Frequently Asked Questions: “Vented Hearth Heater” Definition

**DOE established**  **a definition**  **for a**  **new category**  **of residential**  **direct heating**  **equipment known** 

**as “Vented**  **Hearth Heaters”**  **in the**  **final rule**  **for Energy**  **Conservation Standards**  **for Residential** 

**Water Heaters,**  **Direct Heating**  **Equipment, and**  **Pool Heaters**  **issued by**  **the Secretary**  **of Energy** 

**on March**  **31, 2010.**  **75 FR**  **20112 (April**  **16, 2010).**  **The final**  **rule defines**  **“Vented Hearth** 

**Heater” as**  **follows:**

**“** Vented hearth heater **means a**  **vented appliance**  **which simulates**  **a solid**  **fuel**

**fireplace and**  **is designed**  **to furnish**  **warm air,**  **with or**  **without duct**  **connections, to** 

**the space**  **in which**  **it is**  **installed. The**  **circulation of**  **heated room**  **air may**  **be by** 

**gravity or**  **mechanical means.**  **A vented**  **hearth heater**  **may be**  **freestanding,**

**recessed, zero**  **clearance, or**  **a gas**  **fireplace insert**  **or stove.**  **Those heaters**  **with a** 

**maximum input**  **capacity less**  **than or**  **equal to**  **9,000 British**  **thermal units**  **per hour** 

**(Btu/h), as**  **measured using**  **DOE’s test**  **procedure for**  **vented home**  **heating**

**equipment (10**  **CFR part**  **430, subpart**  **B, appendix**  **O), are**  **considered purely** 

**decorative and**  **are excluded**  **from DOE’s**  **regulations.” (10**  **CFR 430.2)** 

Question #1: **What types**  **of products**  **does DOE’s**  **“vented hearth**  **heater” definition**  **cover?**

Answer: **DOE’s definition**  **covers vented**  **gas hearth**  **products that**  **are intended**  **to simulate**  **a**

**solid fuel**  **fireplace and**  **designed to**  **heat the**  **surrounding space**  **in which**  **they are**  **installed. The** 

**definition applies**  **only to**  **gas fireplaces,**  **gas fireplace**  **inserts, and**  **gas stoves**  **with input**  **ratings**

**greater than**  **9,000 Btu/h**  **as measured**  **by DOE’s**  **test procedure**  **(10 CFR**  **part 430,**  **subpart B,** 

**appendix O).** 

Question #2: **Does the**  **definition of**  **“vented hearth**  **heater” cover**  **vented gas**  **log sets?** 

Answer: **No. DOE**  **believes that**  **gas log**  **sets have**  **specific characteristics**  **that differentiate**  **them**

**from gas**  **fireplaces, gas**  **fireplace inserts,**  **and gas**  **stoves. The**  **primary differentiating**  **feature of** 

**gas log**  **sets is**  **that they**  **are not**  **constructed as**  **part of**  **an entire**  **enclosure (**  i.e.

**, there**  **is no** 

**surrounding box**  **or viewing**  **pane) or**  **a sealed**  **system. DOE**  **recognizes that**  **by the**  **nature of**  **gas**

**log set**  **construction, they**  **do not**  **provide the**  **same heating**  **function as**  **gas fireplaces,**  **gas**

**fireplace inserts,**  **and gas**  **stoves, which**  **are constructed**  **as enclosed**  **systems, and,**  **thus, DOE** 

**believes that**  **gas log**  **sets products**  **are intended**  **to be**  **installed for**  **decorative purposes.**  **DOE’s**

**definition states**  **that a**  **vented hearth**  **heater may**  **be “freestanding,**  **recessed, zero**  **clearance, or**  **a**

**gas fireplace**  **insert or**  **stove.” DOE**  **does not**  **believe that**  **any of**  **these terms**  **include gas**  **log sets,** 

**which DOE**  **considers as**  **different products**  **from freestanding,**  **recessed, and**  **zero clearance**  **gas**

**fireplaces, gas**  **fireplace inserts,**  **and gas**  **stoves. As**  **a result,**  **DOE interprets**  **its definition**  **of a** 

**“vented hearth**  **heater” as**  **not covering**  **vented gas**  **log sets.** 

Contact: **Mohammed Khan** 

**(202) 586­7892** 

**Mohammed.Khan@ee.doe.gov**