Attached is a photo of a properly installed and quality kick out flashing. This type of flashing not only kicks out off of roofing material to ensure that it gets to the gutter and away from the building wall, It actually allows the water to cut into the guttering system.
The importance of the hearth extension cant be understated. Two of the last three inspections I did had modified harness where laminate flooring had been brought up over the flash brick hearth and within 3 to 4 inches of the opening of the fireplace. One of those I actually observed A piece of debris that have popped out and stuck in the joint and had left a small burn mark that was nearly a noticeable unless it was looked at with a mirror view from inside of the hearth
Ventless Fireplaces,
This type of fireplaces dont include a flue or chimney and have been sold in the U.S. for over 30 years. Mainly, they are fueled by natural gas, propane, alcohol-based gels, or electricity. Although less expensive and easier to install than a traditional fireplace, the gas and propane options do have some risks since theres no chimney to expel their gases to the outside.
Importance of Having a Fire Extinguisher at Home
Every home owner should gain some basic knowledge on the classifications of fire extinguishers and how they apply on their homes (based on potential fire hazards there). There is no better way to extinguish a growing home fire before it has the chance to get out of control. Class A is good for wood, paper, rubber, and trash fires. Class B is used to put out gasoline, oil, and paint fires. Class C is used for electrical fires. Class K is used in the kitchen to put out oil and grease fires. At a minimum, home owners should consider appropriate fire extinguishers within reach of high-risk locations such as chimneys, kitchens, garages, mechanical rooms, and basements.
This photo is of a damaged defective chimney flue.It is recommended to have the chimney inspected annually.A damaged flue liner is dangerous because it can cause a house fire,corrosive byproducts of combustion cause deterioration.flue gases speed up the deterioration of mortar joints.
Chimney flashing:Every chimney needs to have the correct flashing in order to avoid water intrusion.The types of flashing used are step flashing and then counter flashing which should attach one inch into the mortar,you will also need a head flashing and an apron flashing.Damaged flashing in these areas are a defect.
Visual inspection of fireplace at property 1234 Main ct. Fireplace area was obstructed by furniture. I was able to determine that the area around the fireplace meets the clearance requirement including only the tile and the brick under the mantle.
Essay on Chimney Inspection: Preventing Collapse. Over the 30 percent of homes have fireplaces and it is important that as an inspector we be knowledgeable of their danger and their construction when we inspect a home. Many factors can lead to the collapse of a chimney, defective construction, weathering, earthquakes, and over time water penetration combined with extreme weather. When performing a general home inspection the inspector must take this into consideration when performing the initial visual inspection.
This photo shows a connection from the furnace to the existing chimney in a cellar. The connection is completely rusted away from the connection point and is a risk for harmful gasses to be released into the living area of the home.
Chimney Inspection: Preventing Collapse is the article I read to write about. Signs of a potential collapsing chimney can sometimes be seen visually and can be caused by anything from by sinking foundation from improper drainage, to wind damage, or seismic damage from an earthquake. It is crucial that it be addressed as soon as possible because collapse can result in severe injury or death. Immediately move any children’s play areas or common areas around the chimney until it has been repaired or removed.
In the photo above we can see a masonry chimney. Chimneys are among the heaviest and most structurally vulnerable of all exterior components of a building.It is 3’6" tall and more than 2 feet No crack or other damage observed. It is visibly in a good shape.
Here is water damage that is located at the eve of the roof. The water intrusion is in the area of a roof mounted satellite dish. This area is in need of repair by a professional roofing contractor in order to prevent further water damage to the structure.
Fireplace hearth is the floor area that is inside a fireplace. This area needs to consist of noncombustible materials, such as concrete,brick or stone and be of less than 4 inches in thickness. The hearth extension is the area that extends to the front and sides of the fireplace. This area needs to consist of noncombustible material and be no less than 2 inches. Depending on the size of the fireplace the hearth extensions differ(6sq ft or less,16 inches front with 8 inches each side)(6sq ft or more, 20 inches front and 12 inches each side) Hearths and hearth extensions are designed to prevent sparks/embers that fall or shoot out of a fireplace from coming in contact with combustible material and causing a fire.
The various types of fire extinguisher put out fires started with different types of fuel these are called classes of fire. The fire risk from the different classes of fire in your business premises will determine which fire extinguisher types you need.
Water extinguishers are the most common fire extinguisher type for class A fire risk. Most premises will require either water or foam extinguishers.
Use for:
Organic materials such as:
o Paper and cardboard
o Fabrics and textiles
o Wood and coal
The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) recommends that extinguishers should be tested every twelve years or five years, depending on the type. The standard method of testing, hydrostatic, is conducted underwater where the cylinders are subjected to pressures that exceed their ratings. Vessels that fail the test are condemned and destroyed, while the rest are reassembled and put back into service.
Homeowners and inspectors can delay this process by periodically shaking the extinguisher. Expensive extinguishers that have expired, especially those designed for commercial use, can be refilled and resealed by companies who specialize in this service. Inexpensive models are disposable.
In summary, extinguishers are classified based on their chemical ingredients, all of which have their own strengths and limitations. It is important to know what type of extinguisher combats what type of fire. Fire extinguishers are critical indoor components that must be maintained and inspected regularly.
In this pic, access is limited and there are many combustible items in front of the fireplace (12" min distance from the Front opening) which should be reported in the inspection. Inspectors should inspect for combustible lintels above fireplace openings, operated dampers, measuring and verifying that the hearth extends at least 16 inches in front of the firebox and not less than 8 inches beyond each side of fireplace openings of a 6 square feet opening or less. Limit will increase by larger sizes of the fireplaces.
According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), fire extinguishers should be tested every 5 or 12 years depending upon their type. In order for fire extinguishers to serve the purpose of preventing fires from spreading, they have to be located in places where people can easily access them when necessary, people must understand how to use the extinguisher and on what types of fires they’re approved for use on.
This is an image of a dry chemical fire extinguisher. It uses Nitrogen as the propelling agent and ammonium phosphate as the extinguishing agent, which is effective on A, B and C Class fires. It therefore can be used on wood, paper and combustible liquids, such as kerosene, gasoline, oil and grease. It can also be used on electrical fires due to the fact that ammonium phosphate is non-conductive. Non-conductivity means that the operator is not at risk of shock during use.
Note from the picture that the pressure dial is in the green. This means that the extinguisher is readily useable and should have the expected amount of charge. Also note that the last inspection date was JULY 1996. Fire extinguishers ahould be inspected yearly and hydro-tested every 6 years according to the Manufacture’s label. This 21 year lapse puts the operational readiness and homeowner safety into question and is a DEFECT.
Ventless fireplace inspection; There are many pros and cons of a ventless fireplace. They can burn at nearly a 100% efficiency, less components to go wrong for instance duct-free and easily installed compared to traditional fireplaces. Unfortunately they can released unburned combustion byproducts (CO) if not maintained properly directly into the living spaces requiring a carbon monoxide detector in close vicinity of the unit. Ventless fireplaces can also create high levels of water vapor which brings in other safety issues such as mold and mildew. You need to know if your state permits these fireplaces, Massachusetts, California and several other states do not.
Factory-built or zero-clearance fireplaces are manufactured fireplaces requiring very little clearance from combustible materials in and around a home. Different manufactures of these fireplaces have different required clearances but generally speaking, 1/2 inches of space is required around the firebox and 2 inches of clearance is required around the chimney in 1-story installations. “Air blankets” are designed into these products to allow the outer wall of the fireplace to stay cool so that these fireplaces can be installed much closer to wood framing than is typical of most traditional fireplaces. These design features allow for installations to require less square footage, cheaper installation and these fireplaces generally have a safe track record.