Specifications for Contractors

GENERAL CONTRACTOR SPECIFICATIONS:

Framing of walls and ceiling shall be of dry Douglas Fir, construction grade no.1 or 2, 16″ center. Use pressure treated plates (against concrete). For metal studs line room with 5/8” plywood or apply 1×2 wood nailing strips over 5/8” drywall.

Ceiling shall be 7′ 0″ from finished floor to bottom of ceiling joists (16″ center). If higher ceiling is desired do not make ceiling over 8’ 0” high or heat at bench levels will be ineffective for proper bathing.

Door shall be roughed in at 26″ x 82″ and must open out. Unfinished Sauna door is to be treated at jobsite with clear wood sealer. ADA door rough opening is 38 1/2” x 82” (if necessary).

Insulation of walls and ceiling shall be of R13 fiberglass batts (R19 if 2×6 framing is used). Unfaced or kraft paper faced insulation types are both acceptable.

Sauna Interior Drywall shall be 5/8″ firewall (if necessary). The preferred method is to attach Sauna wood paneling directly to the wood stud frame. Check local building codes in your area to determine if drywall must be installed inside the Sauna room.

Added Vapor Barrier shall be of Type C building foil over insulation (or drywall) for all walls and ceiling. The foil is the last layer before the paneling is installed.

Flooring shall be hard surfaced, waterproof such as concrete, ceramic tile, or heavy-duty seamless vinyl.

Floor Drain is recommended for new construction and is essential for commercial and public Saunas.

Exterior Walls shall be of drywall, paneling, tile, etc. and exterior painting, door finishing, etc. shall be provided by others.

Fire Sprinkler is required for most large commercial Saunas and for some larger residences (check local building codes). If fire sprinkler is necessary sprinkler head shall be set for 275°F or higher and should not be located directly over the Sauna heater.

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR SPECIFICATIONS:

(Must be licensed and bonded)
Rough-in for Sauna wall controls, heater, and room light(s)–shall be as per Finlandia wiring diagram (provided with control box or in heater box)

Hookup of controls, heater, and light(s) shall be as per Finlandia wiring diagram. Leave about 3 feet of wire at heater location where wire exits stud wall and enters Sauna room. Seal-tight flexible conduit is used to connect to the heater. Use COPPER WIRES ONLY.

FINLANDIA SAUNA CONTRACTOR SPECIFICATIONS:

Walls and Ceiling shall be 1″x 4″ select, certified, kiln-dried (moisture content not exceeding 11%) T&G, v joint, clear 1″x 4″ Western Red Cedar, clear 1″x 4″ Alaska Yellow Cedar, or clear 1″x 4″ Western Hemlock. All boards shall be blind nailed with 5p galvanized, hot dipped nails, or power stapled with galvanized 1 1/2” long x 1/4” crown staples.

The following specs shall include and match one of the four woods chosen above:

Benches shall be clear S4S kiln-dried 2″x 2″ tops with 3/8″ spacing and 2″x 4″ facing; glued and fastened with exposed nails countersunk. Bench tops shall be fastened from bottom to eliminate exposed metal.

Door shall be FGD 2′ 0″x 6′ 8″ of Douglas Fir rails and clear hermetically sealed, double glass, tempered (16″x 60″) with casing, jamb, and threshold of Hemlock. Door does not have a finish (to be treated at jobsite).

Door Hardware shall be (3) 4″x 4″ chrome butt hinges, chrome roller catch, and (2) wooden door pulls.

Vents shall be (2) 4″x 10″ louvered V10 for upper wall placement and lower wall placement. RO = 4” x 10”.

Removable Flooring shall be Super Dek interlocking 12” x 12″ x 1/2” plastic tiles (sanitary, non-skid surface in terra cotta or tan color) over walking area of base floor.

Light shall be wall-mounted, vapor-proof Progress P5511, satin finish cast aluminum, rated for 100 watts.

Sauna Heater shall be FINLANDIA model as per cubic room footage and voltage requirements.

Heater Fence shall be of 2″x 2″ or 2″x 4″ and shall be placed 2 1/2″ away from Sauna heater.

Temperature Control/Contactor

Accessories listed in accessory section of the site.

Stones shall be a peridotite, heat tested, igneous type from Finland.

Precut and Prefab Saunas shall be as per specifications on FPC and FPF pages.

Warranty shall be 1 yr. on room materials and workmanship and 5 yr. limited warranty on Sauna heaters when installed according to Finlandia specifications and wiring information.

MAINTENANCE

Finlandia Sauna heaters and rooms require minimum care and maintenance. Basic household methods, including cleaning of Sauna room floor with a product such as Pine Sol or Simply Green, and occasional scrubbing of benches with a mild soap, is necessary for sanitary and odor-free atmosphere. When wood becomes dark or stained from perspiration, a light sanding will help to restore its beautiful appearance. Do not use sealers, paint or varnish on interior wood, as toxic vapors could be dangerous in the high temperatures of a Sauna.

NOTE: When figuring room capacities for number of bathers, allow 2′ of bench space per person.

FINLANDIA SAUNA IS THE ONLY U.S. COMPANY WHICH OFFERS A CHOICE OF THE WORLD’S BEST SAUNA WOODS:

Clear Western Red Cedar, clear Alaska Yellow Cedar, and clear Western Hemlock (all are 1″x 4″, 11/16 actual thickness)

Western Red Cedar

Western Red Cedar

1″ x 4″ (ACTUAL THICKNESS 11/16″)

WESTERN RED CEDAR is the best known and most widely used of the West Coast cedars. It has the most beautiful color variation, has a refreshing aroma, and is dry-rot resistant. Because it’s the softest wood, it is least hot to sit on or lean against.

Alaska Yellow Cedar

Alaska Yellow Cedar

1″ x 4″ (ACTUAL THICKNESS 11/16″)

ALASKA YELLOW CEDAR is an exclusive white cedar with a strong, pungent aroma. It feels almost silky to the touch, and has a beautiful creamy texture.

Western Hemlock

Western Hemlock

1″ x 4″ (ACTUAL THICKNESS 11/16″)

Clear WESTERN HEMLOCK is an excellent wood for people who have wood allergies-it has no aroma and no resins.

Finlandia Sauna does not use inexpensive woods such as thin knotty spruce which has a tendency to cup, shrink, warp and crack; (and some knots come loose when the pitch and resin around them dries in the high heat of the Sauna). Many European Saunas, however, are built from knotty spruce as it has been the available wood for centuries. Knotty spruce cannot be used for benches as it gets too hot, and the knots and pitch can burn the bather; so African Abachi is imported for benches. Abachi is a clear wood and it’s comfortable for sitting; but it has a peculiar, unpleasant odor. FINLANDIA uses only clear Western soft- woods with the proper matching softwood for benches.

Note to architect before specifying: To be sure that your customer gets the best wood, ask for lumber samples from Sauna suppliers to compare wood qualities and thickness. Finlandia is happy to supply samples, upon request.

These specifications also apply to our Harvia Saunas.