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  1. #1
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    Mar 2007
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    Spring City/Surrounding Philadelphia area
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    3,509

    Default Shared Chimney Chase Open In Attic

    This is from a 17 year old townhouse I looked at yesterday. The shared chimney chase for the fireplaces is open in the attic and you can see the attached neighbor's flue for their fireplace from inside the attic of the unit I inspected.

    Firewall separation is still required here between the units, correct?



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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Fletcher, NC
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    28,032

    Default Re: Shared Chimney Chase Open In Attic

    Quote Originally Posted by Nick Ostrowski View Post
    Firewall separation is still required here between the units, correct?
    Correct.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Fletcher, NC
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    Default Re: Shared Chimney Chase Open In Attic

    Quote Originally Posted by Nick Ostrowski View Post
    This is from a 17 year old townhouse ...
    .
    .
    Firewall separation is still required here between units, correct?
    Nick,

    For townhouses, yes, separation is required between the two chimney chases (which in this case is one chimney chase but would be two chases when separated by the required 1 hour or 2 hour rated wall - the minimum rating depends on various factors).

    Additionally, the chases need to be fireblocked at the ceiling level and I don't see that either (looks like it may have been there based on the paint line - unless that paint line is from trim).

    Can you imagine a chimney fire in one chimney? Both townhouses would suffer damage due to the lack of the required fire wall between the units.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Fletcher, NC
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    Default Re: Shared Chimney Chase Open In Attic

    Nick,

    Do you need an IRC code reference?

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Lansdale, PA
    Posts
    876

    Default Re: Shared Chimney Chase Open In Attic

    Quote Originally Posted by Nick Ostrowski View Post
    This is from a 17 year old townhouse I looked at yesterday. The shared chimney chase for the fireplaces is open in the attic and you can see the attached neighbor's flue for their fireplace from inside the attic of the unit I inspected.

    Firewall separation is still required here between the units, correct?

    Yes it is wrong.

    BTW, Was it in the Upper Dublin area?


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring City/Surrounding Philadelphia area
    Posts
    3,509

    Default Re: Shared Chimney Chase Open In Attic

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry Peck View Post
    Nick,

    Do you need an IRC code reference?
    Nope. Thanks for the input.

    "It takes a big man to cry. It takes an even bigger man to laugh at that man". - Jack Handey

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