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Fireplace building code? #2991859
12/23/19 09:09 AM
12/23/19 09:09 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8,032
Huntsville
jono23 Offline OP
14 point
jono23  Offline OP
14 point
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8,032
Huntsville
We bought a house, fixing some things up, had a question maybe one of you can answer....

Is there any sort of "code" for fireplace hearth height? I see extending out 16" and on the sides 8" but don't see anything about height.

Re: Fireplace building code? [Re: jono23] #2991863
12/23/19 09:17 AM
12/23/19 09:17 AM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,099
N AL
tpageal Offline
Basket Rack
tpageal  Offline
Basket Rack
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,099
N AL
Be careful here. I repaired and upgraded one on an old home we lived in, in Madison Co in the 90s. Went to change insurance companies a few yrs later and they didn’t care if it was done to code or not, they wanted to see a receipt from a company that did the work. Wasn’t isolated to one insurance co either. In the end I had to cap it so it couldn’t be used in order to insure it.

Re: Fireplace building code? [Re: jono23] #2991865
12/23/19 09:22 AM
12/23/19 09:22 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34,209
Boxes Cove
2Dogs Offline
Freak of Nature
2Dogs  Offline
Freak of Nature
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34,209
Boxes Cove
Go by the building inspectors office and ask them. I'll add this they're not using raised hearths in new construction much anymore. The clean, floor level is what's in now. I guess a rustic home with a stone profile would get a raised hearth.



"Why do you ask"?

Always vote the slowest path to socialism.







Re: Fireplace building code? [Re: 2Dogs] #2991904
12/23/19 10:03 AM
12/23/19 10:03 AM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 21,751
USA
R
Remington270 Offline
Freak of Nature
Remington270  Offline
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R
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 21,751
USA
I don't see many masonry chimneys being built at all any more. Even nicer, newer neighborhoods with 5,000 square foot houses don't get real chimneys at all any more. The few that have them have the fireplace inserts with the triple wall pipe, instead of actual brick chimneys.

Re: Fireplace building code? [Re: 2Dogs] #2991908
12/23/19 10:10 AM
12/23/19 10:10 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8,032
Huntsville
jono23 Offline OP
14 point
jono23  Offline OP
14 point
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8,032
Huntsville
Originally Posted by 2Dogs
Go by the building inspectors office and ask them. I'll add this they're not using raised hearths in new construction much anymore. The clean, floor level is what's in now. I guess a rustic home with a stone profile would get a raised hearth.


Yeah, we keep seeing a lot of the clean floor level look, but was told by someone (that probably knows nothing) that they are ok with gas fireplaces, but with real fireplaces you have to have an elevated hearth. I'll call a building inspector to ask, just figured I'd ask on here.

We aren't doing anything to it yet but just trying to think ahead and not do anything we will have to re-do later.

Re: Fireplace building code? [Re: jono23] #2991912
12/23/19 10:16 AM
12/23/19 10:16 AM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 237
Houston, AL
T
tenthlegionnaire Offline
4 point
tenthlegionnaire  Offline
4 point
T
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 237
Houston, AL
Hearth has to be a minimum 4" thick. If you raise it 8" you can reduce your extension thickness for non combustible materials to 3/8" instead of 2". We are currently under the 2006 IRC in Madison and that is our specs for masonry fireplaces.

Last edited by tenthlegionnaire; 12/23/19 10:18 AM.
Re: Fireplace building code? [Re: Remington270] #2991913
12/23/19 10:17 AM
12/23/19 10:17 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34,209
Boxes Cove
2Dogs Offline
Freak of Nature
2Dogs  Offline
Freak of Nature
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34,209
Boxes Cove
Originally Posted by Remington270
I don't see many masonry chimneys being built at all any more. Even nicer, newer neighborhoods with 5,000 square foot houses don't get real chimneys at all any more. The few that have them have the fireplace inserts with the triple wall pipe, instead of actual brick chimneys.


At about $15,000 a pop and up you'll be seeing less and less of them on new construction.

A trim salesman told me the other day the next big thing coming is no trim inside. They have some inserts that go around the windows and doors the sheet rock finishers mud them in. My understanding is they put flooring in before sheet, rock and put the rock down on the floor. It's taking off in the Northeast , high end homes without a stick of trim inside! It's all about fast , cheap and keeping the job rolling. Much of the problem is finding real craftsmen that can do the high end , old school work now days.



"Why do you ask"?

Always vote the slowest path to socialism.







Re: Fireplace building code? [Re: jono23] #2991917
12/23/19 10:22 AM
12/23/19 10:22 AM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 237
Houston, AL
T
tenthlegionnaire Offline
4 point
tenthlegionnaire  Offline
4 point
T
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 237
Houston, AL
What Inspection Department has jurisdiction for your area and I can probably give you a contact number for an inspector?

Re: Fireplace building code? [Re: tenthlegionnaire] #2991918
12/23/19 10:22 AM
12/23/19 10:22 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34,209
Boxes Cove
2Dogs Offline
Freak of Nature
2Dogs  Offline
Freak of Nature
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34,209
Boxes Cove
Originally Posted by tenthlegionnaire
Hearth has to be a minimum 4" thick. If you raise it 8" you can reduce your extension thickness for non combustible materials to 3/8" instead of 2". We are currently under the 2006 IRC in Madison and that is our specs for masonry fireplaces.


So national code now is you can't have a real working masonry fireplace with a floor level hearth?

LIke this?
[Linked Image]



"Why do you ask"?

Always vote the slowest path to socialism.







Re: Fireplace building code? [Re: 2Dogs] #2991933
12/23/19 10:43 AM
12/23/19 10:43 AM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 237
Houston, AL
T
tenthlegionnaire Offline
4 point
tenthlegionnaire  Offline
4 point
T
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 237
Houston, AL
Originally Posted by 2Dogs
Originally Posted by tenthlegionnaire
Hearth has to be a minimum 4" thick. If you raise it 8" you can reduce your extension thickness for non combustible materials to 3/8" instead of 2". We are currently under the 2006 IRC in Madison and that is our specs for masonry fireplaces.


So national code now is you can't have a real working masonry fireplace with a floor level hearth?

LIke this?
[Linked Image]

That would be a negative inside the City of Madison. Although where i live (outside the city) you will still see that style from time to time. Most new homes just go with the inserts now. There are thousands of homes that look like this and have never had any issues but it only takes that one to get it in the code book to regulate.

Re: Fireplace building code? [Re: tenthlegionnaire] #2991973
12/23/19 11:35 AM
12/23/19 11:35 AM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 237
Houston, AL
T
tenthlegionnaire Offline
4 point
tenthlegionnaire  Offline
4 point
T
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 237
Houston, AL
Originally Posted by tenthlegionnaire
Originally Posted by 2Dogs
Originally Posted by tenthlegionnaire
Hearth has to be a minimum 4" thick. If you raise it 8" you can reduce your extension thickness for non combustible materials to 3/8" instead of 2". We are currently under the 2006 IRC in Madison and that is our specs for masonry fireplaces.


So national code now is you can't have a real working masonry fireplace with a floor level hearth?

LIke this?
[Linked Image]

That would be a negative inside the City of Madison. Although where i live (outside the city) you will still see that style from time to time. Most new homes just go with the inserts now. There are thousands of homes that look like this and have never had any issues but it only takes that one to get it in the code book to regulate.

The reason this wouldn't work is because even though the clay veneers are 4" at the base of fire box and the brick is 2" thick in front it would have to extend 20" in front of the opening and a fastened in cage would have to be installed to prevent a log from rolling out on the flat surface. So I guess the answer to your question is yes you can have a floor level hearth but you have more extreme measures you have to take. Most people these days just want to put tile in front but the opening has to be raised 8" to do that.

Re: Fireplace building code? [Re: jono23] #2991981
12/23/19 11:42 AM
12/23/19 11:42 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8,032
Huntsville
jono23 Offline OP
14 point
jono23  Offline OP
14 point
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8,032
Huntsville
Ah, I guess I have my lingo wrong. The hearth EXTENSION is what would be floor level...potentially, the actual fireplace is up 4". Maybe I'm way off on all of this, I'll just try to post a picture.
'

Re: Fireplace building code? [Re: jono23] #2992077
12/23/19 02:36 PM
12/23/19 02:36 PM
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 456
Northport, Alabama
S
sportrep Offline
4 point
sportrep  Offline
4 point
S
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 456
Northport, Alabama
Be sure and check to see which version of code your municipality follows. In Tuscaloosa you can have a flush floor hearth extension 60” X 20” but it must have adhere to a specified R factor. There is a product called Micore 300 that carries a very high R factor that can help achieve your goal. You would install it below the non combustible hearth extension.
The mantel height required is 12” above the fireplace opening for masonry fireplaces (in Tuscaloosa). Most municipalities follow manufacturer’s guidelines for pre fabricated fireplaces. Most of those guidelines are more restrictive than masonry fireplaces. Be sure to review the installer’s guide for any pre fab fireplace regarding clearance requirements. They are likely different for each manufacturer.

Re: Fireplace building code? [Re: jono23] #2992090
12/23/19 02:56 PM
12/23/19 02:56 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 9,637
blount county alabama
I
imadeerhntr Offline
14 point
imadeerhntr  Offline
14 point
I
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 9,637
blount county alabama
The intentions of the original flat hearths were so when the floor was swept everything went into the firebox. A hearth that is built right should be complete masonry from the footing up.


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