A.Â
CHIMNEY
DUCT
FLUE
SMOKE PIPE
Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
That part of a building which contains one or more flues
for transmitting the products of combustion from some fireplace or
heating device to the outer air, and includes the fireplace when there
is one.
A passage constructed of sheet metal or other approved incombustible
material and used only for the transmission of air, whether fresh,
heated or vitiated.
A passage, enclosed on all sides with solid masonry or reinforced
concrete, and used only for the transmission of air, whether fresh,
heated or vitiated, or the products of combustion from solid fuel
or liquid fuel, and designated respectively as a "vent flue" or "smoke
flue."
A passage constructed of metal and used as an intermediate
connection between a heat-producing device and a chimney or metal
stack for the transmission of the products of combustion.
B.Â
Notice of installation. In case heat-producing appliances or furnaces
are hereafter placed in any building, or flues or fireplaces are installed,
changed or enlarged, and such installation or alteration necessitates
any change in any structural parts of the building, due notice shall
be given to the Superintendent of Buildings by the person doing such
work or causing the same to be done, and a permit secured from him
if necessary. In all instances, all work shall be in conformance to
the New York State Building and Fire Codes.
A.Â
For the purpose of this article, heat-producing devices shall be
graded as:
(1)Â
Low, including baker's ovens; boiling vats; candy furnaces;
clay, coke and gypsum tripoli kilns; coffee-roasting ovens; cooking
ranges; core ovens; cruller furnaces; drying furnaces by spent materials;
feed-drying ovens; fertilizer-drying ovens; forge furnaces; gas-producers
gypsum kilns; hardening furnaces (below dark red); hot-air engine
furnaces; hot-air heating furnaces; hot water and low-pressure steam
heating boilers; japanning ovens; ladle-drying furnaces; lead-melting
furnaces; rosin-melting furnaces, steratype furnaces; sulphur furnaces;
type-foundry furnaces; wood-drying furnaces; wood-impregnating furnaces.
(2)Â
Medium, including alabaster gypsum kilns; charcoal furnaces; direct
fire-heated feed driers; direct fire-heated fertilizer driers; direct
fire-heated pulp driers, galvanizing furnaces; glass factory lehrs
and glory holes; hardening furnaces (cherry to pale red); lime kilns;
porcelain biscuit kilns; smokehouses; steam boilers, other than low-pressure
heating boilers; water-glass kilns; wood-distilling furnaces; wood
gas retorts.
(3)Â
High, including annealing furnaces; Bessemer retorts; billet and
bloom furnaces; blast furnaces; bone-calcining furnaces; brass furnaces;
carbon-point furnaces; cement, brick and tile kilns; coal and water
gas retorts; cupolas; earthenware kilns; gas blow furnaces; glass-smelting
furnaces; glass kilns; open-hearth furnaces; ore-roasting furnaces;
porcelain baking and glazing kilns; pot arches; puddling furnaces;
regenerative furnaces; reverberatory furnaces; stacks, carburetor
or superheating furnaces in water gas works; welding furnaces; wood
carbonizing furnaces.
B.Â
In doubtful cases, the Superintendent of Buildings shall by a rule
designate the grade of any heat-producing device, being governed in
doing so by the degree and amount of heat transmitted.
A.Â
Construction. Except as in this article otherwise provided, every
chimney hereafter erected shall be of brick or stone laid in cement
mortar, or of reinforced concrete, extending above the highest point
of the roof and at least four feet above the highest point of contact
with the roof. Every chimney shall be properly capped with terra-cotta,
stone, cast iron or other approved incombustible, weatherproof material,
except that on buildings 40 feet or less in height, the top courses
of a brick chimney may be finished off by being carefully bonded and
anchored together to serve as coping.
B.Â
Supports. All chimneys shall be wholly supported by stone, brick
or self-supporting fireproof construction. No chimney shall rest or
be built upon any wood construction.
C.Â
Flues for low-grade devices. The smoke flues of stoves, cooking ranges,
hot-air, hot-water and low-pressure steam heating furnaces, and all
other heat-producing devices graded as "low," shall be encased in
brickwork or concrete not less than eight inches thick, except for
smoke flues exclusively used for ordinary stoves, ranges, or open
fireplaces, when no combustible studding, furring or sheathing is
placed against it, such brickwork or concrete may be reduced to not
less than four inches. In chimneys of stone, the stone work of such
flues shall be four inches thicker than required for brick. Every
flue coming under the provisions of this subsection, hereafter erected,
shall be of well-burnt terra-cotta pipe from the bottom of the flue
or from the throat of the fireplace if the flue starts from a fireplace,
for the entire height of the chimney. Such lining pipes shall be built
in as the flues are carried up, laid end to end in cement mortar so
as to make a smooth flue. Where two or more smoke flues are contained
in the same chimney, the withes shall be either brick not less than
four inches thick or concrete or grout not less than one inch thick;
provided, however, that every third with shall consist of brick.
D.Â
Flues for medium-grade devices. The smoke flues of high-pressure
steam boilers, smokehouses and all other heat-producing devices graded
as "medium" shall be encased in brickwork or concrete not less than
eight inches thick, or stonework not less than 12 inches thick, and
in addition shall be lined with not less than four inches of firebrick,
laid in fire mortar, for a distance of at least 25 feet from the point
where the smoke connection of the device enters the flue.
E.Â
Flues for high-grade devices. The smoke flues of cupolas, brass furnaces,
porcelain baking kilns and all other heat-producing devices graded
as "high" shall be built with double walls, each not less than eight
inches in thickness, with an air space of not less than two inches
between them. The inside of the interior walls shall be of firebrick
not less than four inches in thickness.
F.Â
Certain flues required. In every building hereafter erected exceeding
40 feet in height, where one or more smoke flues start from the cellar
or lowest story, at least one such flue shall have an internal cross-sectional
area of not less than 96 square inches and shall start not less than
three feet below the ceiling. No flue hereafter erected shall have
smoke pipe connections in more than one story of a building.
G.Â
Flues to be clean and chimney safe. Upon the completion of any new
building or an alteration in any flues of an existing building, the
flues shall be properly cleaned and left smooth on the inside. Any
chimney which shall be deemed unsafe by the Superintendent of Buildings
shall be repaired and made safe or taken down.
H.Â
Unlawful use of flues. It shall be unlawful to use as a smoke flue
any flue hereafter erected or placed in any building or any flue now
existing and not already used as a smoke flue, unless it conforms
to the requirements of this section. Nothing in this article, however,
shall prevent the use of approved metal flue linings for the repair
or alteration of flues in residence buildings.
I.Â
Raising adjoining chimneys.
(1)Â
Whenever a building, wall or structure is hereafter erected, altered,
enlarged or raised so that any of the walls, whether independent or
partly along a property line or within three feet thereof, extends
above the top of any chimney, smoke flue or smokestack of an adjoining
building or structure, the owner of the building, wall or structure
so erected, altered, enlarged or raised shall, at his own expense,
carry up, either independently or in his own building, wall or structure,
all chimneys, smoke flues and smokestacks of such adjoining building
or structure within 10 feet of any portion of the wall extending above
such chimney, flue or stack. The construction of such chimneys, flues
or stacks shall conform to the requirements of this article applying
thereto, but in no case shall the interior area of any flue or stack
as raised be less than that of the existing flue or stack. All such
chimneys, flues or stacks shall be carried above the walls in question
to the heights prescribed and shall furthermore be so constructed,
supported and braced as to be at all times safe.
(2)Â
It shall be the duty of the owner of the building, wall or structure
to be erected, altered, enlarged or raised to notify in writing, at
least 10 days before such work is begun, the owner of the chimneys,
flues or stacks affected, of his intention to carry up such chimneys,
flues or stacks as herein provided, and unless released in writing,
he shall carry up such chimneys, flues or stacks simultaneously with
the walls.
A.Â
Firebacks. The firebacks of all fireplaces hereafter erected shall
be not less than eight inches in thickness of solid masonry. A lining
of firebrick or other approved material at least two inches thick
shall be provided unless the fireback is 12 inches in thickness.
B.Â
Trimmer arches. All fireplaces and chimney breasts where mantels
are placed, whether intended for ordinary fireplace use or not, shall
have trimmer arches of fireproof construction supporting hearths.
The arches and hearths shall be at least 20 inches in width measured
from the face of the chimney breast. Trimmer arches shall be of brick,
stone, terra-cotta or reinforced concrete. The length of the trimmer
arch shall not be less than the width of the chimney breast, and the
length of the hearth shall be not less than the width of the mantel.
The hearths shall be of brick, stone, tile or other approved fireproof
material. The combined thickness of trimmer arch and hearth shall
at no point be less than six inches. Wood centers under trimmer arches
shall be removed before plastering the ceiling and underneath.
C.Â
Heaters. No heaters shall be placed in a fireplace which does not
conform to the foregoing requirements of this section.
D.Â
Mantels. No wood mantel or other woodwork shall be hereafter placed
within eight inches on either side nor within 12 inches of the top
of any open fireplace. If a coal-burning heater is placed in a fireplace,
any mantel that may be provided shall be of incombustible material.
No combustible summer piece or fireboard shall be used in connection
with any open fireplace. All spaces back of combustible mantels shall
be solidly filled in with incombustible material.
E.Â
False fireplaces. False fireplaces using summer pieces or fireboards
shall not be placed in any building except against an unfurred masonry
or fireproof partition.
A.Â
Construction. Metal smokestacks must be constructed in accordance
with the New York State Building and Fire Codes.
B.Â
Height. All such stacks serving high-grade heat-producing devices
shall extend to a height of not less than that required by the New
York State Building Codes.
C.Â
Independent stacks. All such stacks hereafter erected outside and
independent of any building shall be supported on a substantial masonry
foundation.
D.Â
Exterior stacks. Any such stacks or any part thereof hereafter erected
on the immediate exterior of the building it serves shall be braced
to such building at least every 20 feet. It shall have a clearance
of not less than four inches from the walls of a fireproof or non-fireproof
building and not less than 24 inches from the walls of a frame building;
and a clearance of not less than 24 inches in any direction from any
wall opening, fire escape or exit facility, unless such stack is insulated
in some approved manner, in which case the clearances herein provided
may be reduced by an amount fixed by the Superintendent of Buildings
when approving the insulation.
E.Â
Interior stacks. Any such stack or part thereof hereafter erected
within any building shall be enclosed in walls of approved masonry;
or, if in a fireproof building, such stack or part thereof shall be
enclosed in walls of brick, terra-cotta blocks or concrete not less
than eight inches thick, with a space left between the stack and the
enclosing walls sufficient to render the entire stack accessible for
examination and repair. The enclosing walls shall be without openings
above the story at which it starts.
F.Â
Prohibition. Smokestacks shall not be carried up inside of vent stacks
or flues connected to ranges, unless such vent stacks or flues are
constructed as required by this article for smokestacks or smoke flues.
Chimneys of cupola furnaces, blast furnaces and similar devices
shall extend at least 20 feet above the highest point of any roof
within a radius of 50 feet thereof and be covered on the top with
wire netting or another approved spark-arrester. No woodwork shall
be within three feet of any part of such device or its chimney.
Underground smoke flues shall be covered with at least 12 inches
of solid masonry, or an approved equivalent insulation. If clean-out
openings are installed, they shall be provided with approved double
iron doors or covers, of which the two parts are 12 inches apart,
with the intervening space filled with insulating material. No combustible
flooring shall be laid over any such flues.
A.Â
Commercial kitchen ranges. When kitchen ranges are to be installed
in any building hereafter erected, all commercially used installations
shall be with an exhaust hood and fire suppression system as per the
New York State codes.
B.Â
Hoods over ranges. All hoods and ducts for same placed over commercially
used ranges shall be constructed of incombustible materials as per
the New York State Mechanical Code.
All registers used in hot-air furnace heating systems, placed
in any woodwork or incombustible floor, shall rest upon stone or iron
borders firmly set in plaster of paris or gauged mortar. All register
boxes used in any such heating system shall be made of tin plate or
galvanized iron with a flange to fit the rabbet in the border. The
register box shall be enclosed in a tin or galvanized iron casing
turned under the border and spaced at least two inches from the sides
of box. Such casing shall extend from the border to and through the
ceiling below in the case of a floor register and through the partition
in the case of a wall register. When a register box is placed in the
floor over a portable furnace, the space on all sides between the
casing and the register box shall be not less than four inches. Every
hot-air furnace shall have at least one register without a valve or
louvers.
Flues hereafter erected for the removal of foul air or the transmission
of heated air shall be encased in masonry not less than four inches
thick and shall be lined with terra-cotta or other approved incombustible
material. Not more than one gas-burning device shall be direct-connected
with any flue, not shall any such device be connected to any flue
used as a smoke flue.
A.Â
General. Except as may be otherwise specifically permitted or prescribed,
the transmission of air through buildings for heating or ventilation
shall be by means of ducts constructed in conformity with the New
York State Mechanical Code.
B.Â
Casing. No casing, furring or lath of wood shall be placed against
or cover a duct of any kind; but this shall not prevent the placing
of woodwork on a covering over such ducts of metal lath and plaster,
plaster board, provided the thickness of the covering is not less
than 7/8 of an inch or minimum per code.
C.Â
In partitions. Ducts hereafter placed in combustible partitions shall
be placed in accordance with the New York State Building Codes.
D.Â
In floors. Ducts hereafter placed between the flooring and ceiling
of non-fireproof floors shall be in accordance with the New York State
Building Codes.
E.Â
In closets. Ducts hereafter placed in closets or similar concealed
spaces shall be double with a one-and-one-half-inch air space, or
shall be covered with approved noncombustible material as per the
Building Codes. When constructed double, the outside pipe shall be
not less than No. 18 United States gauge, and not less than one inch
from any woodwork.
F.Â
Passing through partitions and floors. Ducts hereafter placed to
pass through combustible partitions or floors shall be constructed
double, with a one-and-one-half-inch air space open at one end, or
shall be covered with approved incombustible insulation not less than
one inch thick.
G.Â
Horizontal ducts. Ducts used for hot-air furnace heating hereafter
placed under cellar ceilings shall be at least six inches below wood
floor beams, wood lath plaster ceilings or other combustible materials;
but if such combustible construction is protected by metal lath and
plaster or any other material in accordance with the New York State
Building Code, the distance may be not less than three inches.
H.Â
Cold-air ducts. The cold-air ducts of any heating system shall be
of metal or other approved fireproof material.
I.Â
Hot-air-ducts. No hot-air furnace duct shall be placed in any floor,
partition or enclosure of combustible construction, unless it is at
least eight feet distant in a horizontal direction from the furnace.
A.Â
Restriction. No smoke pipe shall pass through any floor or through
any non-fireproof roof. The construction and installation of any smoke
pipe shall be in conformity with the New York State Building Code.
B.Â
Clearance. The distance between any smoke pipe or metal breeching
and any combustible material or construction shall be not less than
18 inches in the case of low-grade heat-producing devices, nor less
than 36 inches for medium- or high-grade heat-producing devices, except
that, when such smoke pipes or breechings are protected with not less
than two inches of material approved in the New York State Building
Code, or in some other approved manner, such clearances may be reduced
by 1/2, and that, in the case of smoke pies used in ordinary ranges
and stoves in multiple dwellings or other residence buildings having
not more than 15 sleeping rooms, such clearances may be not less than
nine inches when the combustible material or construction is protected
by material approved in the New York State Building Code, not less
than 18 inches when not so protected.
C.Â
Protection through partitions. Smoke pipes from ordinary ranges and
stoves in residence buildings may pass through combustible partitions,
provided every such pipe is guarded by a double metal ventilated thimble
12 inches larger in diameter than the pipe, or by a metal tube built
in brickwork or other approved fireproof materials, not less than
eight inches thick on all sides of the tube.
A.Â
Protection. Steam or hot-water pipes shall not be placed nearer than
one inch to any woodwork unless the woodwork is covered with metal,
in which case the distance shall not be less than one-half inch. Every
steam or hot-water heating pipe passing through a combustible floor
or partition shall be protected by a metal tube one inch larger in
diameter than the pipe. Any such pipe passing through stock shelving
shall be covered with not less than one inch of approved insulation.
All wood boxes or casing enclosing steam or hot-water heating pipes,
or wood covers to recesses in walls in which such pipes are placed,
shall be lined with metal.
B.Â
Pipe coverings. Any coverings or insulation used on steam or hot-water
pipes shall be of incombustible material.