Bob, If you have a masonry fireplace that has been converted to gas logs, no pilot light (manual light) and no glass doors are you required to have a spacer permanently installed on damper so it can not close?

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Tom Rees / A Closer Look Home Inspection / Salt Lake City, Utah

IRC G2453.1 Free Opening area of chimney dampers. Where an unlisted decorative appliance for installation in a vented fireplace is installed, the fireplace damper shall have a permanent free opening equal to or greater than specified in table G2453.1

G2432 Decorative Appliances for Installation in Fireplaces deals with vented gas logs listed to ANSI Z21.60, which have a flame safeguard device (pilot) and those listed to ANSI Z21.84, which do not have a safety pilot, shall be tested and installed to the mfrs. instructions. The listing requires language in those instructions to include the specified min. permanent net free damper opening.

Now, State codes such as Taxachoosetts may require the damper be completely removed or welded wide open in addition to the IRC requirements.

You described a match lit logset, which, if listed, would be to Z21.84. If not listed, it would fall back on the first section I quoted. You need to know what is accepted locally as many jurisdictions require listed appliances only with safety pilots.

The room must meet the volume or Makeup air requirements as set in G2407.5

The chimney and fireplace must be "working" and of noncombustible construction. I hate those combustible fireplaces.....

If you are in the process of converting the you should conduct a LeveL II inspection prior to conversion.

The listing of those logs requires a screen or glass enclosure FYI.

HTH,
Bob

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Keep the fire in the fireplace.