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(a) All chimneys, stacks, heating equipment and other apparatus liable to cause undue heating to surrounding materials or parts of any building shall be well and carefully constructed and maintained at all times in a safe condition. When operated under the most severe service conditions, they shall not cause any combustible material adjacent to them to attain a higher temperature than 125°F. Whenever any such apparatus is found to be defective or in such a condition as is liable to cause a fire, the Chief Building Official or Fire Chief shall order the same repaired at once or, in case the same is not repaired within a reasonable length of time, he or she may order it removed at the owner’s expense. This authority shall extend to such apparatus existing before the adoption of this chapter as well as to that constructed subsequent to its adoption. Any rebuilding shall be done in accordance with all the requirements of this chapter.
(b) Chimneys and flues shall be required for all dwellings and all heating or heat-producing appliances. No flue shall have a smokepipe connection in more than one story of a building. The smokepipe of a heating appliance shall not be connected into the flue of an incinerator which has a rubbish chute identical to the smoke flue. All smokepipe or vent outlets shall be provided with metal or tile thimbles, carefully fitted into the linings of the flue, causing no restrictions to the size of the same, and all such inlets shall be proportioned in accordance with the size of the smokepipe or vent which they receive, so as to prevent the escape of smoke, gas or sparks, and shall rigidly hold the pipe or vent in place. When eight by 12-inch flue liners are used, the smokepipe shall enter the flue on the 12-inch side or the flue will be made larger for a distance of two feet above the smokepipe to permit the smokepipe to enter without flattening, except when the smokepipe is not as wide as the flue.
(Ord. 1977-31, passed over veto 4-18-1977)
(c) (1) For each furnace the minimum net area of any flue shall be 64 square inches for square or rectangular flues, and 55 square inches for any round or oval flue. The flue area of any heating apparatus, other than domestic stoves, shall be adequate to carry off combustive products without attaining a stack temperature in excess of 650°F in the outgoing gases. Minimum effective flue area shall not be less than the following:
Fireplaces (not less than 1/10 the fireplace opening) | 96 square inches |
Stoves, ranges and small room heaters | 40 square inches |
Warm air furnaces, steam and hot water boilers | 64 square inches |
(2) These sizes are applicable only with connection to a flue. Such minimum effective flue areas shall be provided by a flue liner with the short dimension not less than one-half of the long dimension. When more than two flues are connected or contained in the same chimney, each unit of the two flues shall be separated from any other flues by masonry not less than three and three-quarter inches bonded to the wall of the chimney.
(3) The joining of two or more smokepipes to a single flue connection will be permitted, provided that the smokepipe and flue are of sufficient size to serve all of the appliances thus connected and provided that, except for vents for gas appliances, the several smokepipes are constructed to comply with the severest requirements for any one of those connected. All smokepipes shall be as short and straight as possible. No smokepipes shall pass through any floor or ceiling. Where a smokepipe must pass through a partition, it must be provided with a double metal ventilated thimble not less than three diameters of original pipe. Smokepipes shall not come within 20 inches of any unprotected combustible material, whether plastered or not.
(d) No chimney shall carry any load other than its own weight. Steel or other incombustible structural members shall not be supported by the required thickness of chimney wall, but may be supported by an adequate masonry buttress constructed integrally with the chimney. All chimney foundations shall be of solid brick masonry or reinforced 2,500 pound concrete, extending at least three feet below the grade line and at least one and one-half feet into virgin soil. Such a foundation shall distribute the weight of the chimney uniformly so as not to exceed one-half of the soil-bearing capacity beneath same, and shall be so constructed and proportioned to carry the entire chimney structure without settling and cracking. All chimneys shall be securely stayed against wind pressures and shall be designed to resist a horizontal wind load of 25 pounds per square foot for heights up to 100 feet. In no case shall the overturning moment due to wind stress exceed two-thirds of the moment of stability due to dead load only. The calculation method shall be made to the acceptability of the Building Department.
(e) No chimney shall be allowed to corbel more than six inches in any direction. Such corbelling shall be accomplished with a maximum of one-inch projection for each course of brick. No chimney shall be corbelled from a wall which is less than 12 inches in thickness unless it projects equally on each of its sides or provides that in the second story of a two-story dwelling the corbelling on the exterior of the enclosing walls may equal the wall thickness.
(f) When chimneys occur in masonry walls, they shall be bonded to the wall every fifth course of brick or 16 inches height of wall. No change may take place in size and shape of a chimney, where it passes through the roof, when made within six inches below or above the roof joists, rafters, trusses and the like.
(g) An opening shall be provided at the base of each flue of all stacks and chimneys for cleanout purposes, and each such opening shall be provided with a cast-iron or better cleanout door and frame. When ash pits are used under fireplaces, each and every fireplace shall be provided with its own separate ash pit, equipped with a cast-iron door and frame on its cleanout opening. The doors and frames are to be arranged to remain tightly closed when not in use.
(h) All incinerators, stacks and any chimney smokestack or flue which emits sparks or sized to cause a hazard to buildings and surrounding property shall be equipped with a spark arrester of proper size and construction to prevent the emission of dangerous sparks. The sides of the spark arrester (or circumference) shall be equal to at least the smallest dimension of the chimney flue. The total area of the spark arrester shall not be less than four times the area of the flue. If a square flue is used, the vertical side of the spark arrester shall not be less than the smallest flue dimension. If a circular flue is used, the vertical side of the spark arrester shall not be less than the flue diameter. The maximum size of mesh shall be one-half inch.
(i) (1) Whenever a building is hereafter erected, enlarged or raised, the owner of such building shall, at his or her own expense, carry up, either independently or on his or her own building, all chimneys and smoke flues of an adjoining building which are within ten feet of any portion of the wall extending above such chimney or flue. The construction of such chimneys and flues shall conform to all the requirements of this Building Code. Such chimneys and flues shall be carried simultaneously with the walls.
(2) It shall be the duty of the owner of the building to be erected, enlarged or raised, to notify in writing, at least ten days before such work is to begin, the owner of the chimneys and flues affected of his or her intention to carry up such chimneys and flues.
(j) The Building Department and its representatives may order that a test be made on any chimney for smoke leaks at the owner’s expense, if, in the judgment of the Building Department, it is necessary.
(Ord. 1963-52, passed 5-6-1963)
(a) Chimneys with a smoke flue having no side or diameter in excess of 24 inches shall be built of eight inches of brick, solid masonry or stone. If provided with a standard terra cotta flue of not less than five-eighths of an inch in thickness, the walls may be only four inches in thickness.
(b) Chimneys having any side or diameter more than 24 inches, but not having an area in excess of 900 square inches, shall be lined with a firebrick lining four inches minimum thickness laid in fireproof mortar, for a distance of not less than two feet below the lowest smoke inlet and extending upward at least 20 feet. The remainder of the chimney shall have the same lining or may have a standard terra cotta flue lining. Such firebrick may be considered as a part of the thickness required for the surrounding walls, except in cases where there is an air space between such lining and surrounding walls. In such cases the surrounding walls shall be the full thickness required. In no case shall they be less than eight inches in thickness.
(c) All chimneys with a flue area greater than 900 square inches, and other chimneys subject to excessive heat, shall be lined with firebrick at least four inches thick and extending from below the flue opening to a height of one-fifth the chimney height for steam boilers, or to one-half the chimney exposed to temperatures of 800 to 1,200°F and for the full height for temperatures over 1,200°F. At least a two-inch air space shall be allowed in all cases between lining and the outer wall. The lining material shall not be considered as carrying any stress. This requirement also applies to smoke flues of high pressure (over 15 pounds pressure) appliances.
(d) Chimneys shall be finished on top with one of the following:
(1) A three-inch stone cap;
(2) A solid masonry laid up in cement lime mortar;
(3) A solid three-inch minimum concrete cap; and
(4) Cast-iron plates at least three-fourths of an inch thick.
(e) All chimneys shall be built at least four feet above flat roofs, or a minimum of two feet above the peaks of pitched roofs, and chimneys for iron cupolas and other similar purposes shall project at least 15 feet above the highest point of any roof within 50 feet.
(Ord. 1963-52, passed 5-6-1963)
(a) No incinerator in a one- or two-family dwelling shall be operated within the city after January 1, 1987.
(b) An incinerator may be installed in each multiple-family dwelling which is constructed or erected after the effective date of this section. Such incinerator shall be sufficient in design and capacity to dispose of all garbage, rubbish and waste materials created on the premises and shall in all respects fully meet the requirements of the applicable sections of this chapter.
(Ord. 1992-162, passed 9-21-1992)
(a) Built-in incinerators shall be supported on masonry or concrete floors and shall have the sides and top made of brick not less than eight inches thick, which will be composed of two four-inch walls with an air space between, or a complete metal unit may be used with four-inch masonry walls on all sides and the top. The flue shall be constructed of brick, not less than four inches thick, with a fire clay tile flue lining. The minimum size of the flue shall be 12 inches with a maximum opening of 72 square inches. No flue feed incinerators will be permitted.
(b) Portable incinerators shall be constructed of cast-iron or steel supported on a proven structurally supported noncombustible floor and shall be so designed that when operating at full capacity the sides shall not reach a higher temperature than 300°F and the top shall not reach a higher temperature than 400°F. No wood or other combustible portion of the building shall be within two feet of the sides, within four feet of the front, or within three feet of the top of such incinerator. Every such incinerator shall be connected with a smokepipe, as required in this section, to a flue constructed as herein required.
(c) Industrial incinerators shall be supported on masonry or concrete foundations and shall have sides and a top of not less than eight inches of brick, the inner four inches of which shall be firebrick. The burnt gases shall be conducted directly from the incinerator by a masonry breeching lined with firebrick to a masonry flue. Such flue shall be at least eight inches thick for the first 25 feet above the breeching, the inner four inches of which shall be firebrick, and at least four inches thick in addition to a fire clay tile flue lining for the remainder of its height. There shall be an air space between the inner four inches of firebrick and the outer wall of the flue. All units shall be required to have a forced draft gas washer or approved equal.
(d) Every incinerator shall conform to the requirements and recommendations of the Regulations of the National Board of Fire Underwriters for Incinerators, NBFU Pamphlet No. 82.
(e) No incinerator shall be installed, after the effective date of this section, which is not equipped and constructed so it can be operated without producing objectionable quantities of smoke and so that no objectionable or obnoxious odors will be emitted from the chimney.
(f) No incinerator shall be approved that does not feature provisions for over-fire air to permit reasonably smokeless incineration of the contents, irrespective of the depths of the charge, provided the charge is within its range capacity.
(Ord. 1963-52, passed 5-6-1963; Ord. 2005-152, passed 6-20-2005)
(a) Metal smokestacks will not be allowed in the following types of occupancies:
(1) Residential - transient;
(2) Residential - nontransient;
(3) Hospitals and homes;
(4) Schools and school assembly halls;
(5) Business offices;
(6) Storage buildings; and
(7) Places of assembly.
(b) All metal stacks shall have iron or steel base plates resting on a foundation of brick, stone or concrete, or may be supported on a structural steel or masonry boiler setting which is adequate to carry the superimposed load.
(c) All metal stacks shall be properly anchored to the foundation or supports by means of anchor bolts of adequate size and number.
(d) Metal stacks may be designed in accordance with requirements of being self-supporting and resist all wind stresses without guys, or they may be designed with the assumption that they will be laterally stayed with guys or braces. In the latter case, they shall be stayed laterally at intervals of not over 30 feet by steel cables, rods or struts designed to safely resist the maximum wind pressure from any direction. All guys shall be secured to a structural steel ring which encircles and which is riveted or welded to the stack. Steel stacks shall be provided with tackle blocks or hooks and steel wire cables not less than three-eighths of an inch in diameter for the purpose of painting. Cables shall be greased at least once a year.
(e) Steel stacks which are constructed inside of a nonfireproof building shall be entirely enclosed with masonry walls not less than eight inches thick, except that metal stacks for small stoves in temporary sheds, contractors’ offices and similar buildings may be unprotected if adequately separated from all wood or other combustible material. The shaft between the stack and the enclosing wall in such a building shall be roofed over with incombustible material, and no wood shall be used in any way inside of such shaft.
(f) If such stacks are constructed inside of fireproof buildings, they shall be enclosed by a partition wall made of brick, terra cotta, concrete or other incombustible materials not less than four inches thick. Such stacks in fireproof buildings may be made self-supporting for the entire height or may be supported from the floors at intervals, but in either case the construction shall provide for all contingencies due to changes in temperature. The shaft formed between the stack and the enclosing partition shall be roofed in with steel plates or other incombustible material.
(g) Where such stack passes through a roof only, which is of nonfireproof construction, it shall be separated from any combustible material of such roof by a clear space of at least 12 inches, over which space shall be placed a hood or shield of metal at least six inches above the roof, permitting free air circulation around the stack.
(h) Metal smokestacks installed outside of a building shall not be located within two feet of any structure built of combustible material.
(i) No metal stacks shall be made of metal less in thickness than one two-hundred-fortieth of the diameter of the stack, and stacks over 50 feet high shall not be made of metal less than three-sixteenths of an inch thick.
(j) All metal stacks shall be at least ten feet higher than the highest point of buildings or roofs of buildings within a radius of 50 feet.
(k) Lengthening or alterations may be required by the Building Department of any chimney, stack or flue which may cause a nuisance or be a fire hazard to surrounding property, regardless of the 50-foot requirement above, unless the nuisance or fire hazard can be abated in some other way.
(l) The exposed length of any metal stack above the ground or roof shall be inspected at least every two years by a competent steeplejack, employed by the owner or user of such stack, who shall furnish the Building Department with a certificate as to the condition of such stack and its support. Such certificate shall be accepted only from steeplejacks who are registered with the Department after it is determined that they are competent.
(m) All stacks shall be kept in good condition and the exposed portion shall be kept well painted.
(Ord. 1963-52, passed 5-6-1963)
(a) All fireplaces designed to burn solid fuel shall be constructed of masonry supported from the ground or upon fireproof construction. The back and sides of such fireplaces shall be at least six and one-half inches thick up to the point where flue lining commences, above which the construction shall comply with all requirements for masonry chimneys. Every such fireplace shall have a separate and distinct flue having a net area of not less than 45 square inches. No wood or other combustible material shall be permitted to enter the required thickness of masonry around the fireplace or flue. A permit shall be required and a fee paid in accordance with § 1424.11 before the construction of any fireplace may commence.
(b) The joint between the face brick or tile used for the mantel facing shall be slushed solid with mortar.
(c) The hearth shall be at least 20 inches wide measured from the outer face of the masonry and shall extend at least 16 inches on each side of the fireplace opening. The hearth shall be of brick or concrete at least four inches thick supported on brick arches, reinforced concrete or steel joists, or on steel bars not over eight inches apart. One end of the hearth supports shall rest on the fireplace supports.
(d) Every fireplace using heating appliances, for which natural or artificial gas is used as fuel, shall be provided with a suitable vent flue having a net area of not less than 12 square inches, and having all joints properly sealed.
(e) Flues will not be required when approved gas heating appliances are used for space heaters which meet the following requirements. A space heater shall produce no carbon monoxide. This requirement shall be deemed met when:
(1) A concentration not in excess of 0.02% is present in an air-free sample of combustion products when tested in a room with approximately a normal oxygen supply; and
(2) When the heater is operated in a reduced oxygen supply, a concentration not in excess of 0.05% is produced in a 1,000 cubic foot airtight room with no air changes occurring during the combustion of an amount of gas liberating 20,000 B.T.U.
(Ord. 1963-52, passed 5-6-1963)
(f) Notwithstanding any applicable sections of this chapter to the contrary, the installation of free-standing fireplaces with metal chimneys, smokestacks or flues shall be permitted in single-family nontransient residences, provided that such fireplace and appurtenances shall have been tested and approved by Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc. for the intended use.
(Ord. 1977-39, passed 4-4-1977; Ord. 2005-152, passed 6-20-2005)
Editor’s note:
See § 1432.99 for general Code penalty if no specific penalty is provided.