As per the International Standards of Practice for Performing a General Home Inspection set by the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, Ed Lawton, the inspector at B to B Home Inspections, shall inspect your fireplace abiding by the following:
- readily accessible and visible portions of the fireplaces and chimneys;
- lintels above the fireplace openings;
- damper doors by opening and closing them, if readily accessible and manually operable; and
- cleanout doors and frames.
Description
The inspector shall describe the type of fireplace.
Report
The inspector shall report if in need of correction any of the following:
- evidence of joint separation, damage or deterioration of the hearth, hearth extension or chambers;
- manually operated dampers that did not open and close;
- the lack of a smoke detector in the same room as the fireplace;
- the lack of a carbon-monoxide detector in the same room as the fireplace; and
- cleanouts not made of metal, pre-cast cement, or other non-combustible material.
Please note, the inspector is not required to:
- inspect the flue or vent system.
- inspect the interior of chimneys or flues, fire doors or screens, seals or gaskets, or mantels.
- determine the need for a chimney sweep.
- operate gas fireplace inserts.
- light pilot flames.
- determine the appropriateness of any installation.
- inspect automatic fuel-fed devices.
- inspect combustion and/or make-up air devices.
- inspect heat-distribution assists, whether gravity-controlled or fan-assisted.
- ignite or extinguish fires.
- determine the adequacy of drafts or draft characteristics.
- move fireplace inserts, stoves or firebox contents.
- perform a smoke test.
- dismantle or remove any component.
- perform a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)-style inspection.
- perform a Phase I fireplace and chimney inspection.
As Per NJ State Standards
When inspecting fireplaces and solid fuel burning appliances, a home inspector shall:
Inspect
i) Fireplaces and solid fuel burning appliances, without testing draft characteristics,
excluding fire screens and doors, seals and gaskets, automatic fuel feed devices,
mantles and non-structural fireplace surrounds, combustion make-up air devices,
or gravity fed and fan assisted heat distribution systems; and
ii) Chimneys and combustion vents excluding interiors of flues and chimneys; and
Describe
i) Type of fireplaces and/or solid fuel burning appliances;
ii) Energy source; and
iii) Visible evidence of improper draft characteristics.
References
“International Standards of Practice for Performing a General Home Inspection.” InterNACHI. N.p., June 2013. Web. 07 June 2016.
“13:40-15.16 STANDARDS OF PRACTICE.” NEW JERSEY ADMINISTRATIVE CODE: HOME INSPECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Home Inspection Advisory Committee (n.d.): n. pag. NJ Consumer Affairs. 20 Apr. 2015. Web.