It’s not inside the chimney. Interior chimney has no structure outside the house. Think center of home Exterior chimney has a has structure outside, think along an exterior wall.
Inside yes creosote is combustible. But I am talking about outside the chimney not inside
Only if it was built with 2" clearance (interior) or 1" (exterior) from combustibles.
This is good to know. I always assumed that the masonry was also a thermal barrier as it doesn't seem to be a good heat conductor. I'm learning lots here. Thanks guys!
With a 2000 degree chimney fire in the chimney that masonry isn't enough of a thermal barrier.
One more question if I could:
Is it safe to say that a "chimney fire" is anything that catches fire AROUND a chimney? I thought it was fire within. Still learning. #NoBurnNovember.
A chimney fire is inside the chimney it it catches things around the chimney that is then a structure fire and what all of this is meant to avoid
So creosote? What is the initial burn source that's not wood in the firebox to cause a chimney fire?
I initially took the term "chimney fire" too literally and was thinking of a fire WITHIN the chimney, rather than heat radiating FROM the chimney causing adjacent combustibles to burn. I get it now.
I think the term chimney fire does indicate an uncontrollable fire of creosote within the flue. It is really hot and can lead to a failure of the system resulting in fire spreading to combustibles closest to the chimney. So if you don’t have any combustibles In contact with the chimney is much safer.
No a chimney fire is a fire in the chimney. If it's outside the chimney it is a structure fire
Not just uncontrollable. And fire in the chimney is a chimney fire. There also doesn't need to be any failure of the system. The chimney can be perfectly intact but transmit enough heat through the masonry to cause ignition. That is the reason for the clearance requirements.
