Brandon Whitmore Posted February 26, 2010 Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 The house to the left was here first-- any laws or codes broken here? The walls are not 10 feet apart. Click to Enlarge 49.75 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kibbel Posted February 26, 2010 Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 IRC: Chimneys shall extend at least 2' higher then any portion of a building within 10'. NFPA: ...and extend above any portion of any structure by at least the distance specified in... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted February 26, 2010 Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 The 3-2-10 rule does apply to adjacent buildings and trees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Whitmore Posted February 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 Here's a better picture: Click to Enlarge 41.1 KB I thought you all might get a kick out of it. The house on the left was probably built in the 40's. I inspected the one on the right built in 2007. I don't think I've ever run into this before on an adjoining house. When they build the new house, are they then required to build more than 10' away from the chimney? The Realtor kept asking me, "well, is this a real concern, or just a technicality?" He's actually a very reputable guy who just didn't seem to grasp the safety concern. I told him that if there was a flue fire, there's a good chance this house could catch on fire. To make matters worse, my client's nursery is going to be in the bedroom where I took the above picture from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Whitmore Posted February 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 Bill & John, Thanks, it's been a while since I've actually read the code cite for this. I just assumed the 3-2-10 rule was for it's own structure, and was being kind of a smar a$$ with my title. Of course, I didn't need a code cite to write this up and tell my clients that there's a better than average chance that the home they are purchasing has a better than average chance of catching fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted February 26, 2010 Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 What's the difference between that chimney and, say, an exhaust vent for a direct-vent fireplace below that window on this same house? There's a lot of air between those two buildings. Is it an ideal situation? No, but I don't think it's a dangerous situation. I may be wrong, but I don't think you'll find a prohibition for that in any code anywhere? I also don't think a chimney fire will be able to reach that house. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Whitmore Posted February 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 I may be wrong, but I don't think you'll find a prohibition for that in any code anywhere? I also don't think a chimney fire will be able to reach that house. Hi Mike, Let's say that the 2 houses were combined-- say the structure on the right was an addition. Why would the building code suddenly disallow this installation if it were not an issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted February 26, 2010 Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 Just curious, was it built by Randy Palazzo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Moore Posted February 26, 2010 Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 I would be more concerned about fumes and/or smoke entering the window than fire. I doubt that the guy on the left would enjoy the look of an extra 10 feet or so of chimney, even if it was paid for. Keep the window closed and install a CO detector? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben H Posted February 26, 2010 Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 Keep the window closed and install a CO detector? That would be enough for me to walk. Not much on stipulations. Kinda like buying a car, but you can't use the drivers window..[:-censore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Moore Posted February 26, 2010 Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 Keep the window closed and install a CO detector? That would be enough for me to walk. Not much on stipulations. Kinda like buying a car, but you can't use the drivers window..[:-censore I should have put a smiley on that. I wasn't seriously suggesting it as the solution a home inspector should put in a report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Whitmore Posted February 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 I would be more concerned about fumes and/or smoke entering the window than fire. I doubt that the guy on the left would enjoy the look of an extra 10 feet or so of chimney, even if it was paid for. We discussed this concern as well. My recommendation was that they should offer to pay the next door neighbor to install a gas log set in the fireplace. With the creosote build up I could see at the top of the flue, I know they use it to heat the house, so they probably won't go for it. The clients said they may just pay for an annual chimney sweep for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Whitmore Posted February 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 Just curious, was it built by Randy Palazzo Could have been-- does it look like his work? The house was over off 76th and Hawthorne near the Division St. exit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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