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Chapter 8 — CHIMNEYS AND VENTS

802.5 Masonry, Metal, and Factory-Built Chimneys.

California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4) · 2019 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

Chimneys shall be installed in accordance with Section 802.5.1 through Section 802.5.3. 802.5.1 Factory-Built Chimneys. Factory-built chimneys shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions. Factory-built chimneys used to vent appliances that operate at positive vent pressure shall be listed for such application. [NFPA 54:12.6.1.1] 802.5.1.1 Decorative Shrouds. Decorative shrouds addressed in Section 802.5.4.3 shall be listed or labeled in accordance with UL 103 for factory-built residential chimneys, UL 127 for factorybuilt fireplaces, or UL 1482 for solid-fuel room heaters. 802.5.1.2 Listing Requirements. Factory-built chimneys shall comply with the requirements of UL 103 or of UL 959. Factory-built chimneys for use with wood-burning appliances shall comply with the Type HT requirements of UL 103. [NFPA 211:6.1.3.1, 6.1.3.2] 802.5.2 Metal Chimneys. Metal chimneys shall be built and installed in accordance with NFPA 211. [NFPA 54:12.6.1.2] 802.5.3 Masonry Chimneys. Masonry chimneys shall be built and installed in accordance with NFPA 211 and lined with approved clay flue lining, a listed chimney lining system, or other approved material that resists cor

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TABLE 802.4 TYPE OF VENTING SYSTEM TO BE USED

[NFPA 54: TABLE 12.5.1]

APPLIANCES TYPE OF VENTING SYSTEM LOCATION OF REQUIREMENTS
Listed Category I appliances
Type B gas vent
Section 802.6
Listed appliances equipped with draft hood
Chimney
Section 802.5
Appliances listed for use with Type B gas vent
Single-wall metal pipe
Listed chimney lining system for gas
venting
Special gas vent listed for these appli-
ances
Section 802.7
Section 802.5.3
Section 802.4.3
Listed vented wall furnaces

Type B-W gas vent Section 802.6, Section 907.0
Category II appliances
Category III appliances
Category IV appliances
As specified or furnished by manufac-
turers of listed appliances
Section 802.4.1 and Section 802.4.3
Incinerators
Single-wall metal pipe NFPA 82
Appliances that can be converted to use of solid fuel
Unlisted combination gas- and oil-burning appliances
Combination gas- and solid-fuel-burning appliances
Appliances listed for use with chimneys only
Unlisted appliances
Chimney
Section 802.5
Listed combination gas- and oil-burning appliances
Type L vent
Chimney
Section 802.6
Section 802.5
Decorative appliances in vented fireplace
Chimney
Section 911.2
Gas-fired toilets
Single-wall metal pipe Section 802.7, Section 929.3
Direct-vent appliances
Section 802.2.6
Appliances with integral vents Section 802.2.7

rosion, erosion, softening, or cracking from vent gases at temperatures not exceeding 1800°F (982°C). Exception: Masonry chimney flues lined with a chimney lining system specifically listed for use with listed appliances with draft hoods, Category I appliances, and other appliances listed for use with Type B vents shall be permitted. The liner shall be installed in accordance with the liner manufacturer’s installation instructions. A permanent identifying label shall be attached at the point where the connection is to be made to the liner. The label

shall read: “This chimney liner is for appliances that burn gas only. Do not connect to solid-or liquid-fuel-burning appliances or incinerators.” [NFPA 54:12.6.1.3] 802.5.4 Termination. A chimney for a residential-type or low-heat appliance shall extend not less than 3 feet (914 mm) above the highest point where it passes through a roof of a building and not less than 2 feet (610 mm) higher than a portion of a building within a horizontal distance of 10 feet (3048 mm). (See Figure 802.5.4) [NFPA 54:12.6.2.1]

2019 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE 137

CHIMNEYS AND VENTS any other purpose or distributed to any other persons or parti es.

802.5.4.1 Medium-Heat Gas Appliances. A chimney for medium-heat appliance shall extend at least less than 10 feet (3048 mm) higher than any portion of any building within 25 feet (7620 mm).

[NFPA 54:12.6.2.2] 802.5.4.2 Chimney Height. A chimney shall extend not less than 5 feet (1524 mm) above the highest connected appliance draft hood outlet or flue collar. [NFPA 54:12.6.2.3] 802.5.4.3 Decorative Shrouds. 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 the manufacturer’s installation instructions. [NFPA 54:12.6.2.4] 802.5.5 Size of Chimneys. The effective area of a chimney venting system serving listed appliances with draft hoods, Category I appliances, and other appliances listed for use with Type B vents shall be in accordance with one of the following methods: (1) Those listed in Section 803.0. (2) For sizing an individual chimney venting system for

a single appliance with a draft hood, the effective

(2) For sizing an individual chimney venting system for

a single appliance with a draft hood, the effective areas of the vent connector and chimney flue shall be not less than the area of the appliance flue collar or draft hood outlet or greater than seven times the draft hood outlet area. (3) For sizing a chimney venting system connected to

two appliances with draft hoods, the effective area of

(3) For sizing a chimney venting system connected to

two appliances with draft hoods, the effective area of the chimney flue shall be not less than the area of the larger draft hood outlet plus 50 percent of the area of the smaller draft hood outlet or greater than seven times the smaller draft hood outlet area. (4) Chimney venting systems using mechanical draft

shall be sized in accordance with approved engi

(4) Chimney venting systems using mechanical draft

shall be sized in accordance with approved engineering methods. (5) Other approved engineering methods. [NFPA

54:12.6.3.1]

FIGURE 802.5.4 TYPICAL TERMINATION LOCATIONS FOR CHIMNEYS AND SINGLE-WALL METAL PIPES SERVING

RESIDENTIAL-TYPE AND LOW-HEAT APPLIANCE

[NFPA 54: FIGURE A.12.6.2.1]

(5) Other approved engineering methods. [NFPA

54:12.6.3.1] 802.5.6 Inspection of Chimneys or Vents. This inspection shall be made after chimneys, vents, or parts thereof, authorized by the permit, have been installed and before such vent or part thereof has been covered or concealed. 802.5.7 Inspection of Chimneys. Before replacing an existing appliance or connecting a vent connector to a chimney, the chimney passageway shall be examined to ascertain that it is clear and free of obstructions and shall be cleaned where previously used for venting solid- or liquid-fuel-burning appliances or fireplaces. [NFPA 54:12.6.4.1] 802.5.7.1 Standard. Chimneys shall be lined in accordance with NFPA 211. Exception: Existing chimneys shall be permitted to have their use continued when an appliance is replaced by an appliance of similar type, input rating, and efficiency, where the chimney complies

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with Section 802.5.7 through Section 802.5.7.3 and the sizing of the chimney is in accordance with Section 802.5.5. [NFPA 54:12.6.4.2] 802.5.7.2 Cleanouts. Cleanouts shall be examined to determine that they will remain tightly closed where not in use. [NFPA 54:12.6.4.3] 802.5.7.3 Existing Chimney. Where inspection reveals that an existing chimney is not safe for the intended application, it shall be repaired, rebuilt, lined, relined, or replaced with a vent or chimney in accordance with NFPA 211, and shall be approved for the appliances to be attached. [NFPA 54:12.6.4.4] 802.5.8 Chimney Serving Appliances Burning Other Fuels. An appliance shall not be connected to a chimney flue serving a separate appliance designed to burn solid fuel. [NFPA 54:12.6.5.1]

ended application, it shall be repaired, rebuilt, lined, relined, or replaced with a vent or chimney in accordance with NFPA 211, and shall be approved for the appliances to be attached. [NFPA 54:12.6.4.4] 802.5.8 Chimney Serving Appliances Burning Other Fuels. An appliance shall not be connected to a chimney flue serving a separate appliance designed to burn solid fuel. [NFPA 54:12.6.5.1]

802.5.8.1 Gas and Liquid-Fuel-Burning Appliances. Where one chimney serves gas appliances and liquid fuel-burning appliances, the appliances shall be connected through separate openings or shall be connected through a single opening where joined by a fitting located as close as practical to the chimney. Where two or more openings are provided into one chimney flue, they shall be at different levels. Where the gas appliance is automatically controlled, it shall be equipped with a safety shutoff device. [NFPA 54:12.6.5.2] 802.5.8.2 Gas and Solid-Fuel-Burning Appli- ances. A listed combination gas-and solid-fuelburning appliance connected to a single chimney flue shall be equipped with a manual reset device to shut off gas to the main burner in the event of sustained backdraft or flue gas spillage. The chimney flue shall be sized to properly vent the appliance.

[NFPA 54:12.6.5.3] 802.5.8.3 Combination Gas- and Oil-Burning Appliances. A single chimney flue serving a listed combination gas- and oil-burning appliance shall be sized to properly vent the appliance. [NFPA 54:12.6.5.4] 802.5.9 Support of Chimneys. All portions of chimneys shall be supported for the design and weight of the materials employed. Listed factory-built chimneys shall be supported and spaced in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions. [NFPA 54:12.6.6] 802.5.10 Cleanouts. Where a chimney that formerly carried flue products from liquid or solid fuel-burning appliances is used with an appliance using fuel gas, an accessible cleanout shall be provided. The cleanout shall have a tight-fitting cover and be installed so its upper edge is not less than 6 inches (152 mm) below the lower edge of the lowest chimney inlet opening. [NFPA 54:12.6.7] 802.5.11 Space Surrounding Lining or Vent. The remaining space surrounding a chimney liner, gas vent, special gas vent, or plastic piping installed within a masonry chimney shall not be used to vent another appliance.

Exception: The insertion of another liner or vent within the chimney as provided in this code and the liner or vent manufacturer’s instructions. [NFPA 54:12.6.8.1]

Ventilating hoods and exhaust systems as provided

in Section 802.3.4 and Section 802.3.4.1. [NFPA 54:12.7.2(1)]

802.5.11.1 Combustion Air. The remaining space surrounding a chimney liner, gas vent, special gas vent, or plastic piping installed within a masonry, metal or factory-built chimney flue shall not be used to supply combustion air. Exception: Direct-vent appliances designed for installation in a solid-fuel-burning fireplace where installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions. [NFPA 54:12.6.8.2]

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Contents — California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4)
California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4)
  1. Chapter 1 — GENERAL CODE PROVISIONS
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — GENERAL REGULATIONS
  4. Chapter 4 — VENTILATION AIR
  5. Chapter 5 — EXHAUST SYSTEMS
  6. Chapter 6 — DUCT SYSTEMS
  7. Chapter 7 — COMBUSTION AIR
  8. Chapter 8 — CHIMNEYS AND VENTS
  9. Chapter 9 — INSTALLATION OF SPECIFIC APPLIANCES
  10. Chapter 10 — BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS
  11. Chapter 11 — REFRIGERATION
  12. Chapter 12 — HYDRONICS
  13. Chapter 13 — FUEL GAS PIPING
  14. Chapter 14 — PROCESS PIPING
  15. Chapter 15 — SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
  16. Chapter 16 — STATIONARY POWER PLANTS
  17. Chapter 17 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  18. Appendix A — RESIDENTIAL PLAN EXAMINER REVIEW FORM FOR HVAC SY…
  19. Appendix B — PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED TO PLACE GAS EQUIPMENT …
  20. Appendix C — INSTALLATION AND TESTING OF OIL (LIQUID) FUEL-FIR…
  21. Appendix D — FUEL SUPPLY: MANUFACTURED/MOBILE HOME PARKS AND R…
  22. Appendix E — SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
  23. Appendix F — SIZING OF VENTING SYSTEMS AND OUTDOOR COMBUSTION …
  24. Appendix G — EXAMPLE CALCULATION OF OUTDOOR AIR RATE

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