New Buck Corporation 81 User Manual

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MINIMUM CLEARANCES 
Floor Protection: 
 
When installing freestanding heater, a floor protector must be use.  Floor protection must be 
3/8” minimum thickness non-combustible material or equivalent. 
 
How to use alternate materials and how to calculate equivalent thickness        
 
An easy means of determining if a proposed alternate floor protector meets requirements listed 
in the appliance manual is to follow this procedure:               
 
1.  Convert specification to R-value: 
 
 
R-value is given—no conversion is needed. 
 
 
K-factor is given with a required thickness (T) in inches: 
 
 
C-factor is given: R=1/C 
2.  Determine the R-value of the proposed alternate floor protector. 
 
 
Use the formula in step (1) to convert values not expressed as “R” 
 
 
For multiple layers, add R-values of each layer to determine the overall R-value. 
3.  If the overall R-value of the system is grater than  the R-value of the specified floor protec-
tor, the alternate is acceptable. 
Example: 
The specified floor protector should be 3/4” thick material with a K-factor of 0.84. 
The proposed alternate is 4” brick  with a C-factor of 1.25 over 1/8” mineral board with a  
K-factor of 0.29. 
Step (a):  Use formula above to convert specification to R-value. R= 1/K x T = 1/0.84 x .75 = 
0.893 
Step (b):  Calculate R of proposed system.  4” brick of C=1.25, therefore Rbrick = 1/C = 1/1.25 
=0.80 1/8” mineral board of K = 0.29, therefore Rmin.bd. =1/029 x0.125 = 0.431 
Step (c):  Compare proposed system  R of 1.231 to specified R of 0.893. Since proposed  
system R is greater than required , the system is acceptable. 
 
Definitions: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Install in accordance with 24 CFR, Part 3280 (HUD).
 
Thermal conductance 
 
=  C  = 
 
Btu
 
W
 
 
 
(hr)(ft²)(°F)
 
(m²)(°K)
 
 
Thermal conductance 
 
=  K  = 
 
(Btu)(inch)
 
W
 
(Btu)
 
(hr)(ft²)(°F)
 
(m)(°K)
 
(hr)(ft)(°F)
 
Thermal conductance 
 
=  R  = 
 
(ft²)(hr)(°F)
 
(m²)(°K)
 
 
Btu
 
W
 
 
 
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