Installation of HIVE Wood wood-burning stove and sauna accessories

Updated April 5, 2022

Installation of HIVE Wood wood-burning stove

Downloadable installation manual of HIVE Wood wood-burning stove: HUUM HIVE Wood manual US

Required checkups before installation
Installation of the sauna heater
Installation of HIVE Wood 17 LS that is heated from another room
Connecting the sauna stove with the chimney flue
Sauna stones

Installation of sauna accessories for the HIVE Wood burning stove

Installation of the thermal plate
Installation of the heat exchanger (water jacket)
Installation of the stone cage
Installation of the reflector

Required checkups before installation

Verify that the chosen HIVE Wood wood-burning stove model complies with the dimensions of your sauna room. Nominal heating power (kW) of the sauna stove must be in accordance with the cubic size (ft³) of the steam room. In case there are any uninsulated brick, tile, or glass walls in the sauna room, an additional volume of 4,8 ft³ must be added to the sauna room for each 1 ft² of such wall.
HIVE Wood 13 is suitable for sauna rooms sized 212-459 ft³ (6-13 m³), and HIVE Wood 17 is intended for steam rooms with a cubic size of 283-565 ft³ (8-16 m³).
The minimal safety distance between the ceiling and the walls of the steam room and flammable materials are presented in Table 1.

Installation of the sauna heater

Mounting of the sauna stove must conform to all local normative documents, including relevant national standards concerning installation.
NB! Burn outside before installation!
The outer casing of the heater has been treated with heat-resistant paint, which achieves its final protection after the first heating. Care must be taken when handling metal parts until the heater has been heated to avoid scratching. As the paint emits an unpleasant odor during the first heating, we recommend that you heat the heater outdoors, if possible, for the first time before installing the heater in the steam room. For a better draft, attach a handy piece of flue to the heater’s smoke outlet during the first heating.
Before installing the sauna stove, check the safety distances provided in Table 1. Safety distances A, B, and 47.3 in/1200 mm above the sauna stove apply to flammable materials.
If the stove is installed in a niche made of non-combustible material (stone, concrete), at least 4 in/100 mm should be left between the wall and the stove for air movement.
Safety distance from flammable materials may be reduced to 1/2 when a single heat barrier (heat reflector) is used and to 1/4 in the case of a double heat barrier. Heat barrier is included within the safety distance, and clearance between its outer surface and the protected area must be at least 1.2 in/30 mm.
Install the sauna stove on a non-combustible surface that has sufficient load-bearing capacity.
There should be no electrical devices, wires, or cords in the safety area of the sauna stove.

Table 1

Installation of HIVE Wood 17 LS that is heated from another room

The furnace bushing of the sauna stove must be made through a non-combustible wall (stone, concrete, etc.).
In addition, it is recommendable to use insulation with mineral wool or a similar material.
Leave at least 0.4 in/10 mm between the bushing and the stove for air movement. When calculating the dimensions of the opening, add 0.8 in/20 mm to the height D and width G provided in Table 1.
If the floor in front of the furnace is made from combustible material, fire-resistant floor protection (thermal plate) must be installed in front of the furnace door. The protection must be 23.63 in/600 mm wider than door width G, with a depth of at least 15.75 in/400 mm.

Connecting the sauna stove with the chimney flue

The sauna stove must be connected to the chimney flue by a specialist.
The flue gas outlet is on the top of the sauna stove. The sauna stove is connected to the chimney flue with special flue pipes that may be caulked with heat-resistant sealing rope, when necessary.
The curves of the elbows of the connection pipes must be smooth in order to minimize draught loss.
The pipe is inserted through the wall of the chimney and then sealed with mineral wool.
The flue gases of the stove must be directed into a separate flue. It is forbidden to use a common flue that is utilized with other furnaces.

Important! Utilization of forced extract ventilation might cause problems with air exchange of the room and insufficiency of furnace combustion air; therefore, designing and constructing such ventilation systems is permitted only on the sole responsibility of a licensed specialist.

Sauna stones

Sauna stones with a diameter of 2-4 in (5–10 cm) are suitable for HIVE Wood wood-burning stoves. It is recommendable to use round sauna stones in HUUM sauna heaters. Round stones complement the design of the heaters and provide milder steam. Our product range includes round olivine diabase sauna stones and are sold in packs weighing 33 lb / 15 kg.
Of course, sauna stones from other manufacturers may be used in HUUM sauna heaters, but in such a case it is recommended to choose stones that are specifically meant for use in sauna heaters and to avoid decorative stones as they may break easily.

Quantity of sauna stones

HIVE Wood 13 burning stove requires 198 lb / 90 kg of sauna stones with a diameter of 2-4 in (5–10 cm).
HIVE Wood 17 and HIVE Wood 17 LS burning stoves require 298 lb / 135 kg of sauna stones with a diameter of 2-4 in (5–10 cm).

Installation of sauna accessories for the HIVE Wood wood-burning stove

Installation of the thermal plate

Choose the desired location for the thermal plate. When positioning the plate, pay attention to ensuring the safety distances stipulated in the user manual of the sauna stove.
Adjust the height of the legs so that the thermal plate is level and stable and does not sway on the floor. If possible, use a spirit-level.
Place the sauna stove in the center of the thermal plate so that the distance from all sides of the plate is equal.
After placing the sauna stove on the plate, verify again that the safety distances of the sauna stove are proper.

Installation of the heat exchanger (water jacket)

Before mounting the heat exchanger (water jacket), install the HIVE Wood wood-burning stove, but don’t stack it with sauna stones. You will need a separate water tank that will be connected to the water jacket.

Heat exchanger may be placed at the rear side of the sauna stove, or at one of the lateral sides.
The heat exchanger must be fitted on the triangular frame, tightly against the sauna stove.
When connecting the water jacket with the water tank and filling the sauna stove with stones, observe that the heat exchanger remains snugly against the furnace.
Water tank must be located higher than the pipe connections of the heat exchanger to ensure its proper functioning. The minimum diameter of the water pipe is ¾ inches. Pay attention to the inclinations of the pipe – air bubbles should not get trapped in the circulation.

Installation of the stone cage

Place the stone cage around the chimney pipe.
Fill the cage with sauna stones.
Important! You can place several cages around the chimney pipe. Use 3 bolts for connecting two cages. The maximum diameter of the bolts is M6 and minimal length of the threads is 0,55 in / 14 mm. Choose nuts that are suitable for the bolts.

Use approximately 66 lb / 30 kg of sauna stones with a diameter of 2-4 in / 5–10 cm for filling the stone cage.

Installation of the reflector

Place the reflector on the collars so that the upper hook of the reflector fits over the upper collar of the heater, and the lower hook goes around the closest collar. Ready!
In the case that you wish to join several reflectors together, set the external edges of the reflectors against each other, and fasten their upper and lower parts with bolts and nuts.