Can a wood stove safely heat a garage workshop in Riverview NB?

Yes, a wood stove can safely heat a garage workshop in Riverview, but it requires strict compliance with fire safety codes, proper installation by a WETT-certified technician, and several important precautions specific to garage environments. A wood stove is one of the most popular heating options for detached garage workshops across New Brunswick, particularly in communities like Riverview where many homeowners have access to affordable firewood from local suppliers or their own woodlots.

The most critical requirement is that the wood stove installation must meet CSA B365 (Installation Code for Solid-Fuel-Burning Appliances and Equipment) and must be inspected by a WETT-certified professional (Wood Energy Technology Transfer). In NB, your home insurance provider will almost certainly require proof of a WETT inspection before covering a wood stove installation in any structure, including a detached garage. Installing a wood stove without proper clearances, hearth protection, and chimney specifications can void your insurance entirely — and in a garage filled with flammable materials, the consequences of a fire are severe.

Clearance requirements are the biggest challenge in a garage setting. A typical wood stove requires 36 inches of clearance from combustible walls on all sides unless a heat shield is installed, which can reduce clearances to 12-18 inches depending on the shield type and manufacturer specifications. In a single-car garage, these clearances can consume a significant portion of your floor space. A two-car garage workshop is much more practical for a wood stove installation because you have the room to maintain safe clearances while still having usable workspace. The stove must sit on a non-combustible hearth pad that extends at least 18 inches in front of the loading door and 8 inches beyond each side of the stove.

The chimney system is equally important. A wood stove in an NB garage requires a CSA-listed insulated stainless steel chimney that extends at least 3 feet above the roof penetration point and at least 2 feet higher than any structure within 10 feet. In Riverview's Maritime climate, an insulated chimney is essential — an uninsulated chimney in a cold garage creates poor draft, excessive creosote buildup, and potential chimney fire risk. Expect to pay $2,500 to $5,000 for a quality wood stove and $1,500 to $3,000 for the chimney system and installation by a WETT-certified installer.

There are several garage-specific concerns that go beyond a typical residential wood stove installation. Flammable liquids — gasoline, solvents, paints, stains, and lubricants — must be stored well away from the stove, ideally in a separate metal cabinet or outside the garage entirely. The radiant heat from a wood stove can raise the temperature of nearby containers enough to increase vapour release, and a spark or ember can ignite those vapours. Sawdust and wood shavings from workshop activities are also fire hazards near a wood stove — keep the area around the stove clean and clear at all times.

For an attached garage in Riverview, a wood stove is generally not recommended and may not be permitted. The fire separation requirements between an attached garage and the dwelling, combined with the additional fire risk of a solid-fuel appliance in a space where vehicles with gasoline are parked, make this a problematic combination. Most insurance providers will resist or refuse coverage for a wood stove in an attached garage. If your garage is attached, consider a natural gas or propane unit heater instead, which costs $1,500 to $3,500 installed and provides cleaner, more controllable heat without the fire risk of an open combustion appliance.

For your detached Riverview garage workshop, make sure the space is properly insulated (R-20 walls, R-40 or higher ceiling) before investing in any heating system. An uninsulated garage will eat firewood relentlessly and never stay warm. A well-insulated two-car garage workshop with a properly sized wood stove (40,000-60,000 BTU) will maintain comfortable working temperatures even on the coldest NB winter days. Find qualified WETT-certified installers and garage contractors through the New Brunswick Construction Network at newbrunswickconstructionnetwork.com.