Building Code questions

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.

dogwood

Minister of Fire
Mar 22, 2009
825
Western VA
Anybody here familiar with the IBC, International Building Code. I have three questions I couldn't locate the answers to after researching them in the IBC code books at the library Monday.

1. According to the IBC, how high does manufactured chimney have to go above, and adjacent to the roofline or an adjacent exterior wall. My own IBC Mechanical Code book mentions clearances for vents, but is unclear if they are using the term vents interchangeably with chimneys, more specifically manufactured chimney (ala Supervent), in this context.

2. By the IBC, using an appropriate pass-through connector, how close to a sheetrocked ceiling can you go with single wall pipe before you have to transition to UL 103 HT double or triple wall manufactured chimney? The Supervent chimney piping diagram at Lowes showed the pipe transitioning right at the ceiling line. Didn't look at all safe.

3. According to the IBC, is there a regulation how thick, or fire resistant, sheetrock has to be in a residential boiler room, and does it have to be of any special type? The library did not have the IBC fire code book.

Thanks,

Mike
 
The following are my understanding, but I am not in the trade.
1) The chimney must terminate 2 feet above any structural element within 10 feet. So from the top of the chimney measure down two feet and then sweep a 10 ft radius.
2) single wall pipe needs 18" clearance to combustibles (including sheetrock ceiling) so the single wall will need to terminate low enough to maintain that clearance.
3) 5/8" fire code sheetrock, 1 hour fire rated is standard. My building department no longer requires this, but I installed it anyway. It is worth checking with them.

Regards,
Scott B.
 
The Building Code book and installation manual keep referring to NFPA 211, a National Fire Protection Association standard, as the guideline for chimney installation. I've gone to their site and joined because they provide the standards online free to members. Unfortunately Windows Vista has somehow made it impossible to utilize Java applets or whatever is necessary to use the code-books RealRead program. I've tried all the updates and problem solving I can think of. Has anybody been able to download an electronic copy of the free NFPA 211 standard they would be willing to share via email, or know how to beat Microsoft Vista's little game here. Local libraries don't have these standards either. Hate to have to spring for the book when they are giving the standards away online.

Mike
 
go 3 feet above the roof peak and you will out of trouble and sleeping well :)
 
Here is a link to the MA building code for chimneys. If you can't find something similar for your state, then give the building inspector a call. For our state, it is 2 ft above any part of the roof within 10 ft of 3ft above the roof line if it is within that radius.

http://www.mass.gov/Eeops/docs/dps/780 CMR/780060.pdf
 
Thanks Scott, That link was helpful. I'm reading through the Mass. regs right now. I'm currently trying to figure out the requirements are for an interior wall partition pass-through of single wall stove-pipe, before the single wall pipe gets to the Supervent double wall chimney which will be a number of feet away on the other side of the partition. I'd like to avoid if possible running the Supervent all the way to the partition. Not sure this is allowable or not.

Mike
 
I think it's always prudent to ask the local code enforcement officer that has jurisdiction in your area.
They (are supposed to) know the current code and how it applies to your setup. If they have to approve your setup (not always true everywhere) it would be good to know what they want to see before you spend the time and money.
 
Couldn't agree with you more Dave. I do like to be knowledgeable when I approach the building inspector and not to come off as an amateur (which I am) pestering him/her with questions like these all the time, so I consult the code books first. I don't want to give the impression I don't know what I am doing either. I don't like to ask for directions when I'm driving either, like many a guy. On the other hand I do like pestering you all on this site with a million questions. Its amazing how much you all know.

Mike
 
Status
Not open for further replies.