Fillable checklist

Chimney Inspection Checklist: Masonry Chase and Fireplace (Free Printable PDF)

Fillable visual chimney inspection for a US house: chase, cap, flashing, damper, firebox, hearth, and visible liner. Print blank or save a filled PDF.

Inspections Fillable form · 10 sections · 58 checks Download filled or blank PDF and CSV Cross-checked against IRC, NFPA 211, ASHI SOP, and InterNACHI · Last verified Sep 1, 2026

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Fill this on screen, then download a PDF or CSV. Download a blank copy to complete by hand. Answers stay in this tab only. The next visitor sees a blank form. This is a visual chimney and fireplace inspection of a US house: exterior masonry or chase, cap and crown, flashing, damper, firebox, hearth, nearby combustibles, and the liner only where it is visible from an existing opening. It is not an NFPA 211 Level II camera sweep of the full flue. Mark N/A on parts the house does not have.

  • 10 sections
  • 58 checks
  • Blank for each visitor

Form details

Property

This is a visual template, not a licensed home inspection report, not a municipal code inspection, and not an NFPA 211 Level I, II, or III inspection unless a qualified chimney professional actually performs that level. Adopted residential codes vary by state and city. InterNACHI 3.8 and ASHI fireplaces sections ask you to describe the fireplace and chimney type.

11 fields
Property

InterNACHI 3.8 and ASHI ask you to describe the chimney and vent system. Mark chase lines N/A on a full masonry stack, and masonry-crown lines N/A on a metal chase.

InterNACHI 3.8: describe the type of fireplace. ASHI: describe type and material of fireplaces, stoves, inserts, and chimneys. Factory-built units follow their listing (IRC R1004), not masonry hearth sizes.

NFPA 211 inspections are done by a qualified agency. InterNACHI and ASHI home inspections are visual and are not required to be NFPA 211 Level I, II, or III. This form does not include a Level II camera sweep.

InterNACHI 3.1 inspects the chimney and flashing from ground level or the eaves and is not required to walk a roof that looks unsafe. Record the method even when you stay off the roof.

Dry, raining, or recent heavy rain. Wet masonry hides some mortar gaps. A dry-day stain still belongs in Notes.

Inspection station

Exterior masonry and chase

Walk every visible face from the ground. Do not climb an unsafe stack. InterNACHI 3.1 and 3.8 cover readily accessible chimneys. ASHI inspects visible chimneys and is not required to inspect flue interiors that are not readily accessible.

8 items
Exterior masonry and chase

Chimney or chase type identified on all sides you can see

Brick, stone, stucco, wood chase, or metal. Note covered faces (vines, a second-story roof, or a tight side yard) in Notes.

Chimney or chase type identified on all sides you can see: OK, Defect, or N/A

No leaning, offset, or separation of the stack from the house

Look along a corner for a belly, a step at a joint, or a gap at the siding. A leaning chimney is a structural concern, not a cosmetic note. InterNACHI course text treats chimney collapse as a serious hazard. This form is not an engineer calculation.

No leaning, offset, or separation of the stack from the house: OK, Defect, or N/A

Mortar joints: no widespread missing, washed-out, or open joints

Open joints let water into the wythe and the flue. Hairline weathering on an otherwise tight wall can be a note. Active gaps, especially near the roofline, are a defect.

Mortar joints: no widespread missing, washed-out, or open joints: OK, Defect, or N/A

Brick or stone: no loose units, heavy spalling, or cracked clay

Spalling is face-brick that pops from freeze-thaw or moisture. InterNACHI moisture text links wet masonry to efflorescence and spall. Mark N/A on a wood or metal chase with no masonry.

Brick or stone: no loose units, heavy spalling, or cracked clay: OK, Defect, or N/A

Factory-built chase: siding intact, not pulling, no exposed sheathing

A wood chase is weather wrapping for a listed metal chimney (IRC R1005). Open joints, rot, or bare OSB are defects. Mark N/A on a masonry chimney with no chase.

Factory-built chase: siding intact, not pulling, no exposed sheathing: OK, Defect, or N/A

Chase or masonry-to-wall joint not open to weather

A gap where the chase meets the house wall is a water and fire-spread path. Look from the ground and from the attic if you entered it.

Chase or masonry-to-wall joint not open to weather: OK, Defect, or N/A

Vines, trees, and stored items not holding moisture against the stack

InterNACHI 3.2 inspects vegetation that can wet the structure. Roots and vines also hide mortar defects. Mark N/A if the yard is clear.

Vines, trees, and stored items not holding moisture against the stack: OK, Defect, or N/A

No widespread white salt crust that suggests ongoing water in the masonry

Light, old powder on an otherwise dry wall can be a note. Active, damp crust below the crown or flashing is a moisture defect. Mark N/A on a metal chase.

No widespread white salt crust that suggests ongoing water in the masonry: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Cap, crown, and termination

View the top from the roof only if it is safe. Binoculars from the ground still count. IRC R1003.9 and InterNACHI both use the 3-2-10 height rule. Do not guess height on a steep roof.

8 items
Cap, crown, and termination

Masonry crown or cap present and sloped to shed water

IRC R1003.9.1: masonry chimneys shall have a concrete, metal, or stone cap, a drip edge, and a caulked bond break around flue liners, and the cap shall be sloped to shed water. InterNACHI uses the same crown, wash, or splay language. A flat mortar wash that ponds is a defect. Mark N/A on a factory-built metal termination.

Masonry crown or cap present and sloped to shed water: OK, Defect, or N/A

Crown not cracked through to the masonry below

A hairline surface check can be a note. A crack that you can see through, or a crown that has broken off an edge, lets water into the stack. InterNACHI: most crowns built of ordinary mortar mix fail early.

Crown not cracked through to the masonry below: OK, Defect, or N/A

Drip edge and a bond break or caulk joint at the flue liner, if you can see the top

IRC R1003.9.1 and InterNACHI both call for a drip edge and a caulked bond break around the liner. Do not invent a 2-inch overhang Pass/Fail. InterNACHI educational text uses a 2-inch overhang; IRC does not state that number. Mark Defect if water clearly runs down the brick face from the top. Mark N/A if the top is not visible.

Drip edge and a bond break or caulk joint at the flue liner, if you can see the top: OK, Defect, or N/A

Rain cap or spark arrestor present and not blocked

IRC R1003.9.3: if a rain cap is installed, net free area under the cap shall be not less than four times the flue outlet. R1003.9.2 sets spark-arrestor screen limits. Do not fail mesh size unless you measured it. Mark Defect if the cap is missing on an open flue that takes weather, crushed, rusted through, or packed with nests. Mark N/A if the flue is a listed termination with an integral cap.

Rain cap or spark arrestor present and not blocked: OK, Defect, or N/A

Chimney meets the 3-2-10 height rule, or you recorded a measurement

IRC R1003.9 and InterNACHI 3-2-10: not less than 3 feet above the highest point where the chimney passes through the roof, and not less than 2 feet higher than any portion of a building within 10 feet. Mark Defect if it is clearly short. Use Notes if you measured. Do not guess from the yard on a steep roof.

Chimney meets the 3-2-10 height rule, or you recorded a measurement: OK, Defect, or N/A

Flue liner, if masonry, visible above the crown and not flush-buried in mortar

IRC R1003.12: clay liners extend to a point above the enclosing walls. InterNACHI educational text uses 4 inches above the crown. Those are not one Pass/Fail pair. Mark Defect if the liner is missing at the top or buried flush so water sits on the crown. Do not fail a 4-inch projection unless you measured against the adopted code. Mark N/A on a factory-built metal flue.

Flue liner, if masonry, visible above the crown and not flush-buried in mortar: OK, Defect, or N/A

Factory-built: listed cap in place; decorative shroud listed for that system if a shroud is used

IRC R1004.3 and R1005.2: decorative shrouds shall not be installed except where listed for that fireplace or chimney system. A box shroud with no listing mark is a defect. Mark N/A on masonry with no shroud.

Factory-built: listed cap in place; decorative shroud listed for that system if a shroud is used: OK, Defect, or N/A

Tall chimney, if present: stay or brace not loose, rusted through, or pulling masonry

InterNACHI roof-penetration text notes braces on tall stacks in wind. Mark N/A if the chimney is short and unbraced. This is not a wind-load calculation.

Tall chimney, if present: stay or brace not loose, rusted through, or pulling masonry: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Roof flashing

InterNACHI 3.1 inspects chimney flashing from the ground or eaves. IRC requires roof penetrations to be flashed. Sealant-only counterflashing is common. Report it; do not treat every bead of caulk as an automatic fail.

7 items
Roof flashing

Base or step flashing present at the chimney-to-roof joint

InterNACHI roof-penetration lesson: the chimney hole in the roof needs metal flashing in good condition. Missing flashing, or roofing tar as the only weather barrier, is a defect.

Base or step flashing present at the chimney-to-roof joint: OK, Defect, or N/A

Counterflashing present on masonry, in a reglet or equivalent, or noted as sealant-dependent

InterNACHI: counterflashing in a mortar-joint reglet is the durable detail. Sealant-only counterflashing needs ongoing maintenance. Mark Defect if flashing is loose, torn, or already leaking. Use Notes if it is sealant-only but dry today.

Counterflashing present on masonry, in a reglet or equivalent, or noted as sealant-dependent: OK, Defect, or N/A

Flashing metal not rusted through, pulled, or open at laps

InterNACHI: metal flashing eventually corrodes. Open laps and nail pops at the uphill cricket or apron are defects.

Flashing metal not rusted through, pulled, or open at laps: OK, Defect, or N/A

Cricket present where the chimney is wide on the uphill side and does not hit the ridge

IRC R1003.20 and InterNACHI: a cricket is required where the dimension parallel to the ridge is greater than 30 inches and the chimney does not intersect the ridgeline. Mark N/A if the stack is narrower than that, sits on the ridge, or is a wall chimney with no uphill roof.

Cricket present where the chimney is wide on the uphill side and does not hit the ridge: OK, Defect, or N/A

Cricket, if present: flashed and counterflashed like the other chimney sides

IRC R1003.20: the cricket-to-chimney intersection is flashed the same way as a normal roof-chimney intersection. A cricket of shingles only, with no metal, is a defect. Mark N/A if no cricket is required.

Cricket, if present: flashed and counterflashed like the other chimney sides: OK, Defect, or N/A

Kickout or similar diverter where a chimney sidewall meets a lower roof, if that condition exists

InterNACHI chimney-kickout lesson: a missing kickout dumps roof water behind siding. Mark N/A if the chimney is isolated in the field of the roof with no sidewall.

Kickout or similar diverter where a chimney sidewall meets a lower roof, if that condition exists: OK, Defect, or N/A

Attic or soffit below the chimney: no active drip, dark sheathing, or rusty nails at the penetration

InterNACHI: look from the attic for moisture at a sealant-only counterflashing. Mark N/A if you did not enter an attic. Do not pull insulation unless it is already disturbed.

Attic or soffit below the chimney: no active drip, dark sheathing, or rusty nails at the penetration: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Damper

InterNACHI 3.8: open and close a manually operable damper if it is readily accessible. Do not force a seized plate. ASHI is not required to determine draft.

6 items
Damper

Damper present in the fireplace or chimney that vents it

IRC R1001.7.1: masonry fireplaces shall have a ferrous metal damper, operable from the room. Mark N/A on a listed factory-built unit that uses a different listed damper, or on a chimney with no fireplace.

Damper present in the fireplace or chimney that vents it: OK, Defect, or N/A

Manually operated damper opens and closes

InterNACHI 3.8: report a damper that did not open and close. ASHI inspects visible fireplaces. Mark N/A if there is no damper, or it is not reachable without moving an insert (InterNACHI and ASHI are not required to move inserts).

Manually operated damper opens and closes: OK, Defect, or N/A

Damper opens fully enough for smoke to pass, not a jammed slit

A plate that moves but stops half shut is a defect. Do not invent a throat-area Pass/Fail. IRC R1001.6 sets throat geometry for new masonry work. This visual form does not size the throat.

Damper opens fully enough for smoke to pass, not a jammed slit: OK, Defect, or N/A

Damper plate, rod, and handle: no broken welds, missing parts, or rust-through

InterNACHI fireplace course: inspect rusted or corroded damper parts. A handle that turns without moving the plate is a defect.

Damper plate, rod, and handle: no broken welds, missing parts, or rust-through: OK, Defect, or N/A

Masonry damper or throat not obviously sitting in the opening

IRC R1001.7.1 and InterNACHI: damper not less than 8 inches above the fireplace opening (IRC also says 8 inches above the lintel). Mark Defect if the plate is in the opening. Do not fail an 8-inch measurement unless you measured. Mark N/A on factory-built.

Masonry damper or throat not obviously sitting in the opening: OK, Defect, or N/A

Top-sealing damper, if present: cable free, plate seats, cap not packed with debris

A roof-mounted damper is an accessory at the termination. Mark N/A if there is only an in-fireplace damper. Do not operate a motorized damper that needs power you do not have.

Top-sealing damper, if present: cable free, plate seats, cap not packed with debris: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Firebox, lintel, and visible smoke chamber

Look with a flashlight from the room. Do not move inserts, stoves, or firebox contents (InterNACHI 3.8 and ASHI). Do not light a fire or a gas log. Visible smoke-chamber surfaces are not a Level II camera sweep.

8 items
Firebox, lintel, and visible smoke chamber

Firebox lining: no loose firebrick, missing mortar, or holes to framing

IRC R1001.5 sets masonry firebox wall thickness for new work. This form does not measure wall thickness (that is closer to an invasive look). Mark Defect for loose brick, voids, or a gap where you can see wood. Factory-built: follow the listed panels, not firebrick rules.

Firebox lining: no loose firebrick, missing mortar, or holes to framing: OK, Defect, or N/A

Firebox floor intact: no collapsed hearth slab or open ash pit into wood

IRC R1001.9: combustible material shall not remain against the underside of hearths after construction. You often cannot see the underside. Mark Defect if the floor is broken or the ash dump shows wood formwork. Mark N/A if there is no ash dump and the floor is sound.

Firebox floor intact: no collapsed hearth slab or open ash pit into wood: OK, Defect, or N/A

Lintel above the opening: noncombustible, bearing, not sagging or burned through

IRC R1001.7: masonry over the opening is supported by a noncombustible lintel with at least 4 inches of bearing each end. InterNACHI 3.8 inspects lintels and flags a combustible lintel. A wood lintel in a masonry opening is a defect. Mark N/A on a listed metal fireplace with its listed lintel.

Lintel above the opening: noncombustible, bearing, not sagging or burned through: OK, Defect, or N/A

Smoke chamber and smoke shelf, if visible from the firebox: no broken parging or open brick

NFPA 211 Level I examines internal fireplace and smoke-chamber surfaces for damage and deposits when those surfaces are readily accessible. InterNACHI home SOP is not required to inspect flue interiors. Look only with a light and mirror from the opening. Mark N/A if an insert blocks the view and you did not move it.

Smoke chamber and smoke shelf, if visible from the firebox: no broken parging or open brick: OK, Defect, or N/A

Ash dump and cover, if present: cover fits, dump not dumping into a wood cavity

IRC R1001.2.1 covers ash-dump cleanouts. Mark N/A if there is no dump. A missing cover is a defect. Do not crawl the ash pit.

Ash dump and cover, if present: cover fits, dump not dumping into a wood cavity: OK, Defect, or N/A

Insert, stove, or gas logs, if present: left in place; visual condition only

InterNACHI and ASHI are not required to move inserts or stoves or to operate gas inserts or light pilots. Note that an insert blocks the firebox and damper. Mark N/A if the firebox is open. A listed insert still needs a listed connector: that is a professional chimney item, not a camera-free Pass/Fail here.

Insert, stove, or gas logs, if present: left in place; visual condition only: OK, Defect, or N/A

No unused open thimble, cleanout, or pipe hole in the firebox or chimney breast

InterNACHI fireplace course flags unused openings in chimneys or flues. An open thimble into a room is a defect.

No unused open thimble, cleanout, or pipe hole in the firebox or chimney breast: OK, Defect, or N/A

Glass doors or screens, if present: not required to be tested; note broken glass or a missing screen

InterNACHI and ASHI are not required to inspect fire screens or doors. A broken glass door that is in use is still worth a note. Mark N/A if none are installed. Gasketed doors on a factory-built unit must be listed for that fireplace (IRC R1004.5). Do not fail listing unless a label is visible.

Glass doors or screens, if present: not required to be tested; note broken glass or a missing screen: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Hearth, extension, and surround

InterNACHI 3.8: report joint separation, damage, or deterioration of the hearth, hearth extension, or chambers. Masonry sizes below are IRC and InterNACHI numbers. Factory-built hearths follow the listing, not those masonry inches.

6 items
Hearth, extension, and surround

Masonry hearth of concrete or masonry, or a listed factory-built hearth extension

IRC R1001.9: masonry hearths and extensions are concrete or masonry, supported by noncombustible materials. InterNACHI: hearths not of concrete or masonry are a finding. IRC R1004.2: factory-built hearth extensions follow the listing and shall be readily distinguishable from the surrounding floor. Mark N/A if there is no fireplace.

Masonry hearth of concrete or masonry, or a listed factory-built hearth extension: OK, Defect, or N/A

No joint separation between hearth, extension, firebox, and facing

InterNACHI 3.8 requires reporting that separation. A gap that shows wood framing is a defect. Hairline tile grout on a sound slab can be a note.

No joint separation between hearth, extension, firebox, and facing: OK, Defect, or N/A

Masonry hearth extension depth and side width, if you measured, or obviously short

IRC R1001.10 and InterNACHI: not less than 16 inches in front and 8 inches beyond each side if the opening is under 6 square feet; 20 inches in front and 12 inches each side if 6 square feet or larger. Mark Defect if it is obviously short (combustible floor to the opening). Use Notes if you measured. Mark N/A on a listed factory-built unit unless the listing is posted and you compared it.

Masonry hearth extension depth and side width, if you measured, or obviously short: OK, Defect, or N/A

Visible hearth and extension thickness not paper-thin tile on wood next to a masonry firebox

IRC R1001.9.1 and InterNACHI: masonry hearth not less than 4 inches thick. IRC R1001.9.2 and InterNACHI: extension not less than 2 inches, with a thinner listed exception if the firebox floor is raised at least 8 inches. Do not fail thickness unless you can see an edge or it is clearly combustible finish only. Mark N/A on factory-built listed hearths.

Visible hearth and extension thickness not paper-thin tile on wood next to a masonry firebox: OK, Defect, or N/A

Facing, mantel beam, and surround attached, not pulling away from the firebox

ASHI inspects the visible mantle, hearth, and surround. InterNACHI home SOP is not required to inspect mantels, but a surround that has pulled off and shows a gap to the firebox belongs here. Combustible-clearance lines are on the next station.

Facing, mantel beam, and surround attached, not pulling away from the firebox: OK, Defect, or N/A

Raised hearth, if present: no cracked cantilever and no storage of combustibles in the void

A hollow raised hearth stuffed with kindling is a fire problem even when the slab on top is stone. Mark N/A on a flush hearth.

Raised hearth, if present: no cracked cantilever and no storage of combustibles in the void: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Nearby combustibles and detectors

Look at trim, stored fuel, and the attic only if you entered it. Do not invent masonry chimney airspace numbers you did not measure. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the fireplace room are InterNACHI 3.8 report items, not a substitute for the smoke-alarm layout in the rest of the house.

7 items
Nearby combustibles and detectors

Combustible mantel or trim not in the fireplace opening and not scorched

IRC R1001.11 Exception 4: combustible mantel or trim may sit on the masonry front if it is not within 6 inches of the opening, and material within 12 inches of the opening shall not project more than 1/8 inch for each 1 inch from the opening. InterNACHI educational text uses 6 inches above the opening with a 1-1/2 inch projection, which is not the same pair. Mark Defect if wood is in the opening or already burned. Use Notes if you measured. Do not merge those two rules into one Pass/Fail.

Combustible mantel or trim not in the fireplace opening and not scorched: OK, Defect, or N/A

No firewood, paper, or flammable liquids stored in the firebox or against the chimney

InterNACHI flags solid-fuel appliances where gasoline or other flammable vapors are present. Kindling on the hearth extension is a judgment note. Gasoline next to a wood stove is a defect.

No firewood, paper, or flammable liquids stored in the firebox or against the chimney: OK, Defect, or N/A

Attic, closet, or chase interior, if viewed: wood framing not tight against a hot chimney face

IRC R1003.18: interior masonry chimneys have a 2-inch airspace to combustibles; chimneys entirely outside have 1 inch. Factory-built chimneys follow the listing and an insulation shield (IRC R1005.8). Those inch figures are model code. Mark Defect if wood or foam is clearly in contact and discolored. Do not fail 2 inches versus 1 inch unless you measured. Mark N/A if you did not see the concealed run.

Attic, closet, or chase interior, if viewed: wood framing not tight against a hot chimney face: OK, Defect, or N/A

Factory-built chimney in an attic, if present: insulation not packed against the pipe; shield present if you can see one

IRC R1005.8 requires an insulation shield and a manufacturer clearance. InterNACHI and ASHI are not required to verify every listed clearance. Mark Defect if cellulose or foam is piled on an unshielded metal chimney. Mark N/A on masonry with no metal flue in the attic.

Factory-built chimney in an attic, if present: insulation not packed against the pipe; shield present if you can see one: OK, Defect, or N/A

Smoke detector in the same room as the fireplace

InterNACHI 3.8: report the lack of a smoke detector in the same room as the fireplace. This is an SOP reporting item. It is not a full NFPA 72 house-layout check. Mark N/A if there is no fireplace room (chimney only).

Smoke detector in the same room as the fireplace: OK, Defect, or N/A

Carbon monoxide detector in the same room as the fireplace

InterNACHI 3.8: report the lack of a carbon monoxide detector in the same room as the fireplace. State and IRC alarm rules also vary by year and fuel type. Do not present this line as federal law. Mark N/A if there is no fuel-burning fireplace.

Carbon monoxide detector in the same room as the fireplace: OK, Defect, or N/A

Rugs, baskets, and furniture not overlapping a too-short hearth onto combustible floor

This is the practical side of the hearth-size line. A wool rug pulled up to an open firebox is a defect even if the tile below is wide. Mark N/A if the hearth is clearly adequate and clear.

Rugs, baskets, and furniture not overlapping a too-short hearth onto combustible floor: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Visible liner and cleanout

Look only through the firebox, a cleanout, a thimble, or the top. NFPA 211 Level I looks at readily accessible flue areas through those openings. A Level II inspection uses image scanning of the full liner. InterNACHI 3.8 and ASHI are not required to inspect flue interiors that are not readily accessible, and InterNACHI is not required to determine the need for a sweep.

8 items
Visible liner and cleanout

Masonry chimney appears lined where you can see it from an existing opening

IRC R1003.11: masonry chimneys shall be lined. Unlined masonry is a defect if you can confirm it from the firebox or the top. Soot can hide a liner. If you cannot tell, say so in Notes instead of marking OK. Mark N/A on a listed factory-built metal chimney.

Masonry chimney appears lined where you can see it from an existing opening: OK, Defect, or N/A

Visible liner: no cracked, offset, or missing tiles at the opening you used

NFPA 211 Level I: examine readily accessible flue areas for a continuous liner and no damage. InterNACHI educational text flags softened, cracked, or damaged liners. One cracked tile at the damper is a defect. The rest of the flue still needs a camera for a Level II look.

Visible liner: no cracked, offset, or missing tiles at the opening you used: OK, Defect, or N/A

No nest, debris, collapsed tile, or heavy blockage visible from the opening

NFPA 211 Level I includes checking that inspected flues are free of blockage. A bird nest in the cap or a brick in the firebox throat is a defect. Do not call a flue clear just because the fireplace has been used.

No nest, debris, collapsed tile, or heavy blockage visible from the opening: OK, Defect, or N/A

No heavy, shiny creosote or combustible deposits on the surfaces you can see

NFPA 211 Level I looks for combustible deposits. InterNACHI is not required to determine the need for a chimney sweep, but visible glazed creosote is still a defect on this form. Light soot can be a note.

No heavy, shiny creosote or combustible deposits on the surfaces you can see: OK, Defect, or N/A

Cleanout door and frame, if present: close, not rusted through, noncombustible

InterNACHI 3.8 inspects cleanout doors and frames and reports cleanouts not of metal, precast cement, or other noncombustible material. IRC R1003.17: masonry chimney cleanouts have a noncombustible cover (fireplace flues cleaned through the opening are excepted). Mark N/A if cleaning is only through the fireplace and no separate cleanout exists.

Cleanout door and frame, if present: close, not rusted through, noncombustible: OK, Defect, or N/A

Cleanout, if present: near the base of the flue, not dumping into a living space

IRC R1003.17: cleanout within 6 inches of the base of each flue, upper edge not less than 6 inches below the lowest inlet, opening height not less than 6 inches. Do not fail those 6-inch figures unless you measured. Mark Defect if the door is missing or opens into a closet of stored goods. Mark N/A if no cleanout.

Cleanout, if present: near the base of the flue, not dumping into a living space: OK, Defect, or N/A

Furnace or stove connector into this chimney, if present: supported, not loose in the thimble

NFPA 211 Level I examines accessible connectors for support, fastening, damage, and deposits. IRC R1003.16: inlets enter from the side with a thimble. InterNACHI heating SOP is a separate station. Mark N/A if this chimney serves only the fireplace. Do not disconnect a connector.

Furnace or stove connector into this chimney, if present: supported, not loose in the thimble: OK, Defect, or N/A

If more than one flue is in the stack, each visible flue identified and not obviously crossed

IRC R1003.13: adjacent flues in one chimney need a masonry wythe, with a stated exception. You cannot verify wythe thickness from the living room. Note two caps or two dampers. Mark N/A on a single-flue chimney.

If more than one flue is in the stack, each visible flue identified and not obviously crossed: OK, Defect, or N/A

Form details

Findings and sign-off

List every Defect line here. This worksheet is not a licensed inspection report, not a municipal code inspection, and not an NFPA 211 Level I, II, or III certificate.

5 fields
Findings and sign-off

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References

  1. InterNACHI Home Inspection Standards of Practice, section 3.1 Roof and 3.8 Fireplace
  2. InterNACHI, How to Inspect Fireplaces, Stoves, and Chimneys Course (3-2-10, crown, hearth, damper, cricket)
  3. InterNACHI, Mastering Roof Inspections: Roof Penetrations, Part 1 (chimney flashing and height)
  4. ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections, Fireplaces and Fuel-Burning Appliances (2026 approved text)
  5. ASHI Standard of Practice (current page and implementation note)
  6. International Residential Code, Chapter 10 Chimneys and Fireplaces (R1001 fireplaces, R1003 masonry chimneys, R1004 and R1005 factory-built)
  7. International Residential Code, Chapter 10 Chimneys and Fireplaces (ICC 2024 viewer)
  8. NFPA 211, Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances (2024 product page)
  9. NFPA 211 committee input, Chapter 15 Inspection of Existing Chimneys (Level I, II, and III scope)
  10. NFPA 1 Fire Code Fridays: chimneys inspected at least once a year and maintained to NFPA 211

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Chimney Inspection Checklist: Masonry Chase and Fireplace blank checklist
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These checklists are provided for general reference only. Always verify the steps against local codes, a licensed inspector or a qualified contractor before relying on them, especially for safety-critical work.