Building Code Glossary
Fireplace: Building Code Definition
How the IBC 2009, IRC 2009, IMC 2009 define fireplace, where the wording differs, and which chapters depend on the term.
On this page
Last updated September 7, 2026 · Definitions quoted from the 2009 International Codes as transcribed in this site's building-codes collection, with the source chapter linked for each quotation. Usage counts are computed over the chapters hosted here, one copy per code. The [ICC code library](https://codes.iccsafe.org/codes) publishes the current model text and the [ICC adoption maps](https://www.iccsafe.org/advocacy/code-adoption-maps/) show which edition a jurisdiction has adopted; those sources control.
Direct answer
Fireplace is a defined term in the International Building Code (IBC) 2009, in Masonry. The code's own words are: “A hearth and fire chamber or similar prepared place in which a fire may be made and which is built in conjunction with a chimney.” The IRC 2009, IMC 2009 define the same term with different wording, so the controlling text depends on which code governs the question in front of you — the comparison below sets the versions side by side. The term is used in 23 chapters of this corpus, most often in Masonry (IBC 2009), Chimneys and Fireplaces (IRC 2009), Fuel Gas (IRC 2009). These pages transcribe the 2009 model text; verify the definition against the edition and amendments your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
Content and cited inputs reviewed by Scott Barrington, Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-09-07 · Updated 2026-09-07.
What does this term mean?
Fireplace — IBC 2009, Masonry:
A hearth and fire chamber or similar prepared place in which a fire may be made and which is built in conjunction with a chimney.
What must be verified before using this guidance?
Three of the I-Codes in this corpus define Fireplace, and the wording is not identical — read the version that governs your question.
| Code | Where it is defined | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| IBC 2009 | Masonry | A hearth and fire chamber or similar prepared place in which a fire may be made and which is built in conjunction with a chimney. |
| IRC 2009 | Definitions | An assembly consisting of a hearth and fire chamber of noncombustible material and provided with a chimney, for use with solid fuels. |
| IMC 2009 | Definitions | An assembly consisting of a hearth and fire chamber of noncombustible material and provided with a chimney, for use with solid fuels. |
Where fireplace is used in the code
The term appears in 23 chapters of the 2009 I-Codes hosted here. The chapters that lean on it hardest are the ones to read next.
| Chapter | Code | Mentions |
|---|---|---|
| Masonry | IBC 2009 | 125 |
| Chimneys and Fireplaces | IRC 2009 | 122 |
| Fuel Gas | IRC 2009 | 61 |
| Chimneys and Vents | IMC 2009 | 31 |
| Specific Appliances, Fireplaces and Solid Fuel-burning Equipment | IMC 2009 | 31 |
| Chimneys and Vents | IRC 2009 | 16 |
| General Requirements | IFC 2009 | 15 |
| Building Planning | IRC 2009 | 12 |
| Definitions | IRC 2009 | 11 |
| Definitions | IMC 2009 | 10 |
| Fire and Smoke Protection Features | IBC 2009 | 8 |
| Residential Energy Efficiency | IECC 2009 | 7 |
11 further chapters mention the term.
The term in use
How the code actually writes about fireplace, quoted from the 2009 text hosted here:
A masonry fireplace is a fireplace constructed of concrete or masonry.
Round chimney flues shall have a minimum net cross-sectional area of at least ½ of the fireplace opening.
Appliance shutoff valves located in the firebox of a fireplace shall be installed in accordance with the appliance manufacturer's instructions.
The terms fireplace is built out of
The definition above leans on 3 other defined terms. Each carries its own code definition, and a local amendment to any of them changes what fireplace covers:
- Noncombustible Material — IRC 2009: Materials that pass the test procedure for defining noncombustibility of elementary materials set forth in ASTM E 136.
- Chimney — IBC 2009: A primarily vertical enclosure containing one or more passageways for conveying flue gases to the outside atmosphere.
- Solid — IBC 2009: A material that has a melting point, decomposes or sublimes at a temperature greater than 68°F (20°C).
Fireplace: what to open, and in what order
Every row is a document this term depends on. The ICC code library and the ICC adoption maps cover the middle rows.
| Check | Where | Confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Read the definition in the adopted IBC | Masonry | |
| Read the definition in the adopted IRC | Definitions | |
| Read the definition in the adopted IMC | Definitions | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Masonry (IBC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Chimneys and Fireplaces (IRC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Fuel Gas (IRC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Chimneys and Vents (IMC 2009) | |
| Confirm the dependent definition | Noncombustible Material | |
| Confirm the dependent definition | Chimney | |
| Confirm the dependent definition | Solid | |
| Local amendment to any of the above | Jurisdiction's amendment list |
A research aid, not a code determination. The authority having jurisdiction decides which edition and which amendments apply.
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all glossary guidance
- Noncombustible Material: Building Code Definition
- Chimney: Building Code Definition
- Solid: Building Code Definition
Sources and method
Definitions quoted from the 2009 International Codes as transcribed in this site's building-codes collection, with the source chapter linked for each quotation. Usage counts are computed over the chapters hosted here, one copy per code. The ICC code library publishes the current model text and the ICC adoption maps show which edition a jurisdiction has adopted; those sources control.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
What is the code definition of fireplace?
The International Building Code (IBC) 2009 defines it in Masonry as: “A hearth and fire chamber or similar prepared place in which a fire may be made and which is built in conjunction with a chimney.” The 2009 model text is reproduced here; the definition that binds your project is the one in the edition your jurisdiction has adopted, as amended locally.
Do the I-Codes define fireplace the same way?
No. IBC 2009, IRC 2009, IMC 2009 all define the term, but the wording is not identical, and a difference in wording can change which requirements are triggered. The comparison table above sets the versions side by side so you can read the one that governs your question.
Which parts of the code depend on fireplace?
In this corpus the term is used across 23 chapters, led by Masonry in the IBC 2009. Those are the sections whose scope moves if the definition is amended locally, so read them together with Chapter 2 rather than on their own.
What does a fireplace mean?
In the 2009 I-Codes hosted here it is a defined term rather than a description. The IBC 2009 states, in Masonry: “A hearth and fire chamber or similar prepared place in which a fire may be made and which is built in conjunction with a chimney.” It is defined in IBC 2009, IRC 2009, IMC 2009. Because it is a defined term, whatever the adopted edition says it means is what every section using it means — so check Chapter 2 of that edition and any local amendment before relying on this wording.
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