I need to place a wiring panel (2' X 4' 3/4" plywood) for mounting some 110
blocks, a couple of multi-zone communicating HVAC controllers, 24V
transformers, a network switch, and who knows what else. The best place to
mount it, from the standpoint of convenience and proximity to related stuff,
is on the back of a fireplace in my basement.

The fireplace/chimney structure is about eight feet wide and three feet
deep. Two gas boilers and a gas ho****er heater vent into a flue or flues
on the right-hand side; the left-hand side has (on the opposite face) a
fireplace (in a basement playroom). We never use this fireplace; we do
occasionally use a living room fireplace which is directly above the
basement one.

My thought is to attach two furring strips to the brickwork with small lag
screws and lead shields and construction adhesive, then mount the plywood
panel to the furring strips, thus leaving an air gap. Does this sound
reasonable? What are the code implications, if any?

Thanks for any insight -
- Dennis Brothers

"Dennis Brothers" wrote in message
...
I need to place a wiring panel (2' X 4' 3/4" plywood) for mounting some
110
blocks, a couple of multi-zone communicating HVAC controllers, 24V
transformers, a network switch, and who knows what else. The best place
to
mount it, from the standpoint of convenience and proximity to related
stuff,
is on the back of a fireplace in my basement.

The fireplace/chimney structure is about eight feet wide and three feet
deep. Two gas boilers and a gas ho****er heater vent into a flue or flues
on the right-hand side; the left-hand side has (on the opposite face) a
fireplace (in a basement playroom). We never use this fireplace; we do
occasionally use a living room fireplace which is directly above the
basement one.

My thought is to attach two furring strips to the brickwork with small lag
screws and lead shields and construction adhesive, then mount the plywood
panel to the furring strips, thus leaving an air gap. Does this sound
reasonable? What are the code implications, if any?

If the fireplace stack in the basement is brick, rather than block, I take
it this is an older house? What you propose will probably work fine, but I'd
probably take the non-invasive route. Build a 2-stud wall set back from the
brickwork a couple of inches, tied into the joists above, and tied to spacer
blocks or bricks between the studs and the brick at the bottom. Probably be
plenty solid as is, but you could always adhesive the spacer blocks to the
floor, and glue or nail the studs to them. Basically like a 2-post 19" rack,
just made out of wood. Or, you could just get a commercial rack, if there is
a used hardware place in your town.

aem sends...

"ameijers" wrote in message
...

"Dennis Brothers" wrote in message
...
I need to place a wiring panel (2' X 4' 3/4" plywood) for mounting some
110
blocks, a couple of multi-zone communicating HVAC controllers, 24V
transformers, a network switch, and who knows what else. The best place
to
mount it, from the standpoint of convenience and proximity to related
stuff,
is on the back of a fireplace in my basement.

The fireplace/chimney structure is about eight feet wide and three feet
deep. Two gas boilers and a gas ho****er heater vent into a flue or
flues
on the right-hand side; the left-hand side has (on the opposite face) a
fireplace (in a basement playroom). We never use this fireplace; we do
occasionally use a living room fireplace which is directly above the
basement one.

My thought is to attach two furring strips to the brickwork with small
lag
screws and lead shields and construction adhesive, then mount the plywood
panel to the furring strips, thus leaving an air gap. Does this sound
reasonable? What are the code implications, if any?

If the fireplace stack in the basement is brick, rather than block, I take
it this is an older house? What you propose will probably work fine, but
I'd
probably take the non-invasive route. Build a 2-stud wall set back from
the
brickwork a couple of inches, tied into the joists above, and tied to
spacer
blocks or bricks between the studs and the brick at the bottom. Probably
be
plenty solid as is, but you could always adhesive the spacer blocks to the
floor, and glue or nail the studs to them. Basically like a 2-post 19"
rack,
just made out of wood. Or, you could just get a commercial rack, if there
is
a used hardware place in your town.

aem sends...


Exellent suggestion. Oddly enough, I've considered exactly that. Couple of
problems - there's ancient ductwork up there that I'd have to remove to
fasten 2X4s to the joists (the house was originally forced hot air). I've
already removed all the "easy" ductwork (got _way_ more headroom in the
basement now), but this particular bit will be difficult (things like
conduit from the boilers fastened to it). It's doable, but I'd prefer not
to have to. Secondarily (and relatively minor), there's a lot of wiring and
piping running along the chimney just below the adjacent joists, and having
a couple of 2X4s there will make any further modifications or improvements
more difficult.

Fastening the panel to the chimney is by far the most "elegant" solution; as
a practical matter that face will never get hot enough to be an issue (even
if we do have a fire in the playroom fireplace); and there's wood in contact
with the chimney/fireplace stack elsewhere. I'm just concerned about
getting "busted" by an over-zealous building inspecter - is this really an
issue?

BTW, yes it is brick. That's why I'm thinking _small_ lag screws plus
construction adhesive.

- Dennis Brothers

From what I have read, you need to have a 2" air gap between a chimney and
wood framing. So I would assume that would include a 2" air gap to any
combustible material. And I would certainly not be drilling any holes in the
chimney.

"Most codes require a 2" air space around the chimney"...
http://www.foardpanel.com/index_file...nd%20vents.pdf

"Bill" wrote in message
...
From what I have read, you need to have a 2" air gap between a chimney and
wood framing. So I would assume that would include a 2" air gap to any
combustible material. And I would certainly not be drilling any holes in
the chimney.

"Most codes require a 2" air space around the chimney"...
http://www.foardpanel.com/index_file...nd%20vents.pdf



Thanks for the link - interesting reading. As a practical matter, what I'm
thinking of is probably safe, because the panel would be below the level of
the actual fireplace flue, and there's over a foot of brick and mortar
between the fireplace cavity and the surface I want to mount the panel on.
But, as the article points out, the code doesn't take factors like that into
consideration.

Time for Plan B.

- Dennis Brothers