Legality of woodburning fireplace in poor condition

We are (hopefully!) restoring one of the 6 fireplaces in our house to it’s original wood-burning status. It needs repair and relining (also needs to be relined because the boiler vents from that chimney.) We’re having mixed reactions from contractors- some say no problem, others say they think it is now illegal to have a wood-burning fireplace. I know there’s some sort of law on the books as of recently that is eliminating the ability to build new wood-burning fireplaces, but I didn’t think it effected current fireplaces, even if they are being restored/repaired. Ours definitely needs repair but was absolutely originally wood-burning. I can’t find the specific new laws to read them myself. Anyone have any experience with this recently?

carmenf

in Renovation 9 years and 9 months ago

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hkapstein | 5 years and 4 months ago

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This is a great point, the joists are very close to the chimneys, so you want to make sure you maintain the required clearances to avoid charring them or setting them on fire, which would not be good.. There is information in the code about this, and a good fireplace company should know what to do.

NeoGrec | 5 years and 5 months ago

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One word of caution: just because you have a WBF doesn’t mean you should use it or rebuild/re-line it. Many brownstone party walls are much less thick than conventional wisdom would have you believe. Hey, many of those Victorians builders took short cuts! Wood fires burn very hot and can pose a risk to your own house and your neighbors. Check with home owners who live within a house or two of you (most brownstones were built in groups of 3-7) and see if they use their fireplaces to burn wood. Safety first!

elhadjib21 | 5 years and 5 months ago

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FYI, I finally tracked down the ordinance for this: It’s Municipal Ordinance § 37:187.30. It functions in a weird way, which is why nobody probably has found it. The ordinance imposes new restrictions on wood-burning appliances, such that you have to have EPA approved wood-burning pellets, and some other things. Essentially, by applying really strong restrictions, it outlaws wood-burning fireplaces as we understand them.

However, the section applies only to “wood-burning appliances installed in new residential units or wood-burning appliances being added to or replacing wood-burning appliances in existing residential units.” Then, oddly, it says that you’re in compliance with the law if “the appliance is reconstructed” and the repairs exceed a certain price that adjusts with inflation. That second provision makes no sense. So I’d probably ignore it.

I think the upshot is that they’ve specifically applied these restrictions only to new installations. Therefore, I think we can safely say that so long as you’re not adding a new fireplace, or replacing it, you’re good. T he question then becomes what constitutes “adding or replacing” a fireplace, which is unclear. I’d think that if the general structure is still there, then you’re not replacing the fireplace. But I suppose different contractors could have different views.

kcc414 | 9 years and 7 months ago

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I would also like to do this. What is the cost approximately?

ProfRobert | 9 years and 8 months ago

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I had the flues opened up and replaced, and the fireplaces rebricked and brought up to Code in 2007\. So unless there’s been some change in Code since then, there shouldn’t be a problem. I used Big Apple Chimney, and they did a good job.

pigthree | 9 years and 9 months ago

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bklyngirl, Just because there have been no wood fires in wood fireplace, doesn’t mean it’s inoperable. It can be legally maintained or even lined with a stainless flue. Unless it’s new construction, most fireplaces are pre-existing (so, not a small footnote). There are wood burning inserts that burn as clean if not cleaner than any other form of fuel, including gas. Wood is carbon neutral, gas, not so much. Wood is also cheaper than gas. With current technology, particulate matter is not an issue.

bklyngirl | 9 years and 9 months ago

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In response to resident2\. I think the law said pre-existing but only if operable. Not and oldie that has been unused. They’ll never pull a permit for that.

bklyngirl | 9 years and 9 months ago

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It has beena law on the books for quite awhile now. Companies are not allowed to rebuid fireplaces to allow for wood burning use. You can add gas and I think those alcohol and pellet burners but wood burning is considered an EPA violation. Whoever tells you they can do it is stealing your $$ and setting you up for a fall. Rebuild it if you want but not for burning wood. There are cleaner ways to have a fireplace nowadays but check with 311 or call Buildings.You can even ask you local firehouse but then again you may not want to get on their radar. Good luck.

NeoGrec | 9 years and 9 months ago

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I recommend Andre of A&A. He advertises on this site.

daveinbedstuy | 9 years and 9 months ago

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Talk to the fireplace restorers seperately and ask them about the permitting issues. You can always do it after everything else is done and signed off on and have them deal with the permitting issues to the extent they say they are required. They really are an isolated separate project anyway.

carmenf | 9 years and 9 months ago

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@resident2 we are going to have a fireplace specialist do it (all our GC said to do the same) however some of them were concerned that we might get a visit from an inspector and they may tell us that we have to install gas (which we do not want.) Do you happen to know the name of the code that was passed regarding this? I’d love to reference it specifically but I cannot find it…

resident2 | 9 years and 9 months ago

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Firstly do not use a regular contractor to re-line a flu. Only use a fireplace specialist. No, you cannot build a new house with a wood burning fireplace, but you have every right to maintain a pre-existing condition. A fireplace specialist contractor of which there are few that advertise on this site, can help you.