This chapter shall govern the installation, maintenance, design, minimum safety requirements, repair and approval of factory-built chimneys, chimney liners, vents and connectors, and field-built chimneys and connectors for all nongas-fired appliances. This chapter shall also govern the utilization of masonry chimneys. Gas-fired appliances shall be vented in accordance with the New York City Fuel Gas Code. The construction, repair, maintenance and approval of masonry chimneys shall be regulated by the New York City Building Code. Venting systems shall be designed in accordance with this chapter and comply with the requirements of the New York City Air Pollution Control Code.
Existing chimneys and vents shall comply with the requirements of Section 28-104.13 of the New York City Administrative Code and Sections 801.1.1.1 through 801.1.1.8 of this code.
Applications for a new or altered building shall include a chimney and vent plan submitted pursuant to Section 107.18 of the New York City Building Code.
After the alteration of a chimney or vent as required by this section, it shall be the responsibility of the owner of the new or altered building to provide any mechanical equipment or devices necessary to maintain the proper draft in the equipment.
The owner of the new or altered building shall notify the owner of any building that may require a chimney or vent to be altered. Notification, plans and required documents shall comply with the requirements of Sections 801.1.1.3.1 through 801.1.1.3.3.
Written notice in a form acceptable to the department shall be provided to the building owner not less than 60 days prior to a request for permit for construction on the new or altered building. Such notice shall include a request for access to determine the need to alter the existing chimney or vent and a description of such work. Notice shall be sent by regular mail and certified mail, return receipt requested. A copy of such return receipt shall be filed with the department.
Written notice in a form acceptable to the department shall be provided to the building owner not more than 45 days following commencement of work after a permit has been issued for the new or altered building. Such notice shall include a request for access to determine the need to alter the existing chimney or vent and a description of such work. Notice shall be sent by regular mail and certified mail, return receipt requested. The second notice shall also be posted by a licensed process server at the public entrance of the building requiring a chimney or vent to be altered. A copy of such return receipt and proof of service by the licensed process server shall be filed with the department.
Where access is granted and conditions are observed that result in a determination that chimney or vent alteration is required, plans for such alteration work shall be provided to the owner of the existing building and a request for written consent to submit construction documents and perform such work shall be made.
The construction documents for the proposed chimney extension, alteration or relocation shall be submitted to the department pursuant to Section 28-104 of the New York City Administrative Code. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued for the new building pursuant to Section 28-118.23 of the New York City Administrative Code until the work associated with such construction documents for the proposed chimney extension, alteration or relocation has been signed-off by the department.
If consent is not granted by the owner of the affected building to do the alteration work required by this section, such owner shall signify his or her refusal in writing to the owner of the new or altered building and to the commissioner; and the owner of the new or altered building having provided the notices required by Section 801.1.1.3 shall thereupon be released from any responsibility for the proper operation of the equipment due to loss of draft and for any health hazard or nuisance that may occur as a result of the new or altered building. Such responsibilities shall then be assumed by the owner of the previously constructed building. Similarly, should such owner fail to grant consent within 45 days from the date of the second notice or fail to signify his or her refusal, he or she shall then assume all responsibilities as prescribed above.
Any existing violations on the previously constructed equipment shall be corrected by the owner of the equipment before any equipment is added or alterations made at the expense of the owner of the new or altered building.
Every fuel-burning appliance shall discharge the products of combustion to a vent, factory-built chimney or masonry chimney, except for appliances vented in accordance with Section 804. The chimney or vent shall be designed for the type of appliance being vented.
Exception: Commercial cooking appliances vented by a Type I hood installed in accordance with Section 507.
Chimneys and vents shall be designed and constructed so as to provide the necessary draft and capacity for each appliance connected to completely exhaust the products of combustion to the outside air. The temperature on adjacent combustible surfaces shall not be raised above 160°F (71.1°C). Chimneys and vents shall be designed to resist the effects of condensation that would cause deterioration of the chimney or vent.
The outlet shall be arranged so that the flue gases are not directed so that they jeopardize people, overheat combustible structures, or enter building openings in the vicinity of the outlet.
Chimneys and vents shall not be supported by the equipment they serve unless such equipment has been specifically designed for such loads.
Venting systems shall be designed and constructed so as to develop a positive flow adequate to convey all combustion products to the outside atmosphere.
Venting systems shall be designed in accordance with this chapter and comply with the requirements of the New York City Air Pollution Control Code.
Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, the size of the chimney or vent, serving a single appliance, except engineered systems, shall have a minimum area equal to the area of the appliance connection.
The cross-sectional area of a flue serving a solid fuel-burning appliance shall be not greater than three times the cross-sectional area of the appliance flue collar or flue outlet.
Abandoned inlet openings in chimneys and vents shall be closed by an approved method, sealed air-tight and permanently labeled as abandoned.
Where an appliance equipped with a forced or induced draft system creates a positive pressure in the venting system, the venting system shall be designed and listed for positive pressure applications.
Connection of appliances to chimney flues serving fireplaces shall be in accordance with Sections 801.10.1 through 801.10.3.
A noncombustible seal shall be provided below the point of connection to prevent entry of room air into the flue. Means shall be provided for access to the flue for inspection and cleaning.
An appliance shall not be connected to a flue serving a factory-built fireplace unless the appliance is specifically listed for such installation. The connection shall be made in accordance with the appliance manufacturer's instructions.
A connector shall extend from the appliance to the flue serving a masonry fireplace such that the flue gases are exhausted directly into the flue. The connector shall be provided with access or shall be removable for inspection and cleaning of both the connector and the flue. Listed direct connection devices shall be installed in accordance with their listing.
A solid fuel-burning appliance or fireplace shall not connect to a chimney passageway venting another appliance.
Connectors shall connect to a chimney flue at a point not less than 12 inches (304.8 mm) above the lowest portion of the interior of the chimney flue.
Factory-built chimneys and vents shall be provided with a cleanout opening or access door at the base of the chimney or vent installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Masonry and metal chimneys shall be provided with a cleanout opening having a minimum height of 6 inches (152.4 mm). The upper edge of the opening shall be located not less than 6 inches (152.4 mm) below the lowest chimney inlet opening. The cleanout shall be provided with a tight-fitting, noncombustible cover of a minimum size of 8 inches by 8 inches (203.2 mm by 203.2 mm). Cleanouts shall comply with the requirements of the New York City Air Pollution Control Code.
Exception: Cleanouts shall not be required for chimney flues serving masonry fireplaces, if such flues are provided with access through the fireplace opening.
Appliance connections to a chimney or vent equipped with a power exhauster shall be made on the inlet side of the exhauster. Joints and piping on the positive pressure side of the exhauster shall be listed for positive pressure applications as specified by the manufacturer's instructions for the exhauster or in accordance with this code.
Masonry chimneys utilized to vent fuel-fired appliances shall be located, constructed and sized as specified in the manufacturer's instructions for the appliances being vented.
Masonry chimneys shall be lined. The lining material shall be compatible with the type of appliance connected, in accordance with the appliance listing and manufacturer's instructions. Listed materials used as flue linings shall be installed in accordance with their listings and the manufacturer's instructions.
The space surrounding a flue lining system or other vent installed within a masonry chimney shall not be used to vent any other appliance. This shall not prevent the installation of a separate flue lining in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and this code.
Where an appliance is permanently disconnected from an existing chimney or vent, or where an appliance is connected to an existing chimney or vent during the process of a new installation, the chimney or vent shall comply with Sections 801.18.1 through 801.18.4.
The chimney or vent shall be resized as necessary to control flue gas condensation in the interior of the chimney or vent and to provide the appliance or appliances served with the required draft. For the venting of oil-fired appliances to masonry chimneys, the resizing shall be in accordance with NFPA 31.
The flue gas passageway shall be free of obstructions and combustible deposits and shall be cleaned if previously used for venting a solid or liquid fuel-burning appliance or fireplace. The flue liner, chimney inner wall or vent inner wall shall be continuous and shall be free of cracks, gaps, perforations or other damage or deterioration which would allow the escape of combustion products, including gases, moisture and creosote. Where an oil-fired appliance is connected to an existing masonry chimney, such chimney flue shall be repaired or relined in accordance with NFPA 31.
Chimneys and vents shall have airspace clearance to combustibles in accordance with the New York City Building Code and the chimney or vent manufacturer's instructions.
Exception: Masonry chimneys without the required airspace clearances shall be permitted to be used if lined or relined with a chimney lining system listed for use in chimneys with reduced clearances in accordance with UL 1777 or ULC-S635. The chimney clearance shall be not less than permitted by the terms of the chimney liner listing and the manufacturer's instructions.
Exception: Termination caps shall be permitted on listed factory-built chimneys unless otherwise prohibited by the New York City Air Pollution Control Code.
(Equation 8-1)
D | = | Distance, in feet, measured from the center of the chimney, vent or flue outlet to the nearest edge of the construction. If a single chimney is divided into multiple smaller flues or chimneys, measure from the center of the chimney outlet that is closest to the nearest edge of the construction. |
F | = | Value determined from Table 801.21. |
A | = | Free area, in square inches, of chimney flue space outlet. If a single chimney is divided into multiple smaller flues or chimneys, the total aggregate free area of such flue and chimney outlets shall be used to calculate "A". |
TYPE OF FUEL | "F" FACTOR | ||
600°F (315.6°C) and less | 600°F (315.6°C) to 1000°F (537.8°C) | Greater than 1000°F (537.8°C) | |
No. 2 Fuel Oil | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 |
No. 4, 6 Fuel Oil, Solid Fuels | 3 | 3 | 3 |
A drain shall be provided for all chimneys and gas vents to remove rain water and condensation. The drain shall be not less than 1 inch (25.4 mm) in diameter and shall be equipped with an appropriately-sized p-trap with automatic trap seal primer in accordance with Section 1002 of the New York City Plumbing Code or a float drain trap installed in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements. The drain shall be sized by the design engineer and shall be suitable for the chimney area. For listed chimneys and gas vents, the connection tap into the chimney shall be determined by the manufacturer and connected to the drain piping in accordance with the listing and installation instructions. On all outdoor chimneys and gas vents, the connection and drain shall be installed indoors as close as practicable to the chimney base to prevent freezing.
Where a draft control device is part of the appliance or is supplied by the appliance manufacturer, it shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions. In the absence of manufacturers' instructions, the device shall be attached to the flue collar of the appliance or as near to the appliance as practical.
Appliances requiring a controlled chimney draft shall be permitted to be equipped with a listed barometric draft regulator or automatic damper installed and adjusted in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions. Automatic dampers shall be installed in accordance with Section 803.6.
Thermal safety (spill) switches shall be installed on barometric draft regulators and all other appurtenances that allow dilution air into chimneys or vents. Thermal safety (spill) switches shall be interlocked with all of the appliances connected to the same chimney or vent.
Barometric draft regulators shall be installed in the same room or enclosure as the appliance in such a manner as to prevent any difference in pressure between the regulator and the combustion air supply.
Barometric draft regulators shall be installed in the position for which they were designed with reference to the horizontal and vertical planes and shall be located so that the relief opening is not obstructed by any part of the appliance, adjacent construction or installation hardware.
Devices or items that protrude into, impede or restrict the flow of vent gases shall not be installed in a vent connector, chimney, or vent.
Outdoor portions of chimneys or vents shall be provided with integral R-8 insulation or be provided with an R-8 insulation enclosure, where exposed to the outdoors for more than 5 feet (1524 mm).
Vent systems shall be listed and labeled or field fabricated in accordance with NFPA 211. Type L vents shall be tested in accordance with UL 641.
VENT TYPES | APPLIANCE TYPES |
Type L oil vents | Oil-burning appliances listed and labeled for venting with Type L vents; gas appliances listed and labeled for venting with Type B vents. |
Vent systems shall be sized, installed and terminated in accordance with the vent and appliance manufacturer's instructions.
Vent termination caps shall not be permitted and a drain installed to receive condensed or rain water shall be required. A positive means, such as offsets, shall be provided to prevent water from entering the appliance.
Exception: Termination caps shall be permitted on listed factory-built chimneys unless otherwise prohibited by the New York City Air Pollution Control Code.
Vents shall terminate not less than 5 feet (1524 mm) in vertical height above the highest connected appliance flue collar.
All portions of vents shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and shall be adequately supported for the design and weight of the materials employed.
Where vents pass through insulated assemblies, an insulation shield constructed of not less than No. 26 gage sheet metal shall be installed to provide clearance between the vent and the insulation material. The clearance shall be not less than the clearance to combustibles specified by the vent manufacturer's instructions. Where vents pass through attic space, the shield shall terminate not less than 2 inches (50.8 mm) above the insulation materials and shall be secured in place to prevent displacement. Insulation shields provided as part of a listed vent system shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Appliance and equipment vent terminals shall be located such that doors cannot swing within 12 inches (304.8 mm) horizontally of the vent terminals. Doorstops or closers shall not be installed to obtain this clearance.
Connectors shall be used to connect appliances to the vertical chimney or vent, except where the chimney or vent is attached directly to the appliance.
Connectors shall be located entirely within the room in which the connecting appliance is located, except as provided for in Section 803.10.4. Where passing through an unheated space, a connector shall not be constructed of single-wall pipe.
The connector shall not be smaller than the size of the flue collar supplied by the manufacturer of the appliance. Where the appliance has more than one flue outlet, and in the absence of the manufacturer's specific instructions, the connector area shall be not less than the combined area of the flue outlets for which it acts as a common connector.
Branch connections to the vent connector shall be made in accordance with the vent manufacturer's instructions.
Manual dampers shall not be installed in connectors except in chimney connectors serving solid fuel-burning appliances.
Automatically operated dampers shall be equipped with safety controls and shall be of a listed type. Such safety controls shall be capable of demonstrating operation of the damper and appropriate draft before appliance operation. The automatically operated dampers shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. An automatic vent damper device shall not be installed on an existing appliance unless the appliance is listed and labeled and the device is installed in accordance with the terms of its listing. The name of the installer and date of installation shall be marked on a label affixed to the damper device.
Where two or more connectors enter a common vent or chimney, the smaller connector shall enter at the highest level consistent with available headroom or clearance to combustible material.
A vent connector for a nonresidential, low-heat appliance shall be a factory-built chimney section or steel pipe having resistance to heat and corrosion equivalent to that for the appropriate galvanized pipe as specified in Table 803.8. Factory-built chimney sections shall be joined together in accordance with the chimney manufacturer's instructions.
DIAMETER OF CONNECTOR (inches) | MINIMUM THICKNESS (inch) |
Less than 6 | 0.019 (No. 28 gage) |
6 to less than 10 | 0.023 (No. 26 gage) |
10 to 12 inclusive | 0.029 (No.24 gage) |
14 to 16 inclusive | 0.034 (No. 22 gage) |
Over 16 | 0.056 (No. 16 gage) |
Chimney connectors for low-heat appliances shall be of sheet steel pipe having resistance to corrosion and heat not less than that of galvanized steel specified in Table 803.9(1). Connectors for medium-heat appliances and high-heat appliances shall be of sheet steel not less than the thickness specified in Table 803.9(2).
DIAMETER OF CONNECTOR (inches) | MINIMUM NOMINAL THICKNESS (galvanized) (inches) |
5 and smaller | 0.022 (No. 26 gage) |
Larger than 5 and up to 10 | 0.028 (No. 24 gage) |
Larger than 10 and up to 16 | 0.034 (No. 22 gage) |
Larger than 16 | 0.064 (No. 16 gage) |
AREA (square inches) | EQUIVALENT ROUND DIAMETER (inches) | MINIMUM THICKNESS (inches) |
0-154 | 0-14 | 0.0575 (No. 16 gage) |
155-201 | 15-16 | 0.075 (No. 14 gage) |
202-254 | 17-18 | 0.0994 (No. 12 gage) |
Greater than 254 | Greater than 18 | 0.1292 (No. 10 gage) |
Connectors shall be supported in an approved manner, and overlapping joints shall be tight-fitting and fastened with sheet metal screws, rivets, welds or other approved means.
The maximum horizontal length of a single-wall connector shall not affect the capability of the system to produce adequate draft.
The connector shall extend to the inner face of the chimney or vent liner, but not beyond. A connector entering a masonry chimney shall be cemented to masonry in an approved manner. Where thimbles are installed to facilitate removal of the connector from the masonry chimney, the thimble shall be permanently cemented in place with high-temperature cement.
Chimney connectors shall not pass through any floor or ceiling, nor through a fire-resistance-rated wall assembly. Chimney connectors shall not pass through walls or partitions constructed of combustible material to reach a chimney or vent, except where such chimney connector complies with Section 803.10.4.1 or 803.10.4.2.
System A (12-inch clearance) System B (9-inch clearance) System C (6-inch clearance) System D (2-inch clearance) For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1.0 Btu × in/ft 2 • h • °F = 0.144 W/m 2 • K.Connectors shall rise vertically to the chimney or vent with a minimum pitch equal to one-fourth unit vertical in 12 units horizontal (2-percent slope).
Connectors shall have a minimum clearance to combustibles in accordance with Table 803.10.6. The clearances specified in Table 803.10.6 apply, except where the listing and labeling of an appliance specifies a different clearance, in which case the labeled clearance shall apply. The clearance to combustibles for connectors shall be reduced only in accordance with Section 308 or via the use of a listed chimney or vent connector system.
Mechanical draft systems of either forced or induced draft design shall be listed and labeled in accordance with UL 378 and shall comply with Sections 804.3.1 through 804.3.8.
Forced draft systems and all portions of induced draft systems under positive pressure during operation shall be designed and installed so as to be gas tight to prevent leakage of combustion products into a building.
Power exhausters serving automatically fired appliances shall be electrically connected to each appliance to prevent operation of the appliance when the power exhauster is not in operation.
The termination of chimneys or vents equipped with power exhausters shall be located not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) from the lot line or from adjacent buildings, unless otherwise approved by the commissioner. The exhaust shall be directed vertically away from the building.
Horizontal terminations and discharges, including any horizontal direct vent terminations subject to Section 804.1 and horizontal integral vent terminals subject to Section 804.2, shall not be permitted, unless otherwise authorized by the commissioner.
An appliance vented by natural draft shall not be connected into a vent, chimney or vent connector on the discharge side of a mechanical flue or power exhauster.
Mechanical flue or power exhausters and the chimney or vent system served shall be sized and installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Factory-built chimneys shall be listed and labeled and shall be installed and terminated in accordance with this code and the manufacturer's instructions.
Factory-built chimneys installed in dwelling units with solid fuel-burning appliances shall comply with the Type HT requirements of UL 103 and shall be marked "Type HT" and "Residential Type and Building Heating Appliance Chimney."
Where a factory-built chimney serving a solid fuel-burning appliance or fireplace incorporates offsets, no part of the chimney shall be at an angle of more than 30 degrees (0.52 rad) from vertical at any point in the assembly and the chimney assembly shall not include more than four elbows.
Exception: Factory-built chimneys listed to UL103 Type HT serving a solid fuel-burning appliance or fireplace may offset at angles greater than 30 degrees from vertical if listed for such angles and installed in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. Cleanouts shall be installed in accordance with Section 801.13.
Where factory-built chimneys are supported by structural members, such as joists and rafters, such members shall be designed to support the additional load.
Factory-built chimneys for medium-heat appliances producing flue gases having a temperature above 1,000°F (537.8°C), measured at the entrance to the chimney shall comply with UL 959.
Decorative shrouds shall not be installed at the termination of factory-built chimneys except where such shrouds are listed and labeled for use with the specific factory-built chimney system and are installed in accordance with Section 304.1.
Conversion from one fuel to another or the use of an existing chimney to service a fireplace or wood-burning appliance may require a flue size change for proper operation. This may be done if the redesigned flue meets the criteria for the fuel and chimney type to be used as set forth in this chapter.
Chimneys shall not be supported by the equipment they serve, unless such equipment has been specifically designed for such loads.
All new and altered chimneys, and chimneys to which a new appliance has been connected, shall be test run under operating conditions to demonstrate fire safety and the complete exhausting of smoke and the products of combustion to the outer air. The test run shall be conducted by a registered design professional or special inspector responsible for the test, and the results of such test run shall be certified as correct by such professional or special inspector and submitted in writing to the department. Refer to Section 1705.32 of the New York City Building Code for additional requirements.
Exception: A test run in accordance with this section may be conducted and certified to the department by the permit-holder when the work is performed as part of a limited alteration application, as defined in Section 28-101.5 of the Administrative Code. The test run shall not require a registered design professional or special inspector.
A smoke test shall be made as outlined in Section 810.3. Any faults or leaks found shall be corrected. Such smoke test shall be witnessed by a representative of the commissioner. In lieu thereof, the commissioner may accept the test report of a registered design professional or special inspector responsible for the test that shall be submitted in writing to the department.
Exception: A smoke test may be performed by or under the supervision of a permit-holder when the work is performed as part of a limited alteration application, as defined in Section 28-101.5 of the Administrative Code. Such test shall not be required to be witnessed by the department, registered design professional or special inspector.