Thread: Majestic MIM2436 Fireplace Insert

I inspected a house today that had a Majestic MIM2436 Fireplace Insert installed. The best I call tell this has to be installed in a masonary fireplace but this one was installed like a zero clearance fireplace with a triple wall flue. I looked on the Majestic web site for the manual and it was not available.

My question is "Is there any way this insert can be installed without being in a masonary fireplace?" I don't think so but wanted to see if anyone had access to a manual.

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That missing manual will be the key to the answer. Until that's found all you can do is raise a question about the installation. From your photos I'm going to guess that the fireplace is an older unit. Manufactured fireplaces have limitations on their expected lives and that one just might be going into borrowed time anyway.

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Try Majestic Products - Customer Care Brochures, Manuals and Specification Sheets

Or Contact Customer Service
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Or Check Your Model #
* I'm not seeing it.
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I didn't see it either but thanks for looking. I swear it looks like they installed a fireplace insert without a fireplace.

Originally Posted by James Duffin

I inspected a house today that had a Majestic MIM2436 Fireplace Insert installed. The best I call tell this has to be installed in a masonary fireplace but this one was installed like a zero clearance fireplace with a triple wall flue. I looked on the Majestic web site for the manual and it was not available.

My question is "Is there any way this insert can be installed without being in a masonary fireplace?" I don't think so but wanted to see if anyone had access to a manual.

Originally Posted by James Duffin

I swear it looks like they installed a fireplace insert without a fireplace.

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It's Called A Chase Installed Factory Built Fireplace.
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The data plate on the insert calls for a 12" clearance from combustible on both sides and this installation has zero clearance. I have not seen a chase installed fireplace that requires a 12" clearance so I am looking for input from folks that have.

What does the rating plate say it is listed to: UL127, which would make it a factory built fireplace or UL 1482, which would make it a woodstove?

Please, everyone, eradicate that term "zero clearance" from your vocabulary. It has led to many homes burning down because people assume the entire fireplace and chimney must be zero clearance, which they are not; Only to the floor.

You cannot install woodstove inserts into factory built fireplaces-period. They would all have to be tested and listed as a system: fireplace, stove and liner and to date not one mfr. has figured out how to do this. It is a fire hazard.

James, this is a good pickup but all you need to do now is call for the Level II and move on.

Thanks Bob. I'll try to get back into the house and take a look at the UL listing. I was hoping you would chime in!

I'd be careful about calling this installation wrong without seeing the manual for the insert and fireplace. The chimney pipe is clearly old Majestic pipe and if you know the insert is made by Majestic this may be one of the few (rare) times when the insert is properly listed and approved for the fireplace.

I agree Jim. Based on the information available on the data tag the unit is only approved for installation in a masonry fireplace and there is no fireplace in this house.....only the insert installed in a wood chase. I find it hard to believe that someone would have installed this insert the way they did if the manual did not say it was okay. But I have no way to be sure so I called for further evaluation by a fireplace specialist.

I think that is the best call.

Update:

The buyer finally found a fireplace company that knew about this type of installation. Come to find out there was a prefab fireplace hidden by the wood stove. The installer had removed all of the refectory material inside the firebox to make the wood stove fit. This had done away with the zero clearance rating of the fireplace plus the installation had several other problems. The buyer got a $4500 allowance to replace the fireplace. The bank made the seller drywall over the fireplace before they would close on the house.

As a side note the seller had been in the house about six years and had the house inspected when he bought it. He was not a happy camper that he had to do over $8000 in repairs that were missed by his inspector. He was curious as to what liability a HI has when he misses EVERYTHING! I told him to call the inspector and talk to him. Hope it all works out for the inspector! I did not bad-mouth the inspector at all to the seller as to give him a fighting chance to get it worked out.

Originally Posted by Jim Brewer

I'd be careful about calling this installation wrong without seeing the manual for the insert and fireplace. The chimney pipe is clearly old Majestic pipe and if you know the insert is made by Majestic this may be one of the few (rare) times when the insert is properly listed and approved for the fireplace.

Jim, can you provide exactly which standard Majestic was able to "properly" list an insert woodstove into a UL 127 factory built fireplace and when? Please provide model and production run dates if possible.
Thanks in advance,
Bob