Help with stove top / microwave distance. Narrative suggestions please.

[Nick Gromicko]

13.5 inches between stove top and microwave bottom:

[James H. Bushart]

Refer to manufacturer's instructions, first.

Go from there.

[William T. Misegades]

Originally Posted by gromicko

13.5 inches between stove top and microwave bottom:

Recommend having short buyers...
Most likely recommend removing the microwave.

[Christopher Currins]

What JB said. Refer to manufacturer instructions.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

I don't care what the manufacturer says. I'd call that a hazardous installation and a fire hazard.

"The microwave had inadequate clearance from the range-top burners. This condition will interfere with cooking operations and may be a potential fire hazard. The Inspector recommends correction by a qualified contractor."

[Gary D. Rowden]

The 13.5” clearance between stovetop and over the range microwave is to close and may be a potential fire hazard. Typically the manufacturer’s installation instructions on most over the range microwaves specify a 16” minimum clearance above stovetop. Recommend further evaluation and correction by a qualified licensed contractor.

[Russel Ray]

A couple of years ago I had a microwave that was 10½" from burner to bottom of microwave. I mentioned it to my Clients and told them that I would check the Internet to see if I could find the installation instructions but that I doubted 10½" was okay. Well, 10½" actually was okay. That's the lowest clearance that I've ever found.

[KEVIN WOOD]

I agree with Kenton and would report the same way. You do not need to see the recommended distance if you can explain the common problem to your client. Some manufactures want it closer to the elements to provide better performance of the vent unit designed into the microwave.
We are concerned with SAFETY.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

If this were my inspection, I would begin my research with the manufacturer of the convection oven, as there is no microwave pictured.

(I may be an ***, but my clients love me for my attention to detail).

[Marcel Gratton]

Originally Posted by gromicko

13.5 inches between stove top and microwave bottom:

Below copied from the National Building Code (Canada); most likely it would be similar in the US.

1) Except as provided in Sentence (2), framing, finishes and cabinetry installed directly above the location of the range shall be not less than 750 mm (29.5 inches) above the level of range burners or elements.
2) The vertical clearance described in Sentence 1) for framing, finishes and cabinets located directly above the location of the range may be reduced to 600mm ((24 inches) above the level of the elements or burners provided the framing, finishes and cabinets
a) are noncombustible, or
b) are protected by
i) asbestos millboard not less than 6 mm thick, covered with sheet metal not less than 0.33 mm thick, or
ii) a metal hood with a 125 mm (5 inch) projection beyond the framing, finishes and cabinets.

[KEVIN WOOD]

Nick can't you tell that is not a microwave. It is written on the pic. LOL

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[Barry Adair]

......

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Lacking specific code for this situation, most building inspectors would require the microwave be installed per the manufacturer's instructions. With that said...most instructions have minimum heights as shown in the attached picture below. Remember, those are minimum heights, and your cabinets, if any, should be built to this specification. If you were to use these minimum heights, and using the typical microwave height of 16-17", you would have a 13-14" clearance from the top of the range to the bottom of the microwave. This doesn't seem like much, but may be a good height for you, since you'll be lifting things into the microwave. Though it may be to low, because 13-14" wont accommodate some larger pots.



Basically, the manufactures recommended installation heights do not make any sense due to the different heights of microwaves and convection ovens.
It appears to be a standard Boiler Plate detail that they all use.

If you look at most installations in pictures, books, and lumber yard displays, you will notice that the bottom of the microwave is about 1 down from the bottom of the cabinets.
This dictates that the height would be 17" off the top of the range.

This never coincides with the manufactures detail for mounting height of 30" to the top or 66".

[clambert2]

Kenton and Kevin,

If the manufacturer allows the close clearance then who are you to say they are a fire hazard? Who gave you the almighty power to circumvent them?
Your I don't care it is a fire hazard attitude just kills me, actually it it quite comical

[clambert2]

O yeah is metal combustible?