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This is the same clearance between a standard height counter top and the lower edge of 30-inch wall cabinets when mounted below a 12-inch soffit in a room with 8-foot ceilings.
This is the same clearance between a standard height counter top and the lower edge of 30-inch wall cabinets when mounted below a 12-inch soffit in a room with 8-foot ceilings.
I don't know if this is the legal answer, but I doubt it: counter-tops generally don't have fire coming out of them.
Even if safety were not a concern, I would definitely want more space. My tallest pan is about eight inches tall, and 18 inches wouldn't leave much space for a spoon or ladle. The pan sits about an inch higher than the edge of the range, so there goes another inch. Also, anyone taller than five feet would have a hard time working at the stove with the microwave at that height.
The microwave right above the stove will get a lot of heat and a lot of grease. It will need frequent cleaning, which will be difficult if it is low.
My hood is about 22.5 inches above the body of the range and 21.5 above the burner grills (or whatever those things are called).
My preference is to use a regular hood, properly vented, and to put the microwave elsewhere.
623.4 Domestic range installation. Domestic ranges installed
on combustible floors shall be set on their own bases or legs and
shall be installed with clearances of not less than that shown on
the label.
623.5 Open-top broiler unit hoods. A ventilating hood shall
be provided above a domestic open-top broiler unit, unless otherwise
listed for forced down draft ventilation.
623.5.1 Clearances. A minimum clearance of 24 inches
(610 mm) shall be maintained between the cooking top and
combustible material above the hood. The hood shall be at
least as wide as the open-top broiler unit and be centered
over the unit.
I made the mistake of having a micro installed over a stove in a past kitchen remodel. I'll never do it again. Totally brutal to clean, venting is less than optimal, and the first microwave's control panel burnt out in a year and a half.
Minimum Clearances and Optimal Clearances are not the same thing. Most manufacturers of over the range microwaves will give you their minimum required clearances in the spec sheet. For instance, GE says you must have a minimum of 13" clearance over your cooktop. However, this is really not enough space from a functional or aesthetic perspective.
Since a microwave is not made of combustible materials, it is completely appropriate to align the bottom of the microwave with the bottom of your wall cabinets (typically 18" from the counter). The higher the microwave, the more difficult it will be to use. The height of your cabinet above will then be determined by the size of the microwave you select.
It is important to note that most of these microwaves also stick out deeper than the 12" for standard wall cabinets. Some people are ok with this. Others choose to use a deeper 15" cabinet over the microwave.
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