California Residential Fireplace Termination

[danSAA]

In California, per Green Code mandatory residential requirement 4.503, fireplaces must be "direct-vent sealed-combustion type".

Plan checker noted the above requirements (without code section) and then also noted:

• Chimney vents shall terminate at least 2 ft above any point on the roof within 10 ft horizontally of the vent. CMC 802.5.4
• Chimney vents shall extend a minimum of 3 ft above the highest point of the vent penetration. CMC 802.5.4

However I believe this is the wrong code, per CMC Table 802.4 direct vent appliances use CMC 802.2.6 which states:

802.2.6 Direct Vent Appliances. Listed direct vent appliances shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions and Section 802.8.2. [NFPA 54:12.3.5] ​

​

The code plan checker references is for 802.5 Masonry, Metal, and Factory-Built Chimneys.

Manufacturer's literature requires just 1'-0" for Flat to 6/12 roof. I can add the instruction page to the drawings along with fireplace spec sheet.

Do I have this correct?

 

[Yikes]

I think you are correct. Paste the manufacturer's installation instructions, spec sheet, and and appliance listing onto the plans.

UPDATE: On the plans where you call out the fireplace, and provide a note or keynote which says:
"Vented Decorative Appliance Fireplace - a Direct Vent Appliance installed in accordance with manufacturer's instructions for Special Listed Gas Vent per CMC Table 802.4. (Not a CMC Chimney vent)"

From the CMC definitions:

Appliance. A device that utilizes an energy source to produce light, heat, power, refrigeration, air conditioning, or compressed fuel gas. This definition also shall include a vented decorative appliance.

Direct-Vent Appliances. Appliances that are constructed and installed so that all air for combustion is derived directly from the outdoors and all flue gases are discharged to the outdoors. [NFPA 54:3.3.5.3]

Vented Decorative Appliance. A vented appliance whose only function is providing an aesthetic effect of flames.

From 802.4:

802.4.3 Special Gas Vent​

Special gas vents shall be listed and labeled in accordance with UL 1738 and installed in accordance with the special gas vent manufacturer's installation instructions. [NFPA 54:12.5.4]

 

[klarenbeek]

Gas fireplaces typically have gas appliance vents, not chimneys. A chimney is either a masonry structure or a factory assembly listed as a chimney. They are typically approved to vent anything from natural gas to oil to solid fuel (just not a combination of them in the same chimney). A vent is a passageway for venting the products of a specific appliance or appliance type. almost all gas "fireplaces" are actually decorative appliances listed for use with special gas vent, and can't be vented into a chimney. The plan checker is trying to put two things together that can't be put together.