Section

17
Masonry Fireplaces

17.1 Fireplaces
17.1.1 BIA Fireplace Details and Dimensions
17.1.2 IBC 2000 Masonry Fireplace and Chimney
Details
17.1.3 IBC 2000 Masonry Fireplace and Chimney
Requirements

17.2 Fireplace Flues

17.2.1 IBC 2000 Flue Size Requirements for
Masonry Chimneys
17.2.2 Net Cross-Sectional Area of Chimney Flues
17.1.1 BIA F i r e p l a c e D e t a i l s a n d D i m e n s i o n s

clay flue lining

metal
damper
reinforcing smoke
mantel steel shelf

angle
raised fire
firebox hearth brfc.
seat

ash pit
elevation

foundation

section

raised hearth
seat
PLAN

(From: BIA Tech Notes).

smoke chamber section
Steel
Finished Fireplace Opening (in.) Rough Brick Work and Flue Sizes (in.) Angle§
A B C D E F G H I J K L M Rt N
24 24 16 11 14 18 8-3/4 32 20 19 10 8 12 8 A-36
26 24 16 13 14 18 8-3/4 34 20 21 11 8 12 8 A-36
28 24 16 15 14 18 8-3/4 36 20 21 12 8 12 10 A-36
30 29 16 17 14 23 8-3/4 38 20 24 13 12 12 10 A-36
32 29 16 19 14 23 8-3/4 40 20 24 14 12 12 10 A-42
36 29 16 23 14 23 8-3/4 44 20 27 16 12 12 12 A-42
40 29 16 27 14 23 8-3/4 48 20 29 16 12 16 12 A-48
42 32 16 29 14 26 8-3/4 50 20 32 17 16 16 12 A-48
48 32 18 33 14 26 8-3/4 56 20 37 20 16 16 15 B-54
54 37 20 37 16 29 13 68 24 45 26 16 16 15 B-60
60 37 22 42 16 29 13 72 27 45 26 16 20 15 B-66
60 40 22 42 16 31 13 72 27 45 26 16 20 18 B-66
72 40 22 54 16 31 13 84 27 56 32 20 20 18 C-84
84 40 24 64 20 28 13 96 29 61 36 20 24 20 C-96
96 40 24 76 20 28 13 108 29 75 42 20 | 24 | 22 | C-108
§ Angle Sizes: A = 3 x 3 x 3/16, B = 3-1/2 x 3 x 1/4, C = 5 x 3-1/2 x 5/16.
t Round flues.
17.1.2 IBC 2000 Masonry Fireplace and Chimney Details

min. 2 ft.
K: bond beam
masonry cap brick block
mortar cap

P: effective flue min. 1 O ft.

area clearance
K: bond beam
5:anchorage
width of fireplace
opening

plan view
flue lining
mortar cap
K: bond beam

K: bond beam 5= anchorage 2 ft. min. J: horizontal

reinforcing ties
R: min. 1 O ft.
clearance
J: horizontal detail for full
reinforcing ties masonry wall H: vertical reinforcing
flashing
anchor strap
M: wall thickness ~ veneer tie
parge with clearance detail with 1 - 1 / 2 in. min. grout
mortar wood • between 4 in. concrete
material
5:anchorage masonry and clay flue
£> in. min. lining
2 - 1 / 2 in. bolts
O: smoke each strap
chamber thermal flue liner
distance
1/2 in. min. 2 1 in. R: clearance 6 in. min.
min.
H: vertical parge J: horizontal
reinforcing with reinforcing ties
£> in.
mortar measure height of free- min.
E: firebox wall 1-1/2 in. min.
standing fireplace from
thickness L: lintel top of footing 4 in. thick masonry units
C: hearth fire-
hearth min. IO in. place H: vertical reinforcing
firebrick extension 2O" lap if spliced t o
opening L: lintel footing dowels
A: hearth slab thk. hearth
extension E: firebox wall thickness

ash dump optional 1S" T: footing width 6 in.

cleanout P. hearth slab | m j n around fireplace
reinforcement | g r a < j e
T: footing depth
T: footing width T: footing width natural grade
bars In concrete
footing U. hearth IO in. min.

section on wood floor section on concrete slab

(From International Building Code 2000).

17.1.3 IBC 2000 Masonry Fireplace and Chimney Requirements

Letter
Item Designations Requirements
Hearth and hearth extension thickness A 4 in. minimum thickness for hearth, 2 in. minimum thickness for
hearth extension
Hearth extension (each side of opening) B 8 in. for fireplace opening less than 6 sq.ft; 12 in. for fireplace
opening equal to or greater than 6 sq.ft.
Hearth extension (front of opening) C 16 in. for fireplace opening less than 6 sq.ft; 20 in. for fireplace
opening equal to or greater than 6 sq.ft.
Firebox dimensions D 20 in. minimum firebox depth; 12 in. minimum firebox depth for
Rumford fireplaces
Hearth and hearth extension reinforcing D Reinforced to carry its own weight and all imposed loads
Thickness of firebox wall E 10 in. solid masonry or 8 in. where firebrick lining is used
Distance from top of opening to throat F 8 in. minimum
Smoke chamber wall thickness dimensions G 6 in. lined; 8 in. unlined; not taller than opening width; walls not
inclined more than 45 degrees from vertical for prefabricated
smoke chamber lining or 30 degrees from vertical for corbeled
masonry
Chimney vertical reinforcing H Four No. 4 full-length bars for chimney up to 40 in. wide; add two
No. 4 bars for each additional 40 in. or fraction of width, or for each
additional flue
Chimney horizontal reinforcing J 1/4 in. ties at each 18 in. and two ties at each bend in vertical
steel
Bond beam K As determined by design.
Fireplace lintel L Noncombustible material with 4 in. bearing length at each side of
opening
Chimney walls with flue lining M 4 in. thick solid masonry with 5/8 in. fireclay liner or equivalent;
1/2 in. grout or air space between fireclay liner and wall
Effective flue area (based on area of fireplace P See graph on next page
opening and chimney)
Clearances R
from chimney 2 in. interior, 1 in. exterior
from fireplace 2 in. back or sides
combustible trim or materials 6 in. from opening
above roof 3 ft. above roof penetration, 2 ft. above any part of structure within
10 ft.
Anchorage S
strap 3/16 in. x 1 in.
number two
embedment into chimney 12 in. hooked around outer bar with 6 in. extension
fasten to four joists
bolts two 1/2 in. diameter
Footing T
thickness 12 in. minimum
width 6 in. each side of fireplace wall
§ See drawing on previous page.

{From International Building Code 2000).

17.2.1 IBC 2000 Flue Size Requirements for Masonry Chimneys
MINIMUM CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA (square inches)

RECTANGULAR
ROUND FLUES
SQUARE OR

AREA (SQ. IN.)

FIREPLACE
OPENING

HEIGHT, MEASURED FROM FLOOR

FLUES

OF COMBUSTION CHAMBER TO
TOP OF FLUE (FT)

{From International Building Code 2000).

17.2.2 Net Cross-Sectional Area of Chimney Flues

Net Cross-Sectional Area of Square and Net Cross-Sectional Area of Round Flues
Rectangular Flues
ASTM C315 Flue Size Cross-Sectional Area
ASTM C315 Flue Size Cross-Sectional Area
Inside Diameter (in.) (sq.in.)
Inside Diameter (in.) (sq.in.)
6 28
4-1/2 x 13 34
7 38
7-1/2 x 7-1/2 37
8 50
8-1/2 x 8-1/2 47
10 78
7-1/2 x 11-1/2 58
10-3/4 90
8-1/2 x 13 74
12 113
7-1/2 x 15-1/2 82
15 176
11-1/2 x 11-1/2 91
18 254
8-1/2 x 17-1/2 101
13 x 13 122
11-1/2 x 15-1/2 124
13 x 17-1/2 165
15-1/2 x 15-1/2 168
15-1/2 x 19-1/2 214
17-1/2 x 17-1/2 226
19-1/2 x 19-1/2 269
20 x 20 286