Anybody have any rules of thumb for placing a barrel stove? I'm putting one in my unheated garage that is constructed of 3-sided logs. I've sheet rocked the wall behind where the stove will go, and also the ceiling above it. I don't plan on heating the garage full time, just occasionally when I've working on something out there. Thanks.

Buy some cement board and put some on the dry walled wall and you will be good to go.

Thanks. It looks like I'll have 12-13 inches from back of barrel to wall.

That's about the distance I have on the one in my shop.

If you add even a piece of metal roofing to the wall...........space it off the wall an inch or so and about an inch above the floor. That will allow cooler air off the floor to rise between the metal and the wall itself due to the chimney effect of the warmer air at higher levels

Thanks White, I can easily do that. What about stove's height above the floor? I've been told that heating boilers must be elevated per code when installed in a garage, and was wondering if that would apply here as well for safety. I'm on-grid and plan on mounting a circulation fan for when stove is operating.

Mine is about 6 inches from the floor to the bottom of the stove. But I have about 3-4 inches of sand in the stove

No codes here but I have never been concerned . You could put some cement board on the floor

The only time I have run into code issues with a heat or ignition source was in building a hangar. I'm sure you've seen that.

Also with water heater relief valves there are specifics as to where those must exhaust.

A call to the State Fire Marshal's office will probably get your question answered.

Now if the building is insured..........then the insurance company wants a nonflammable floor covering under the stove and at least 18 inches in front of the door.

I was thinking that the height clearance was to avoid pooling fuel fumes in a garage.

^^^^ this is poor advice ... You need an air space between the Sheetrock and cement board ..... Some half inch strapping should work ...

That same thought went through my head. That is why in a hangar the electrical outlets are 5-6 feet above the floor and the heat source has to be 10 feet higher than the highest wing.

non UL rated stoves are usually 24 inches to a combustible wall.

i hate to say this but you might want to check with the insurance company if you insure that building. or it is attached to your house.

If it’s in a garage keep it 18” from the floor and sides 18” from combustible materials. The paper on drywall is combustible so if you put a noncombustible material in front of the drywall. The 18” from the floor to any ignition source in the garage is to help prevent combustible fumes from igniting like stored gas. Regular stove pipe also requires 18” from combustible materials. Insulated metalbestos stove pipe only requires 2”. clearance from combustible materials.

No insurance, not attached, just common sense safety. No stored fuel in there, but could be wrenching on something with an engine. Floor is cement. Ceiling is sheet rock. Built in mid70's with no regard to code. I'd prefer to put a manufactured wood stove in there, but even used ones are out of my budget. I have the metalbestos pipe and thimble already, so I'm trying to do this for minimal $. I had an oil drip stove in there but the fire pot eventually rusted out.

Just trying to answer your question and explain why . Do as you wish good luck

Sounds like a no worry situation to me as long as you protect the walls a bit

Why 18" from the floor?

That seems high. Mine is at best 10" from the floor.

Because combustible fumes pool low near the floor. It’s the NFPA code so if your local authorities follow the code it’s required for any open ignition source like boiler, water heater, or furnace.

The cement board will work just fine the heat Is not being transferred to the rock and that's all you need.

Here you go, this will answer any questions that you have.

https://nasdonline.org/1248/d001052/wood-stove-installation-and-operation.html

Not correct installation for a GARAGE