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Is it possible to include a wood burning fireplace in a PassivHaus structure?

user-956232 | Posted in PassivHaus on

Because houses certified by PassivHaus have to meet an air tightness based on air changes, the integrity of the building envelope has to be superb. Could a fireplace be built (or are there models that already exist) that wouldn’t compromise the tightness and integrity of the envelope?

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Replies

  1. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #1

    Nick,
    Q. "Is it possible to include a wood burning fireplace in a PassivHaus structure?"

    A. No. How about a small airtight wood stove with ducted outdoor combustion air?

  2. SLSTech | | #2

    I guess everyone defines fireplaces differntly... but yes you can have one with doors on it and where it utilizes air from the outside

    Here is one that has one http://www.aipassivhaus.com/blg-june10.html

  3. YYH8rX5BRv | | #3

    In theory it should be possible by allowing for makeup air. In the green building world there is still no such damper that is triggered by pressure drop or smoke detector. You could manually hook one up to some sensor of your own but it would not be a rated product and could also be in violation of your state building code.

    Daniel Glickman
    Sustainable Construction Services. Boston.

  4. user-869687 | | #4

    Sean, that must be the foamiest house ever!

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