Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - How close to a wall can a fireplace be?

Trying to make some more room in the garage. So I'm thinking I'd like to make some storage space from another room. That way I can move some storage out of the garage into this storage and open up garage floor space. See this simplified layout:

Lower Level layout (http://members2.boo.net/~marklong/lowerlevel.jpg)

http://members2.boo.net/~marklong/lowerlevel.jpg

My current rec room (red outlined room) is little used and I'd like to erect a wall and basically make a "closet" by installing a door in the garage to access this "new closet".

But the rec room has this fireplace that never gets used. So I would like to get an idea of what the minimum distance "D" can be from the fireplace to the new wall to meet fire or building code.

Had planned to go to library to research building code but couldn't get there tonight. So far web searches haven't been much help. And w/ dialup it is frustratingly slow searching the web.

SO figured someone here might know. Or at least have an idea.

The fireplace is one of these realcheap masonary and sheetmetal units that was installed at the time the townhouse was built. It is almost completley inset into the wall. I bet it doesn't stick out from the wall andy more than an inch.

Thanks in advance. Mark

If I'm reading you right, the new part will be on the backside of the existing fireplace. For a masonry fireplace/chimney, 2000 IRC says 4" clearance from any combustibles, up to the height of the firebox. Then you can go 2".......... This is if the back of the fireplace is on the interior of the structure. So far all practical purposes, 4", unless you want to step back in to 2" above the height of the firebox.

If this is a factory built unit, and conforms to UL 127, the combustibles can come in contact with the exterior surfaces of the unit.

If you make the unit non-functional, then all this is moot...............

Does that help?

Rich

Do check your local code.