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Chimney Rain Cap & Chimney Cap/Crown FAQs
Q&A on Chimney Top Parts & their Definitions
- POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about types of chimney rain caps & chimney caps / chimney crowns & their inspection, installation, troubleshooting & repair or replacement.
Chimney caps & crown & other top part definition FAQs.
This article series offers definitions of chimney rain cap or rain cover, chimney crown or top seal, chimney pot, and chimney shroud. Additional articles in this series describe inspection points, defects, and safety hazards concerning each of these chimney features.
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FAQs on Definitions of Chimney Rain Cap, Chimney Cap, Chimney Crown, Chimney Pot, Chimney Shroud
Questions & answers about proper names of and functions of the topmost components of a chimney.
[Click to enlarge any image] Photo provided by reader Bruce.
On 2019-04-27 by (mod) - what are the details for sealing the expansion gap around the top chimney flue tile?
Bruce
Please find your question and a detailed reply now found in
CHIMNEY CAP / CROWN CONSTRUCTION
On 2019-04-27 by Bruce - What about the material that is used to wrap around the flue?
Thanks.
What about the material that is used to wrap around the flue? See the attached photo. This is not my photo, but just an example. In the photo it looks like some type of insulation. I found some sill gasket foam, but not sure if that can be used.
Thanks again.
On 2019-01-13 by (mod) - Rain caps are recommended
Bill
Rain caps are recommended but I'm not sure you'll find that as an absolute requirement in your local building code, depending on the country and city where you live. It's certainly a question to ask your local building department, but I think it's maybe not the best use of your time and attention.
What's needed is an up close inspection of the chimney top chimney sides and chimney flashing as well as other areas of the roof or building to make sure that you have correctly identified the source of the leak. If it's a cap that would be great but it seems unlikely that I missing rain cap would explain everything that you've described.
On 2019-01-13 by Bill Dimkovski
we bought a new home from the original owner 2 years old.
we have water leaking on top of the gas direct vent fire place as well as water in the basement where there is a rough in for a fire place.
I just noticed that no rain cap has been installed on any of the homes in my area is this not part of the building code
On 2016-07-21 by (mod) - A proper rain cap does not interere with draft
I am stunned by your installer. A proper rain cap does not interere with draft and in fact improves it by preventing downdrafts in some wind conditions. Without a rain cap you risk flue damage and an unsafe chimney, potentially a fire hazard or a CO gas fatality.
On 2016-07-20 y Gary
We have a mason fireplace ( fire brick ) and the installer says not to use a rain cap because it affects the draft. Is it required?
On 2015-10-26 by Dave Mason
We've purchased an old house in Ohio. When it rains, we get flushing noises (like a toilet?) within the walls. Any idea what this is and is it normal?
On 2015-10-12 by (mod) - A proper rain cap does not interere with draft
You can close off an un-used flue but IMO to avoid possible condensation and subsequent damage, you want to be sure that there is no exterior water entering the flue and no Building air entering the flue - either of these can lead to hidden damage;
The choice of a closing cap depends on of what material the chimney is made; IMO for an existing metal flue that has an intact screen keeping animals out of the flue I'd leave it alone at the rooftop and simply seal the indoor opening into the flue with sheet metal, foil, caulk;
Watch out: BE SURE to clearly label the chimney as shut off with a sign that a future occupant will find before they try to re-use it: for return to service the entire chimney and all components will need to be reinspected.
On 2015-10-02 1 by Donna
We just had a new natural gas furnace and water heater installed which no longer use she chimney for exhaust. The installer said maybe we should cap the old chimney. Should this be done and how?
On 2015-09-26 by Anonymous
how much vent space between top of chimney and cap
On 2015-08-11 by (mod) -
You could indeed just install a rain cap atop the chimney, jamming the rain cap collar into the flue opening but it's a sloppy installation that may not produce proper draft and that might be more difficult to seal against leaks.
On 2015-08-11 by (mod) -
The proper repair would be to add a section of clay chimney liner inserted through the crown and mortared in place just atop the top edge of the currently too-short clay lining.
You could extend the reach of a chimney cap by attaching it to a stainless liner segment that in turn jams into the top of the clay flue liner, though I"m unclear about how that will be properly sealed in place against both draft leaks around the liner and water leaks down into the flue.
On 2015-08-11 by Dustin
I believe you miss understood me. I was simply stating that my chimneys clay liner doesn't exit the chimney. But that I am going to install a stainless steel liner for an insert,and the kit has a seal for the crown so basically the new liner is the only thing visible coming out of the top.
On 2015-08-09 by (mod) -
I agree that you may want to extend the chimney liner past the crown, but a wood insert? Really? This is a chimney. Spell FIRE.
I suggest asking for help from a certified chimney sweep / installer.
On 2015-08-09 by Dustin
Hello. My clay flue liner does not extend past the crown, in fact it's about 6" short looking into the chimney. Is that normal? I plan to install a wood insert and run a new ss liner and cap that and seal of the crown.
Question:
(Dec 3, 2014) Tony said:
We installed a triple walled metal chimney 12'run of pipe straight up from the top of our woodstove to 3' above the roof line. We burn our stove almost constantly at 250F-400F.We don't see any creosote buildup when inspecting and cleaning the chimney, but are plagued by soot collection in the top 3'-5' of the chimney.
There is no chase surrounding the exposed section of the chimney, would an insulated chase eliminate this problem? Or are there other solutions? I'm getting too old to keep climbing up on the roof all winter.
Reply:
Tony I'm not confident I can safely diagnose and recommend for this concern. Light soot from a woodstove at a chimney top may be ok but if soot blocks the cap, screen or flue there are indeed safety hazards. I agree that depending on the chimney height, enclosing the flue increases its temperature - but in wood burning I'm not sure what that does to soot at the cap.
I would feel that you are safest getting onsite advice from a certified chimney sweep. Do keep us posted.
Question:
(Feb 2, 2015) Eva said:
Do you need licence to produce Chimney caps in nyc?
Reply:
I'm not sure Eva, if you need a special license to produce chimney caps but selling them would be another question: certainly you'd need to get your chimney caps listed by UL or another accepted authority before they'd be code-approved and thus legal to install.
Question:
30 March 2015 chris said:
what is the minimum clearance between the top of the flue liner and the bottom of the chimney cap
Reply:
Chris this question was answered just below in a reply to ANON - thanks for asking, I'll also add that text to the article above.
...
Continue reading at CHIMNEY CAP / CROWN CONSTRUCTION or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
Or see these
Chimney Top Cap, Crown, Rain Cap Articles
- CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR - home
- CHIMNEY CAP / CROWN CONSTRUCTION
- CHIMNEY CAP & CROWN DEFINITIONS
- DEFINITION of CHIMNEY RAIN CAP / COVER
- DEFINITION of CHIMNEY CAP CROWN / TOP SEAL / WEATHER CAP
- DEFINITION of CHIMNEY CORBELINGDEFINITION of CHIMNEY CORBELING
- DEFINITION of CHIMNEY FLUE, FLUE DAMPER, FLUE VENT CONNECTOR
- DEFINITION of CHIMNEY POT
- DEFINITION of CHIMNEY RAIN CAP
- DEFINITION of CHIMNEY SHROUD or COVER
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CHIMNEY CAP & CROWN DEFINITIONS FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.
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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to CHIMNEYS & FLUES
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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
- Bancroft, Robert M., and Francis J. Bancroft. Tall Chimney Construction: A Practical Treatise on the Construction of Tall Chimney Shafts... Constructed in Brick, Stone, Iron and Concrete. J. Calvert, 1885.
Excerpt: Heavy and large caps are often the source of great danger, inconvenience and expense (see Brooks & Son's Chimney, page 48), as the cap at top in a gale of wind acts upon the shaft as a weight at the end of a long lever. - Chimneys - Accessories - Part 7: Rain caps - SS-EN 16475-7:2016
- Requirements and test methods (Swedish Standard)
This European Standard specifies requirements and test methods for rain caps that are used as components, subject to flue gas, in order to protect against rain entry into the chimney flues. Rain caps which are part of components of a system chimney or other components of a chimney such as terminals, are not covered by this European Standard. It also specifies the requirements for marking, manufacturers instruction, product information and attestation and verification of constancy of performance (AVCP). NOTE Rain caps according to this standard are suitable for both dry and wet chimney applications. - Chimneys - Accessories - Part 7: Rain caps - DIN EN 16475-7:2016
- Requirements and test methods; German version EN 16475-7:2016
(Foreign Standard) This European Standard specifies requirements and test methods for rain caps that are used as components, subject to flue gas, in order to prevent rain entry into the chimneys. Rain caps already tested together with system chimney products or other chimney components, e. g. terminals, are not covered by this standard. It also specifies the requirements for marking, manufacturers instruction, product information and assessment and verification of constancy of performance. - [7] NFPA 211 - Standards for Chimneys & Fireplaces, NFPA 211: Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances, 2006 Edition (older editions and standards are found at the same bookstore)
- [8] NFPA 211 - Standards for Chimneys & Fireplaces, NFPA 211: Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances, 2006 Edition (older editions and standards are found at the same bookstore), NFPA #211-3.1 1988 -
Specific to chimneys, fireplaces, vents and solid fuel burning appliances.
- NFPA 211 - 3-1.10 - Relining guide for chimneys
- NFPA 211 - 3-2 - Construction of Masonry Chimneys
- NFPA 211 - 3-3 - Termination Height for chimneys
- NFPA 211 - 3-4 - Clearance from Combustible Material
- NFPA 54 - 7-1 - Venting of Equipment into chimneys
- [9] NFPA # 54-7.1 1992 - Specific to venting of equipment with fan-assisted combustion systems.
- [10] GAMA - Gas Appliance Manufacturers' Association has prepared venting tables for Category I draft hood equipped central furnaces as well as fan-assisted combustion system central furnaces.
- [11] National Fuel Gas Code, an American National Standard, 4th ed. 1988 (newer edition is available) Secretariats, American Gas Association (AGA), 1515 Wilson Blvd., Arlington VA22209, and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Batterymarch Park, Quincy MA 02269. ANSI Z223.1-1988 - NFPA 54-1988. WARNING: be sure to check clearances and other safety guidelines in the latest edition of these standards.
- [12] Fire Inspector Guidebook, A Correlation of Fire Safety Requirements Contained in the 1987 BOCA National Codes, (newer edition available), Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA), Country Club HIlls, IL 60478 312-799-2300 4th ed. Note: this document is reissued every four years. Be sure to obtain the latest edition.
- [13] Uniform Mechanical Code - UMC 1991, Sec 913 (a.) Masonry Chimneys, refers to Chapters 23, 29, and 37 of the Building Code.
- [14] New York 1984 Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, Article 10, Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Requirements
- New York 1979 Uniform Fire Prevention & Building Code, The "requirement" for 8" of solid masonry OR for use of a flue liner was listed in the One and Two Family Dwelling Code for New York, in 1979, in Chapter 9, Chimneys and Fireplaces, New York 1979 Building and Fire Prevention Code:
- [15] "Top Ten Chimney (and related) Problems Encountered by One Chimney Sweep," Hudson Valley ASHI education seminar, 3 January 2000, contributed by Bob Hansen, ASHI
- [16] Chimney Inspection Checklist, Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, Ontario
- [17] "Rooftop View Turns to Darkness," Martine Costello, Josh Kovner, New Haven Register, 12 May 1992 p. 11: Catherine Murphy was sunning on a building roof when a chimney collapsed; she fell into and was trapped inside the chimney until rescued by emergency workers.
- [18] "Chimneys and Vents," Mark J. Reinmiller, P.E., ASHI Technical Journal, Vol. 1 No. 2 July 1991 p. 34-38.
- [19] "Chimney Inspection Procedures & Codes," Donald V. Cohen was to be published in the first volume of the 1994 ASHI Technical Journal by D. Friedman, then editor/publisher of that publication. The production of the ASHI Technical Journal and future editions was cancelled by ASHI President Patrick Porzio. Some of the content of Mr. Cohen's original submission has been included in this more complete chimney inspection article: CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR . Copies of earlier editions of the ASHI Technical Journal are available from ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
- [20] Natural Gas Weekly Update: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/ngw/ngupdate.asp Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government
- [21] US Energy Administration: Electrical Energy Costs http://www.eia.doe.gov/fuelelectric.html
- [24] Ceramic Roofware, Hans Van Lemmen, Shire Library, 2008, ISBN-13: 978-0747805694 - Brick chimneys, chimney-pots and roof and ridge tiles have been a feature of the roofs of a wide range of buildings since the late Middle Ages. In the first instance this ceramic roofware was functional - to make the roof weatherproof and to provide an outlet for smoke - but it could also be very decorative. The practical and ornamental aspects of ceramic roofware can still be seen throughout Britain, particularly on buildings of the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Not only do these often have ornate chimneys and roof tiles but they may also feature ornamental sculptures or highly decorative gable ends. This book charts the history of ceramic roofware from the Middle Ages to the present day, highlighting both practical and decorative applications, and giving information about manufacturers and on the styles and techniques of production and decoration. Hans van Lemmen is an established author on the history of tiles and has lectured on the subject in Britain and elsewhere. He is founder member and presently publications editor of the British Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society.
- [25] Chimney Inspection Checklist, Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, Ontario
- [26] Chimney & Stack Inspection Guidelines, American Society of Civil Engineers, 2003 - These guidelines address the inspection of chimneys and stacks. Each guideline assists owners in determining what level of inspection is appropriate to a particular chimney and provides common criteria so that all parties involved have a clear understanding of the scope of the inspection and the end product required. Each chimney or stack is a unique structure, subject to both aggressive operating and natural environments, and degradation over time. Such degradation may be managed via a prudent inspection program followed by maintenance work on any equipment or structure determined to be in need of attention. Sample inspection report specifications, sample field inspection data forms, and an example of a developed plan of a concrete chimney are included in the guidelines. This book provides a valuable guidance tool for chimney and stack inspections and also offers a set of references for these particular inspections.
- [27] Fireplaces, a Practical Design Guide, Jane Gitlin
- [28] Fireplaces, Friend or Foe, Robert D. Mayo
- [29] Principles of Home Inspection: Chimneys & Wood Heating, in (Principles of Home Inspection), Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, Ontario
- [30] U.S. vs. Canadian Unlined Masonry Chimney Flue Requirements & Case Study
- [31] Brick Institute of America - Flashing Chimneys
Brick Institute of America - Proper Chimney Crowns
Brick Institute of America - Moisture Resistance of Brick - [32] American Gas Association - New Vent Sizing Tables
- [33] Chimney Safety Institute of America - Chimney Fires: Causes, Effects, Evaluation
- [34] National Chimney Sweep Guild - Yellow Pages of Suppliers
- [35] "Building Codes that Regulate Decorative Chimney Shrouds", provided by Stephen Werner [5], [copy on file as Chimney_Decorative_Shroud_Regs.pdf] cites:
- International Mechanical Code IMC (2000), M74-98 806.6, ratified 9.98, model building code for the United States,
806.6 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 section 304.1. Reason: Decorative shrouds have been the cause of roof and chase fires - International Residential Code (IRC) (2000), R1002.2 ratified 9/99, 1000.2 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 manufacturers installation instructions. Reason: Decorative shrouds often allow for the creation of temperatures in excess of those permitted in UL 103 and UL 127. Decorative shrouds have been the cause of chase top fires ...
- International Fire Code (IFC) (2000), IFC 603.6.3, 603.6.3 Decorative Shrouds. Decorative shrouds installed at the termination of factory-built chimneys shall be removed, except where such shrouds are listed and labeled for use with the specific factory-built chimney system and are installed in accordance with the manufacturers installation instructions. Reason: Decorative shrouds have been the cause of dozens of chase fires. As a non-listed part to a listed assembly, their use should not have been allowed in the first place.
- International Mechanical Code IMC (2000), M74-98 806.6, ratified 9.98, model building code for the United States,
- [36] International Residential Code IRC R100.11 - Fireplace Clearance:
International Residential Code was recently amended:-
R1001.11 Fireplace clearance. Combustible material shall have a clearance of not less than 2 inches (51 mm) from the front faces and sides of masonry fireplaces and not less than 4 inches (102 mm) from the back faces of masonry fireplaces. The air space shall not be filled, except to provide fire blocking in accordance with Section R1003.12.
Exceptions:1. Masonry fireplaces listed and labeled for use in contact with combustibles in accordance with UL 127, and installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions, are permitted to have combustible material in contact with their exterior surfaces.
2. Combustible materials, including framing, wood siding, flooring and trim, shall be permitted to abut the sides and hearth extensions, but not the backs, of masonry fireplaces, in accordance with FIGURE R1003.12, provided such combustible materials are a minimum of 12 inches (306 mm) from the inside surface of the nearest firebox lining.
3. Exposed combustible mantels or trim may be placed directly on the masonry fireplace front surrounding the fireplace opening provided such combustible materials shall not be placed within 6 inches (153 mm) of a fireplace opening. Combustible material within 12 inches (305 mm) of the fireplace opening shall not project more than 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) for each 1-inch (25 mm) distance from such opening.
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- In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
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- Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME .
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.
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