OBC DIVISION B · PART 9 — HOUSING AND SMALL BUILDINGSUpdated for the 2024 Ontario Building Code

Section 9.21 — Masonry and Concrete Chimneys

Full text of Section 9.21 (Masonry and Concrete Chimneys) — Division B, Part 9 (Housing and Small Buildings) of the 2024 Ontario Building Code, with every article reproduced below.

9.21.1.General

9.21.1.1.Application permalink →

(1) This Section applies to, (a) rectangular masonry or concrete chimneys not more than 12 m in height serving fireplaces or serving appliances having a combined total rated heat output of 120 kW or less, and (b) flue pipes serving solid fuel-burning appliances. (2) Reserved. (3) Except as provided in Sentence 9.21.1.3.(1), chimneys (other than those described in Sentence (1) and Sentence 9.21.1.2.(1)), gas vents and flue pipes serving gas-, oil- or solid fuel-burning appliances and associated equipment shall conform to Section 6.3.

9.21.1.2.Chimney or Flue Pipe Walls permalink →

(1) The walls of any chimney or flue pipe shall be constructed so as to be smoke- and flame-tight.

9.21.1.3.Factory-Built Chimneys permalink →

(1) Factory-built chimneys serving solid fuel-burning appliances, and their installation, shall conform to CAN/ULC- S629, “Standard for 650°C Factory-Built Chimneys.” (See Note A-9.21.1.3.(1))

9.21.1.4.Flue Pipes permalink →

(1) Flue pipes serving solid fuel-burning stoves, cooktops and space heaters shall conform to CSA B365, “Installation code for solid-fuel-burning appliances and equipment.”

9.21.2.Chimney Flues

9.21.2.1.Chimney Flue Limitations permalink →

(1) A chimney flue that serves a fireplace or incinerator shall not serve any other appliance. (2) A chimney flue that serves a solid fuel-burning appliance shall not be connected to a natural gas- or propane-fired appliance. (3) A chimney flue that serves a solid fuel-burning appliance shall not be connected to an oil-burning appliance unless the solid fuel-burning appliance is listed for such installation and the installation of both appliances meets their respective installation requirements.

9.21.2.2.Connections of More Than One Appliance permalink →

(1) Except as required in Article 9.21.2.1., two or more fuel-burning appliances are permitted to be connected to the same chimney flue provided adequate draft is maintained for the connected appliances and the connections are made as described in Sentences (2) and (3). (2) Where 2 or more fuel-burning appliances are connected to the same chimney flue, the appliances must be located on the same storey. (3) The connection referred to in Sentence (2) for a solid fuel-burning appliance shall be made below connections for appliances burning other fuels.

9.21.2.3.Inclined Chimney Flues permalink →

(1) Chimney flues shall not be inclined more than 45° to the vertical.

9.21.2.4.Size of Chimney Flues permalink →

r1 (1) Except for chimneys serving fireplaces, the size of a chimney flue shall conform to the requirements of the solid fuel- burning appliance installation standards referenced in Sentence 6.2.1.4.(1) and Article 9.33.5.3. (2) Where a chimney flue serves only one solid fuel-burning appliance, the flue area shall be at least equal to that of the flue pipe connected to it.

9.21.2.5.Fireplace Chimneys permalink →

(1) The size of a chimney flue serving a masonry fireplace shall conform to Table 9.21.2.5.-A or Table 9.21.2.5.-B. Table 9.21.2.5.-A Diameter of Round Flues for Fireplace Chimneys Forming Part of Sentence 9.21.2.5.(1) Chimney Height, m 3.0 to 4.5 > 4.5 to 5.9 > 5.9 to 8.9 > 8.9 to 12 Fireplace Opening, m² Flue Diameter, mm Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Up to 0.150 110 170 100 160 90 150 90 150 0.151 to 0.250 150 210 130 190 130 190 120 180 0.251 to 0.350 180 240 160 220 150 210 140 200 0.351 to 0.500 220 280 200 260 190 250 170 230 0.501 to 0.650 260 320 230 290 220 280 200 260 0.651 to 0.800 290 350 260 320 240 300 220 280 0.801 to 1.00 330 390 290 350 270 330 250 310 1.01 to 1.20 360 420 320 380 300 360 270 330 1.21 to 1.40 390 450 350 410 330 390 300 360 1.41 to 1.60 420 480 380 440 350 410 320 380 1.61 to 1.80 — — 400 460 370 430 340 400 1.81 to 2.00 — — — — 400 460 360 420 2.01 to 2.20 — — — — — — 380 440 Table 9.21.2.5.-B Rectangular Flue Sizes for Fireplace Chimneys Forming Part of Sentence 9.21.2.5.(1) Chimney Height, m 3.0 to 4.5 > 4.5 to 5.9 > 5.9 to 8.9 > 8.9 to 12 Fireplace Opening, m² Flue Size, mm Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Up to 0.150 200 × 200 200 × 200 100 × 200 100 × 200 100 × 200 100 × 200 100 × 200 100 × 200 0.151 to 0.250 200 × 200 200 × 200 200 × 200 200 × 200 200 × 200 200 × 200 200 × 200 200 × 200 0.251 to 0.350 200 × 300 200 × 300 200 × 200 200 × 300 200 × 200 200 × 200 200 × 200 200 × 200 0.351 to 0.500 300 × 300 300 × 300 200 × 300 200 × 300 200 × 300 200 × 300 200 × 200 200 × 300 0.501 to 0.650 300 × 300 300 × 400 300 × 300 300 × 300 300 × 300 300 × 300 200 × 300 200 × 300 0.651 to 0.800 300 × 400 300 × 400 300 × 300 300 × 400 300 × 300 300 × 300 300 × 300 300 × 300 0.801 to 1.00 400 × 400 400 × 400 300 × 400 300 × 400 300 × 400 300 × 400 300 × 300 300 × 300 1.01 to 1.20 400 × 400 400 × 400 400 × 400 400 × 400 300 × 400 300 × 400 300 × 400 300 × 400 1.21 to 1.40 — — 400 × 400 400 × 400 400 × 400 400 × 400 300 × 400 300 × 400 1.41 to 1.60 — — — — 400 × 400 400 × 400 400 × 400 400 × 400 1.61 to 1.80 — — — — — — 400 × 400 400 × 400 1.81 to 2.00 — — — — — — 400 × 400 400 × 400

This provision includes a table — formatting is preserved from the source; refer to the official code for the authoritative layout.

9.21.2.6.Oval Chimney Flues permalink →

(1) The width of an oval chimney flue shall be not less than two-thirds its breadth.

9.21.3.Chimney Lining

9.21.3.1.Lining Materials permalink →

(1) Every masonry or concrete chimney shall have a lining of clay, concrete, firebrick or metal.

9.21.3.2.Joints in Chimney Liners permalink →

(1) Joints of chimney liners shall be sealed to provide a barrier to the passage of flue gases and condensate into the cavity between the liner and the surrounding masonry. (2) Joints of clay, concrete or firebrick chimney liners shall be struck flush to provide a straight, smooth, aligned chimney flue.

9.21.3.3.Clay Liners permalink →

(1) Clay liners shall conform to CAN/CSA-A324-M, “Clay Flue Liners.” (2) Liners referred to in Sentence (1) shall be not less than 15.9 mm thick and shall be capable of resisting, without softening or cracking, a temperature of 1 100°C.

9.21.3.4.Firebrick Liners permalink →

(1) Firebrick liners shall conform to ASTM C27, “Standard Classification of Fireclay and High Alumina Refractory Brick.” (2) Firebrick liners shall be laid with high temperature cement mortar conforming to CAN/CGSB-10.3, “Air Setting Refractory Mortar.”

9.21.3.5.Concrete Liners permalink →

(1) Concrete flue liners shall conform to Clause 4.2.6.4. of CAN/CSA-A405-M, “Design and Construction of Masonry Chimneys and Fireplaces.”

9.21.3.6.Metal Liners permalink →

(1) Metal liners shall be constructed of not less than 0.3 mm thick stainless steel. (2) Except as provided in Sentence 9.22.10.2.(3), metal liners referred to in Sentence (1) shall only be used in chimneys serving gas- or oil-burning appliances. (See Note A-9.21.3.6.(2))

9.21.3.7.Installation of Chimney Liners permalink →

(1) Chimney liners shall be installed when the surrounding masonry or concrete is placed.

9.21.3.8.Spaces Between Liners and Surrounding Masonry permalink →

(1) A space not less than 10 mm wide shall be left between a chimney liner and the surrounding masonry. (2) The space required in Sentence (1) shall not be filled with mortar.

9.21.3.9.Mortar for Chimney Liners permalink →

(1) Chimney liners used in chimneys for solid fuel-burning appliances shall be laid in a full bed of (a) high temperature cement mortar conforming to CAN/CGSB-10.3, “Air Setting Refractory Mortar,” or (b) mortar consisting of 1 part Portland cement to 3 parts sand by volume. (2) Chimney liners used in chimneys for oil- or gas-burning appliances shall be laid in a full bed of mortar consisting of 1 part Portland cement to 3 parts sand by volume.

9.21.3.10.Extension of Chimney Liners permalink →

(1) Chimney liners shall extend from a point not less than 200 mm below the lowest flue pipe connection to a point not less than 50 mm or more than 100 mm above the chimney cap. See Note A-9.21.3.6.(2).)

9.21.4.Masonry and Concrete Chimney Construction

9.21.4.1.Unit Masonry permalink →

(1) Unit masonry shall conform to Section 9.20.

9.21.4.2.Concrete permalink →

(1) Concrete shall conform to Section 9.3.

9.21.4.3.Footings permalink →

(1) Footings for masonry chimneys and concrete chimneys shall conform to Section 9.15.

9.21.4.4.Height of Chimney Flues permalink →

(1) A chimney flue shall extend not less than (a) 900 mm above the highest point at which the chimney comes in contact with the roof, and (b) 600 mm above the highest roof surface or structure within 3 m of the chimney. (See Note A-9.21.4.4.(1))

9.21.4.5.Lateral Stability permalink →

(1) Except as provided in Sentence (2), chimneys shall be braced in accordance with Subsection 4.3.2. to provide lateral stability under wind loads. (2) A chimney need not be laterally braced provided (a) no horizontal outside dimension is less than 400 mm, and (b) the chimney extends not more than 3.6 m above a roof or the masonry wall of which it forms a part. (See Note A-9.21.4.5.(2))

9.21.4.6.Chimney Caps permalink →

(1) The top of a chimney shall have a waterproof cap of reinforced concrete, masonry or metal. (2) The cap required in Sentence (1) shall slope from the lining and be provided with a drip not less than 25 mm from the chimney wall. (3) Cast-in-place concrete caps shall be separated from the chimney liner by a bond break and be sealed at that location. (4) Jointed precast concrete or masonry chimney caps shall have flashing installed beneath the cap extending from the liner to the drip edge.

9.21.4.7.Cleanout permalink →

(1) Except for a chimney flue constructed to serve a masonry fireplace, a cleanout opening with a metal frame and tight- fitting metal door shall be installed near the base of the chimney flue.

9.21.4.8.Wall Thickness permalink →

(1) The walls of a masonry chimney shall be built of solid masonry units not less than 70 mm thick.

9.21.4.9.Separation of Flue Liners permalink →

(1) Flue liners in the same chimney shall be separated by not less than 70 mm of masonry or concrete exclusive of liners where clay liners are used, or 90 mm of firebrick where firebrick liners are used. (2) Flue liners referred to in Sentence (1) shall be installed to prevent significant lateral movement.

9.21.4.10.Flashing permalink →

(1) Junctions with adjacent materials shall be adequately flashed to shed water.

9.21.5.Clearance from Combustible Construction

9.21.5.1.Clearance from Combustible Materials permalink →

(1) The clearance between masonry or concrete chimneys and combustible framing material shall be not less than, (a) 50 mm for interior chimneys, and (b) 12 mm for exterior chimneys. (See Note A-9.21.5.1.(1)) (2) A clearance of not less than 150 mm shall be provided between a cleanout opening and combustible material. (3) Combustible flooring, subflooring and ceiling finishes shall have not less than a 12 mm clearance from masonry or concrete chimneys.

9.21.5.2.Sealing of Spaces permalink →

(1) All spaces between masonry or concrete chimneys and combustible material shall be sealed top or bottom with noncombustible material.

9.21.5.3.Support of Joists or Beams permalink →

(1) Joists or beams may be supported on masonry walls which enclose chimney flues provided the combustible members are separated from the flue by not less than 290 mm of solid masonry.

Understand any provision in seconds

BUILDAiD Assist explains any article of the building code in plain English — with exact citations, exceptions and related requirements.

Try BUILDAiD Beta

Code text is reproduced for reference from the Ontario Building Code (O. Reg. 163/24, 2024 Building Code Compendium). This page is provided for general information and is not an official copy. Always verify requirements against the official Ontario Building Code and confirm with your local building department.