Paint directly above fireplace opening allowed?

[Brandon Whitmore]

I often run into houses where people paint (not high temp paint) their brick fireplace faces directly above and to the sides of the fireplace opening. I consider this improper, but am not really sure whether it will hurt anything.

What do you all say when you run into this, if anything?

Thanks.

[Scottpat]

Never gave it any thought. I can't really think of how it could be an issue. If you had a fire hot enough to catch the dried paint on fire, you're going to have bigger problems to worry about!

[Brandon Whitmore]

Thanks for the reply Scott.

I've just always told people that it's a bad idea, but that it will probably never actually cause a problem.

The NFPA requires a min. 6" clearance above the fireplace opening to any combustible material that sticks out less than 1.5"-- I would think this would technically apply.

[hausdok]

Is it latex paint?

Wasn't latex paint originally designed as a fire inhibitor?

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[Brandon Whitmore]

The think that it was elastomeric paint, but it could have been latex. The exterior brick was painted the same color, so I figure they just moved on inside with the same stuff. I think it's typically latex that I see, but don't always pay much attention.

[Chad Fabry]

After having stripped miles of trim and wood using heat as a paint remover, I can assure you that latex paint burns beautifully.

[mgbinspect]

Does it really take off, Chad, or merely yield to the heat and flame? Just curious...