be used to burn fireplace fuels with the firechamber either open or closed to view. This appliance functions as a decorative fireplace when the doors are open and as a non-airtight heater when the doors are closed.
§ 1406.4   Requirements to provide performance and technical notice to prospective purchasers and purchasers.
Manufacturers, including importers, of coal and wood burning appliances as defined in § 1406.3 shall give notification of performance and technical data related to performance and safety to prospective purchasers at the time of original purchase and to the first purchaser of such products for purposes other than resale, in the manner set forth below:
(a) Written notice on appliance. (1) The appliance shall bear a legible notice containing the following performance and technical data.
(i) Appropriate minimum clearances from unprotected combustibles to avoid the occurrence of fire. 2 The clearances shall include:
2 Appropriate distances are to be determined by the manufacturer. The Commission expects that test procedures utilized by a nationally recognized testing organization would be suitable for determining appropriate distances.
(A) Distance from the back and sides of the appliance, and the chimney connector, to walls, stated in diagrammatic form.
(B) Distance to be maintained between the chimney connector and ceilings, in either diagrammatic or written form.
(ii) Type and dimensions of floor protection, if necessary to protect combustible floors.
(iii) Proper type(s) of chimney and chimney connector to be used with the appliance. This information should include the proper designations so that the chimney and chimney connector are of suitable design and construction to withstand the temperature of the flue gases and other probable environmental stresses and so that the inside dimensions are suitable to adequately vent the products of combustion. See Figs. 1 and 2 for examples of an acceptable designation for a chimney and chimney connector.
(iv) Identification of parts or precautions required for passing a chimney through combustible walls or ceilings or for passing a chimney connector through combustible walls. The following statement is an example of one that complies with this requirement:
Special methods are required when passing through a wall or ceiling. See instructions or building codes.
(v) A statement not to overfire the appliance, and a description of at least 1 condition which signals overfiring.
(vi) A statement of how often the chimney and chimney connector should be inspected and that it should be cleaned when necessary.
(vii) Information explaining that the appliance should be installed and used only in accordance with the manufacturer's directions and local building codes.
(viii) A direction to contact local building or fire officials about restrictions and installation inspection requirements.
(ix) A statement that furnishings and combustible materials should be kept a considerable distance from the appliance or a statement to keep furnishings and other combustibles far away.
(x) The types of fuel suitable for use in the appliance.
(xi) The name and address of the manufacturer, importer or private labeler to which the owner can write for a copy of the manufacturer's directions or for additional information, and a sufficient identification of the appliance model so that the appropriate information can be supplied.
(2) No specific wording is required on the written notice, but the information shall be printed in legible English in clear and readily understandable language. Examples of acceptable labels are given in Figs. 1 and 2, appendix I.
(3) The written notice shall be placed in a location that is conspicuous before the appliance is installed. In addition, the written information required by paragraphs (a)(1)(v), (a)(1)(vi), (a)(1)(ix), and (a)(1)(x) of this section shall be readily visible during normal use of the appliance. A label on the back of the stove would not be considered “readily visible” during normal use if the stove is suitable for installation with its back within a few feet of the wall. Locations within compartments or behind doors or panels may be readily visible during normal use if the location is readily visible when the door or panel is opened or removed and the door or panel must be opened or removed, or the compartments used, as part of the normal operating procedures for the appliance. An example of a notice format where the information required to be readily visible during normal use is separated from the remainder of the notice is given in Fig. 1, appendix I. The Commission recommends the use of this 2 label format in order to provide more consumer awareness of the operation and maintenance information after the appliance is installed, since this information would be on a simpler label that would not have installation information competing for the consumer's attention.
(4) The written notice shall be provided so that it will remain legible for the maximum expected useful life of the appliance in normal operation.
(b) Directions. All appliances covered by this rule shall be accompanied by directions that include the following technical and performance information:
(1) The following notice shall be placed on the first page of the document(s) containing the directions and at the beginning of the directions:
SAFETY NOTICE: IF THIS ___ IS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, A HOUSE FIRE MAY RESULT. FOR YOUR SAFETY, FOLLOW THE INSTALLATION DIRECTIONS. CONTACT LOCAL BUILDING OR FIRE OFFICIALS ABOUT RESTRICTIONS AND INSTALLATION INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS IN YOUR AREA.
(2) Step by step installation directions shall be provided, including all necessary information regarding parts and materials. This information shall include an explanation of the consequences which could result from failure to install the appliance properly. These directions shall include a direction to refer to the chimney and chimney connector manufacturers' instructions and local building codes for installation through combustible walls or ceilings.
(3) These directions shall also include a clearly identified section containing complete use directions, including what types of fuel(s) can be used and how to fire the unit to avoid fire hazards, and a clearly identified section containing complete maintenance directions, including how and when to clean the chimney and chimney connector. A statement that flammable liquids should not be used with the appliance shall also be included where applicable. These sections shall contain a description of the consequences that could result from failure to use or maintain the appliance properly.
(4) The directions required by paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section shall include all the information required by paragraph (a)(1) of this section and shall be in legible English in readily understandable language. A recommended outline for the directions is given in appendix II.
(c) Catalogs and point of sale literature. Literature for the appliance that is intended to induce an immediate order or sale (such as catalogs and point of sale literature) and that is provided by the manufacturer, shall legibly and conspicuously include the information required by paragraph (a)(1)(viii) of this section and shall state the appropriate minimum clearances, to avoid the occurrence of fire, from the back and sides of the appliance to walls.
General advertising would not be subject to this requirement.
The following are examples of formats and suggested wording for the written notice required by § 1406.4(a). Information to be supplied by the manufacturer is indicated by underlined blank spaces or by asterisks. The Commission recommends the “two label” format shown in Fig. 1.
The following is a recommended outline for the directions required by § 1406.4(b). This outline is a guide and should not be considered as including all of the information that may be necessary for the proper installation, use, and maintenance of the appliance since the necessary information may vary from product to product.
“HOW TO INSTALL, USE, AND MAINTAIN YOUR ___”
A. The Safety Notice required by this rule.
• “SAFETY NOTICE: IF THIS ___ IS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, A HOUSE FIRE MAY RESULT. FOR YOUR SAFETY, FOLLOW THE INSTALLATION DIRECTIONS. CONTACT LOCAL BUILDING OFFICIALS ABOUT RESTRICTIONS AND INSTALLATION INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS IN YOUR AREA.”
B. Statements of other important safety messages, including:
• “Creosote may build up in the chimney connector and chimney and cause a house fire. Inspect the chimney connector and chimney at least twice monthly and clean if necessary.”
• “Overfiring the appliance may cause a house fire. If a unit or chimney connector glows, you are overfiring.”
• “Never use gasoline or other flammable liquids to start or ‘freshen up’ a fire.”
• “Dispose of ashes in a metal container.”
A. The parts and materials required, including:
• The size and type of chimney to which the appliance is to be connected.
• The size and thickness or gage of metal of the chimney connector.
• The thimble or type of connection through a combustible wall or ceiling.
B. The step-by-step directions for installing the appliance and its accessories, chimney connector, and chimney. The directions would include:
• Clearances from the appliance and chimney connector to combustibles,
• Methods to safely join the chimney connector to the chimney and how to pass these parts through a combustible wall or to pass the chimney through a ceiling.
• The joining of two or more parts to constitute a safe assembly such as attaching and securing the chimney connector to the appliance and to each adjoining section, and,
• Where required, the parts or materials to be used for the floor protector (hearth). The minimum areas to be covered and their relation to the appliance should be stated.
A. Recommendations about building and maintaining a fire, warnings against overfiring, and condition(s) that signal(s) overfiring.
B. Caution against the use and storage of flammable liquids, as follows: “Do not use gasoline, gasoline-type lantern fuel, kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, or similar liquids to start or ‘freshen up’ a fire in this appliance. Keep these flammable liquids well away from this appliance while it is in use.”
C. Explanation about the use or nonuse of grates, irons and or other methods of supporting the fuel.
D. How to use manual or thermostatic controls.
E. Explanation about the use of any electrical assemblies including care and routing of power supply cord.
F. Caution about disposing of ashes, as follows:
Ashes should be placed in a metal container with a tight fitting lid. The closed container of ashes should be placed on a noncombustible floor or on the ground, away from all combustible materials, pending final disposal. The ashes should be retained in the closed container until all cinders have thoroughly cooled.
G. Keep furnishings and other combustible materials away from appliance.
A. How to inspect and maintain the appliance, chimney, and chimney connector.
B. Explanation about the formation and removal of creosote buildup in the chimney connector and chimney as follows:
When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other vapors, which combine with moisture to form creosote. Creosote vapors condense in the relatively cool chimney flue, and creosote residue accumulates on the flue lining. When ignited, this creosote make an extremely hot fire.
The chimney connector and chimney should be inspected at least twice monthly during the heating season to determine if creosote buildup has occurred.
If creosote has accumulated, it should be removed to reduce the chance of a chimney fire.
C. Explain how to remove creosote.
A. The name and address of the manufacturer or private labeler from which the owner can obtain additional information if needed. Include other sources of information as appropriate.
B. The manufacturer's or private labeler's catalog designations, model numbers or the equivalent for the appliance and related parts.
§ 1406.5   Performance and technical data to be furnished to the Commission.
Manufacturers, including importers, of coal and wood burning appliances as defined in § 1406.3(a) shall provide to the Commission the following performance and technical data related to performance and safety.
(a) Written notice. Manufacturers shall provide to the Commission copies of the written notice required by § 1406.4(a). If the written notice is provided to purchasers in a way, such as by casting or stamping the notice into the stove, that makes it impractical to furnish a sample of the actual notice to the Commission, the manufacturer will provide an actual-size copy of the notice and a description of the forming process.
(b) Directions. Manufacturers shall provide to the Commission a copy of the directions required by § 1406.4(b).
(c) Rationale. Manufacturers shall provide to the Commission a statement of how the distances to combustibles required to be stated by § 1406.4(a)(1) were determined. In addition, the maufacturer will state the type of appliance, its fuel, size, and weight, and the material of which it is constructed, unless this information is included in the directions submitted under paragraph (b) of this section.
(d) General. (1) The information required to be submitted under paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section shall be submitted for each distinct design or model of appliance manufactured. An appliance will be considered to be a distinct design or model if it differs from other appliances of the same manufacturer by functional differences such as performance, weight, size, or capacity. Differences in cosmetic or other nonfunctional features do not require the submission of additional information.
(2) The written notice, directions, and rationale shall be provided to the Assistant Executive Director for Compliance, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207, by December 6, 1983. If there is a subsequent change in the component materials or design features of a model for which this information was previously submitted that could cause the model to require different clearances from combustibles or a different type of chimney, or if a new product is introduced into United States commerce, the required information shall be submitted within 30 days after the change or introduction.