Distance to Combustibles Explained for Campervan Stoves

When installing a stove in a campervan, one of the most important things to think about is the distance between the stove, the flue pipe and any nearby materials.

These distances are often referred to as distance to combustibles. In simple terms, it means how much space should be left between the stove or flue pipe and anything that could potentially be affected by heat, such as wood, furniture, insulation or wall panels.

Allowing the correct spacing helps keep your installation safe and ensures heat cannot build up in surrounding materials.

Distance from the stove

Stoves produce a lot of radiant heat, which spreads outwards from the body of the stove.

If the stove is placed too close to surrounding materials, those surfaces can become very hot over time. Leaving enough space around the stove allows heat to disperse safely.

As a general guideline, the distance to combustible materials is around 300mm if there is no heat shield installed.

This distance can often be reduced if a heat shield is used.

Using a heat shield

Heat shields are commonly used in campervan installations where space is limited.

A heat shield works by creating a barrier between the stove and the wall. The shield is normally spaced slightly away from the wall so that air can circulate behind it. This airflow helps carry heat away from the wall surface.

With a heat shield in place, the distance to combustible materials can often be reduced to around 100mm, making it much easier to install a stove in smaller spaces.

Distance from the flue pipe

The flue pipe also produces heat as smoke travels up the chimney.

For single wall flue pipe, a common guideline is to allow clearance of around three times the pipe diameter.

For a 3 inch (76mm) flue pipe, this works out to roughly 225mm clearance to combustible materials.

This space helps ensure nearby materials cannot overheat while the stove is running.

Twin wall flue pipe

Twin wall insulated pipe behaves differently to single wall pipe.

Because it contains insulation between two layers of metal, the outer surface runs much cooler. This allows the pipe to be used where the flue passes through the roof and outside the van.

Twin wall pipe typically requires much smaller clearance distances compared to single wall pipe.

Planning your installation

When planning your stove installation, it’s always worth taking a little time to think about the layout of your van.

Consider where the stove will sit, how the flue will run upwards through the roof and whether a heat shield may be useful behind the stove.

A little planning early on can make installation much easier and help ensure everything fits comfortably within the space available.

Need help planning your stove setup?

If you’re unsure about clearances or positioning when installing your stove, feel free to get in touch.

We’re always happy to help answer questions and guide people through their campervan stove installations.