919.0 Food Service Appliances, Counter Appliances

A vertical distance of not less than 48 inches (1219 mm) shall be provided between the top of food service hot plates and griddles and combustible material. [NFPA 54:10.13.1]

Listed food service counter appliances such as hot plates and griddles, food and dish warmers, and coffee brewers and urns, where installed on combustible surfaces, shall be set on their own bases or legs and shall be installed with a horizontal clearance of not less than 6 inches (152 mm) from combustible material, except that not less than a 2 inches (51 mm) clearance shall be maintained between a draft hood and combustible material. Food service counter appliances listed for installation at lesser clearances shall be installed in accordance with their listing and the manufacturer's installation instructions.

Unlisted food service hot plates and griddles shall be installed with a horizontal clearance from combustible material of not less than 18 inches (457 mm). Unlisted gas food service counter appliances, including coffee brewers and urns, waffle bakers, and hot water immersion sterilizers, shall be installed with a horizontal clearance from combustible material of not less than 12 inches (305 mm). Reduced clearances for gas food service counter appliances shall be in accordance with Table 303.10.1. Unlisted food and dish warmers shall be installed with a horizontal clearance from combustible material of not less than 6 inches (152 mm). [NFPA 54:10.13.3]

Unlisted food service counter appliances shall not be set on combustible material unless they have legs that provide not less than 4 inches (102 mm) of open space below the burners and the combustible surface is protected with insulating millboard not less than 1/4 of an inch (6.4 mm) thick covered with sheet metal not less than 0.0122 of an inch (0.3099 mm) thick, or with equivalent protection. [NFPA 54:10.13.4]