chimney height next to deck

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lahrah

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Oct 3, 2008
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CA
I am installing a chimney outside a wall at the first floor. Above the first floor is a deck, so this chimney will be adjacent to the finished floor of the deck. How high does the top of the chimney need to be above the surface of the deck. Obviously the 10'/2' rule and the 3' rule doesn't apply lest the chimney flue outlet is rail height at the deck. I need an answer quick. I have exhausted all resources and can't find it in the building code.
Thanks,
Lahrah
 
Is this for a wood, pellet or gas stove? If wood, the 10/3/2 rule applies and the chimney must be above the roofline.
 
This is for a wood burning fireplace, not a stove. It will be a zero clearance product so the flue will be metal with wood framing at the chimney. I do not have a picture since it is not built yet. To explain the situation again: The fireplace is on an outside wall with the box outside of the room. The fireplace is on the first floor and directly above the room with the fireplace is a roof deck. So the chimney climbs up the exterior wall and extends above the deck. My question is how high above the deck surface should it be? Code would require 36" above a flat roof but that would not be safe so I extended it to 6' and it came back as a correction from the building department, actually more of a question. So I have been searching for an answer since.
Thanks for your help!
Lahrah
 
Lahrah,

Did you ever find an answer to this? I also have the same issue and am having a hard time getting any answers from the building department.

Thanks you,
Surfarch
 
I don't understand why the deck would be treated differently than a flat roof. It seems to me that you've satisfied code + more.
 
In my specific condition, the chimney is existing. The roof deck is part of a new addition, adjacent to the existing structure. There is no guardrail at the chimney side as the adjacent sloping roof does not create a safety risk of falling off the roof at that side. The existing chimney is only 4'-6" above the roof deck surface. (See attachment) So, the top of the chimney meets the 10/3/2 rule. However, it seems odd to have the chimney discharge so close to where people would be. A plan checker told me that it is left up to interpretation and cold be required to be raised to 8'-0" above the deck surface. That would trigger bracing and anchoring requirements that could be substantial. And, that is that ruling based on? I see no provision in the code that requires such an extension.

What is your opinion?
 

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Get a copy of NFPA 211....it may provide some guidance.
 
I did get an interpretation from the building department and they said the cap, ie any metal portion would need to be 7 feet above finished deck surface. So be it!
 
So is that what you finally did? How tall was your extension? Was it all metal? Did the city raise any structural or seismic issues with the extension?
 
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