Originally Posted by
David Edenburn
My reading of R1003-19 says that there should be fireblocking around steel fireplace flues (or anything else) when they enter the attic. I should never be able to stand in the attic and look down into the 1st floor. However, on > 90% of the chimneys I see a big gaping hole and the top of the steel (or brick) firebox below.
Being as you are a fire inspector, you hold more power than we, home inspectors, do (we have no power). I recommend you explain to the Fire Chief what you explained above, and ask him to explain it to the Building Official, who can then explain it to his inspectors.
">90%" That's a lot of "not good" building practice and it needs to be curtailed as soon as possible.
I always write it up as a fire hazard
It is. Good inspecting.
but am I being too picky?
Absolutely not.
When I'm not doing HI's I'm a fire inspector so I tend to be tough on fire issues. Any advice from a better expert than me?
As a fire inspector, *YOU* are the expert, not us. \
Home inspectors have no teeth, all we can do is gum them to death. As a fire inspector, you have teeth, bite their arses off!
They (the building department and inspectors) should know better than to allow that.