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Clearance to Combustibles

Pappy Code Dog,

As I understand it a chimney is a chimney, regardless of how big it is correct? Combustibles may not touch or be with in a specified distance even if the masonry is many feet think.
 
he needed to maintain 2" all tha way around, and the mantle height above (projection) is based on how many inches above the fireplace, no?
 
Nice picture, I have not seen a fireplace during construction. But, I have seen them during de-construction. Someone would put in an insert and then we found that even 2" of clearance was not enough when the insert was in operation. Hitting underneath the mantle with an axe would get access to poke in an 1.5 hose to control the fire. When water ran out of the fire box, the fire was usually controlled enough to start removing brick.
 
The basement fireplace, being part of the foundation wall, made the exception to the 2" free air space, but he has to get it so combustibles are not in direct contact. The upstairs fire place needs 2" from firebox and 1" for chimney, since it will be located outside of the exterior wall. Between his initial inspection and reinspection, his foam insulator completly covered the entire thing. Including the osb they used to form the hearth extention. He wasn't happy when I explained the difference between clearance to combustible and free air space. Still waiting on the manufactures report to see if the foam is classified as a noncombustible.
 
That's my understanding, certain exceptions like the distance from fire box to foundation wall, if they were constructed as one. Or being able to float the sheathing over the framing member and butt directly into the masonary. I'm not sure how sheathing is allowed and other framing is not, but that is how the code breaks it out.
 
Yes I also think about it that it is a chimney. Anyhow all the participants perform well. And I really appreciate to you about this.
 
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