08/24/2026
Just a heads up! Exciting things are coming to Chimney Techs in the next few weeks. We can not say what they are today, but we will be making announcements very soon.
In the meantime, we had a conversation with a contractor last week about something that we see from time to time. When we are installing fireplaces and stoves, they have a measurement that is called "clearance to combustibles." This is the distance that the fireplace or stove needs to be from anything that will burn so that fires do not start and burn your home down. That is an important thing to consider and this seems pretty straight forward. However, there is some confusion about drywall.
Drywall is often used as a fire barrier in construction. This is due to the fact that the gypsum in the middle of the drywall does not readily burn. That is why it can be used as a fire barrier in construction. However, it does have paper on the outside of the gypsum. Paper can burn, so it is indeed combustible. Cement board is a non-combustible material that can be used as a wall board when the material has to be non-combustible.
In these circumstances, use cement board instead of drywall. We know that it is more expensive, but fire code requires that it be used in some circumstances.