You are here:

Chimney & Fireplaces/Fireplace below floor level

Advertisement

Expert: - 2/8/2009


Question
I want to raise my living floor by 6 inches but that will result in my fireplace being 3 inches below the floor level.  Is this legal in California?
The hearth is 61" wide and 17" deep and sits 3" (brick height) above the floor.  The fireplace opening is 36" wide and the depth of the firebox at it's deepest is about 24".  It's all brick.
Thanks for your advice!

Answer
Merideth,

The size of your flue or the hole that vents the heat and smoke out of your home, is sized according to the original size of the fireplace opening. A minimum size for your flue would no less than 1/10th the size of your fireplace opening. If you proceed with your project, you will reduce that size by at least 3 X 36" = 108 square inches of area. If you flue size was very near the 1/10th figure of the old opening, you may create a situation where smoke may know enter.

I would recommend having a qualified fireplace inspector perform an NFPA-211 level II inspection before going forward and answer these question first. Please use the links at the bottom of my home page at www.brooks-hearth.com and find an inspector in your area. Best of luck and thank you for asking.

Chimney & Fireplaces

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Randy Brooks

Expertise

Inspection of Masonry, Pre-cast Tilt-up, and Factory Built Fireplaces as well as Free Standing & Insert, Gas, and Wood Appliances. We also provide Hearth Fire Loss Investigations, Litigation Support, Consulting Services, Flue Sweeping, Installation and Repair. Additionally, I’ve been a chimney sweep for 23 years, service and install hearth appliances as well as being recognized by the Superior Court of California as an expert witness.

Experience

Brooks Chimney Sweeping Since 1989 Ojai, CA Owner / President www.brooks-hearth.com

Organizations
NCSG, MEMBER,(National Chimney Sweep Guild), Member since 1990, Board of Directors representing Region 6, (CA, NV, AZ, UT, OR, WA, ID, WY, MT, AK and HI,) 2004-2011, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. CSIA, BOD (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Board of Directors, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Secretary, 2005-2006, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. HPBA, MEMBER, (Hearth, Patio, & BBQ Association,) since 2002. NFPA Member, (National Fire Protection Association) Since 2009. Technical Committee member for the 211 Standard.

Education/Credentials
California State Licensed Contractor, C61-D34, #750710. http://www2.cslb.ca.gov C.S.I.A., (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Certified Chimney Sweep, #2580. Held since 1990 re-certified in ‘93, ‘96, ‘99, ‘02, ‘05, '08,'11. http://www.csia.org F.I.R.E. (Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Certified Inspector, #FP-006. Held since 2000, re-certified in ’03, ‘06. http://www.f-i-r-e-service.com Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Advance Expert Consulting & Witness, certificate, ’05 N.F.I. (National Fireplace Institute,) Certified Gas & Wood-Burning Specialist, #133851. Held since 2002, re-certified in '05,‘08. http://nficertified.org

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.