Telephone Conference Call: On March 3, 2000 the MACS Task Group reviewing the code change proposals to the International Residential Code (IRC) met by telephone conference call. There are twelve proposed changes to the IRC and corresponding proposed changes to the IBC relating to fireplaces and chimneys. Most are non-controversial or editorial, cleaning up the language of the sweeping changes made in the last couple of years. Substantively, they include adding provisions for dampers and spark arresters and revising sections on steel fireplace units, clearance to combustible materials and exterior air requirements. Again, the proposals are available on line at http://www.intlcode.org/. The MACS position on each proposal is attached at the end of this report.

Only four proposals are controversial:

1) RB 110-00 submitted by the Hearth Products Association, but written by Walter Moberg, would add language to both the IRC and IBC to allow steel smoke chamber liners insulated with mineral wool. I think these assemblies should be listed because they will be difficult to identify and monitor by building inspectors, which may lead to additional rough-in inspections for masonry fireplaces. The proposal also adds a requirement that all unlined smoke chambers - not just corbelled ones - be coated with 1/4" of "cement parging". This is not a proposal that would promote masonry materials. Nevertheless, the IRC committee decided to support the proposal in exchange for Moberg's agreement to withdraw RB 111-00 which is even more hostile to the masonry industry and especially hostile to the clay flue liner industry.

2) RB 111-00, submitted by Moberg, would include all of the provisions in RB 110-00 but add more insulation around steel smoke chamber liners and, more importantly, would add a requirement to current code to insulate around clay smoke chamber liners. In an attempt to achieve consensus and avoid controversy, the IRC Task Group led by Chip Clark (BIA and Task Group Chairman) and Jeff Greenwald (NCMA and MACS Chairman) agreed to support RB110-00 if Moberg would withdraw RB 111-00.

3) RB 113-00, also submitted by Moberg, re-organizes and re-writes the clearances to combustibles section. The proposal eliminates reference to UL 127 and allows fireplaces to be in contact with combustibles without meeting any standard other than being "listed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions". It eliminates the exception permitting masonry fireplaces to be constructed as part of a masonry wall system and it introduces language to reduce clearances behind fireplaces by means of a mineral wool insulation assembly. The IRC Task Group wanted consensus and Moberg agreed to work on language before the MACS meeting. Chip Clark, Walter Moberg and I scheduled a breakfast meeting on the first day of the MACS meeting.

4) RB 114-00 and RB 115-00 both deal with exterior air for fireplaces. I prefer RB 114 which makes exterior air optional and adds provisions to guard against the hazards of back drafting while Moberg's proposal RB 115-00 doesn't deal adequately with the fire safety hazards of back drafting.

MACS Meeting: At our breakfast meeting Moberg presented a revised paragraph for RB 113-00 introducing the concept of a "wing wall" as an alternative to eliminating exception 2 in the existing language which permits masonry fireplaces to be built as part of masonry wall systems. It was an improvement but did not permit walls thicker than 8" and would have required another diagram and a definition for "wing wall". He did not deal with the UL127 issue and other language issues. Submitting it, as he did, ten minutes before the MACS meeting, not having worked with anyone else on the Task Group, meant that no agreement could be reached in time.

At the MACS meeting itself, the IRC Task Group was unprepared to recommend consensus positions on the four unresolved proposed changes. The discussion was long and unproductive, and the membership was split over whether MACS could have no position or had to have some position on these masonry issues. In the end MACS voted to urge Chip Clark to try to forge an agreement on amended language to RB 113-00. On the other controversial issues MACS voted as indicated at the end of this report.

The references to "manufacturers instructions" and "skilled masons" in RB 116-00 on masonry heaters was universally thought to be inappropriate code language. Most thought the proposal would never be approved but the membership was persuaded to take a "Plus" position on the issue when it was explained that the inappropriate language was a result of long negotiations brokered by the BIA and HPA.

Recommendations:

I recommend that the CFLI review all the positions MACS has taken on the fireplace and chimney issues. We were represented and we were heard and I believe it's better to work within the MACS framework even if we don't agree completely with every position.

On the other hand the CFLI can certainly take an independent position on any of the proposals. In particular I recommend the CFLI take a careful look at RB 110-00, which we might want to oppose despite MACS support, and RB 113-00 about which MACS may not be able to agree on a position.

MACS was formed in 1994 as a masonry industry caucus when the ICC code consolidation process began. The idea was that we could discuss the code change proposals that affect the industry and work out differences among us before getting to the larger code change arena. It was not assumed that we could achieve consensus on every issue.

The contentious code issues before us now were all proposed by Walter Moburg, representing no association that is a member of MACS. His proposals all include some non masonry assembly to be substituted for masonry, or add additional requirements for masonry materials. We don't need consensus at the expense of supporting proposals not in our interest.

__________

MACS Position on Fireplace and Chimney Proposed Code Changes
(Proposed code changes available on line at http://www.intlcode.org/)

Legend:
Support (S) - speak in favor
Oppose (O) - speak against
As Modified (AM) - support only if amended as noted
No Position (NP) - no position
Plus (+) - generally support if needed
Negative (-) - generally opposed if needed

RB 105-00 - MACS Position (+) - editorial, chimney height
RB 106-00 - MACS Position (+) - optional spark arrestors
RB 107-00 - MACS Position (S) - non-controversial & editorial proposed by MACS
RB 108-00 - MACS Position (+) - clarify provisions on steel fireplace units
RB 109-00 - MACS Position (S) - add requirement for dampers proposed by MACS
RB 110-00 - MACS Position (S) - insulated steel smoke chamber liners
RB 111-00 - MACS Position (O) - insulation for both clay & steel smoke chamber liners
RB 112-00 - MACS Position (S) - hearth extensions
RB 113-00 - MACS Position (NP*) - insulated assemblies & clearances issues
RB 114-00 - MACS Position (-) - exterior air made optional
RB 115-00 - MACS Position (+) - exterior air
RB 116-00 - MACS Position (+) - masonry heaters

S 80-00 - MACS Position (S) - IRC clearances language in IBC
RB 107-00 (part 2) - MACS Position (S) - non-controversial & editorial
RB 108-00 (part 2) - MACS Position (+) - clarify provisions on steel fireplace units
RB 109-00 (part 2) - MACS Position (S) - add dampers
RB 110-00 (part 2) - MACS Position (S) - insulated steel smoke chamber liners
RB 111-00 (part 2) - MACS Position (O) - insulation for clay & steel smoke chambers
RB 112-00 (part 2) - MACS Position (S) - hearth extensions
S 81-00 - MACS Position (S) - flue sizing consistent with NFPA 31
S 82-00 - MACS Position (S) - IRC chimney clearances in IBC
RB 113-00 (part 2) - MACS Position (NP*) - insulated assemblies & clearances issues
RB 114-00 (part 2) - MACS Position (-) - exterior air made optional
RB 115-00 (part 2) - MACS Position (+) - exterior air
RB 105-00 (part 2) - MACS Position (+) - editorial, chimney height
RB 106-00 (part 2) - MACS Position (+) - optional spark arrestors

* MACS instructed Taskforce to try to forge an agreement to modified language before the Committee meetings in Birmingham.

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