Codes for Decommissioning a Fireplace
Hi all – I’m looking to permanently decommission all original wood-burning fireplaces in our 1925 home. There are 3 separate fireplaces stacked on top of each other – basement, living room, bedroom – each with separate flues I assume running through a single chimney. The top floor bedroom has already been sealed off with masonry and tile, the living room had a gas insert with intake/exhaust pipes running through the flue, and the basement appears to be in original condition though unused for probably decades. I’ve already removed the living room gas insert and want to make the fireplace purely decorative, including building it out and adding stone/tile.
I’ve been trying to find if there’s any codes regulating how you seal fireplaces but nothing is turning up in online searches for my municipality or state (OH). The only thing I found in OH code online was this:
Abandoned inlet openings in chimneys and vents shall be closed by an approved method.
… with nothing saying what an “approved method” is. I guess the most important safety consideration is that no one ever attempts to burn anything again, but I have also seen some mentions of sealing the chimney being a bad idea due to condensation issues. I am also unsure what requirements for decommissioning I have to meet to exempt it from fireplace construction code when I make the cosmetic changes – I want to build it out a bit and obviously wouldn’t want to have to add fire-rated masonry etc. just for cosmetics. Anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks!
TD
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Replies
"Approved method" means that it is approved by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). If you've got local building code enforcement, they would be the ones to ask. There is nothing specific in the codes about decommissioning - the codes apply far more to building up than tearing down. If the local AHJ wants to be picky and treats the modified fireplaces as "not fireplaces," then they would most obviously be walls, floors and ceilings, and they should meet the current code requirements for air sealing, insulation, weatherproofing, etc. For old-fashioned chimney systems that are part inside and part outside, this could get weird and expensive. OTOH, many muni inspectors would let it go at permanently cementing the top and bottom of the flues and call it a day. It is certainly best to ask before you get very far into the process.
Thanks Peter, makes sense! This is part of a larger reno so I’ll ask my contractor about it, though I imagine they won’t be thrilled to add it to the project scope. :)