Fireplace Mantel Height Requirements

A 2 inch depth must have a minimum height clearance of 11 inches.

Fireplace mantel height requirements.

A 6 inch depth must have a minimum height clearance of 15 inches. The thing is the mantel height is not going to change that much in room with a higher ceiling either. First of all yes 63 tall for a fireplace mantel in a room with an eight foot ceiling is a little high. The highest i have ever seen is 59 but most fireplace mantels range between 52 57 for an eight foot ceiling.

An 8 inch deep mantel should be 17 inches above the fire box and a 10 inch mantel needs to be 19 inches above the fireplace. This ordinance states that any combustible material such as a wood mantel surroun d or shelf must be at least 6 inches from the fireplace opening. This allows room for stockings during the holidays. Again proper height is relatively subjective to your fireplace but average or standard fireplace mantel height construction is around 54 above the hearth s floor.

Most housing codes and the national fire protection agency nfpa state that the bottom of the mantel must be at least 12 away from the top of the fireplace box. For combustibles such as wood or particle board surrounding a wood burning fireplace. A 4 inch depth must have a minimum height clearance of 13 inches. A 6 inch mantel should be 15 inches away.

Parts of the mantel assembly located above and projecting more than 1 1 2 inches 38mm from the fireplace opening shall not be placed less than 12 inches 305mm from the top of the fireplace opening. In addition for every 1 8 inch that a trim or molding piece on your mantel juts out another 1 inch of clearance is needed. If the mantel will stick out from the wall more than 1 1 2 inches the height between the top of the fireplace and the shelf must be 12 inches or more. Always check with your local planning and building office for code requirements.

Step 4 aesthetic last but certainly not least consider how you want the room to look.