Chapter 40

Fireplace Construction and Layout

Introduction• As sections are drawn, consideration must

be given to the fireplace and chimney– Metal fireplaces

• Manufactured • Does not require a section• Surrounded by wood walls• Interior can be covered in masonry, stone, tile or

noncombustible material• May not have a chimney

Fireplace Alternatives• Common alternatives to a masonry

fireplace include:– Direct-vent

• Vent out the back and through house wall to outside

– Top-vent• Can be used as an insert or as a freestanding unit

– Vent-free • Gas line is connected and flame burns inside

Fireplace Alternatives (cont’d.)• Working with factory-built fireplaces

– Several items must be specified• IRC requires the chimney for direct- and top-vent

fireplaces to conform to UL standard 127• Factory-built fireplaces producing gases above

1000°F at chimney entrance must meet UL 959

Fireplace Terms• Firebox terms:

– Fireplace opening– Firebox– Hearth– Ash dump– Throat– Damper

Fireplace Terms (cont’d.)• Chimney terms:

– Smoke chamber– Chimney– Corbelled– Flue– Flue liner– Chimney liner, cap, and hood– Spark arrester

Fireplace Terms (cont’d.)• Chimney reinforcement:

– Areas subject to seismic damage• Minimum of four vertical reinforcing bars ½″ in

diameter• Supported at 18″ intervals with a 1/4″ horizontal

rebar• Additional bars may be required• In some areas, the chimney must be attached to the

structure using steel anchors and straps

Drawing the Fireplace Section• Fireplace drawing

– Required by most building departments– Often kept on file as a stock detail– If required to draw a fireplace section, a floor

plan print will be needed • Helps determine wall locations and fireplace size

Drawing the Fireplace Section (cont’d.)

• Includes:– Layout of the fireplace– Drawing with finished-quality lines

Section–Masonry Fireplace Checklist

• Refer to the text for a fireplace checklist, including:– Plot– Drawing– Annotation– Dimensions

Fireplace Elevations• Fireplace drawing viewed from inside the

home– Shows firebox size of and decorative material

• Includes:– Elevation layout– Finished-quality lines

• Dimensions for room, hearth, mantel height, and fireplace opening height and width