Watervliet, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 175 § 175-42
Chimneys, flues and gas vents
Operative Text
A. General requirements. (1) Chimneys, flues, gas vents and their supports shall be installed and maintained so as to be structurally safe, durable, smoketight, noncombustible and capable of withstanding the action of flue gases without softening, cracking, corroding or spalling. (2) Such facilities shall effectively convey the products of combustion to the outer air. (3) Masonry chimneys, except approved prefabricated chimneys, shall have noncombustible foundations. (4) Flue linings shall be capable of withstanding the action of flue gas without softening, cracking, corroding or spalling at the temperature to which they will be subjected. (5) Openings for smokepipes or gas vent connections shall be provided with a means for easy connection without restriction of the flue. (6) No flue shall have smokepipe or gas vent connections in more than one story of a building. (7) Fuel-burning equipment and fireplaces located in different tenancies shall not be connected to the same flue. B. Firesafety. Chimneys, flues and gas vents shall be installed and maintained so that under conditions of use the temperature of any combustible material adjacent thereto, insulated therefrom or in contact therewith does not exceed a safe temperature. C. Spark arresters. A chimney or flue connected to an incinerator and a chimney or flue which may emit sparks shall be provided with a spark arrester of noncombustible construction. Spark arresters shall have sufficient total clear area to permit unrestricted passage of flue gases. Openings in spark arresters shall be of such size as to prevent passage of embers aid to minimize clogging by soot.
Watervliet, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 175 § 175-42 establishes structural, safety, and fire-protection standards for chimneys, flues, and gas vents in residential and other buildings. The rule requires that these systems be built and kept in a condition that safely carries combustion byproducts to the outside, resists heat damage, and does not allow dangerous temperatures to reach nearby combustible materials. Additional requirements address spark arresters on incinerators and spark-emitting flues, and prohibit connecting fuel-burning equipment from separate tenancies to a shared flue.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to § 175-42 of the Watervliet Code generally keep chimneys, flues, and gas vents in structurally sound, smoketight, and noncombustible condition through routine inspection and timely repair. Compliant operators ensure that each tenancy's fuel-burning equipment and fireplaces connect to dedicated, separate flues rather than a shared one, and that any chimney or flue connected to an incinerator or capable of emitting sparks is fitted with a properly sized noncombustible spark arrester. Maintaining documentation of inspections and any corrective work can help demonstrate ongoing compliance with ch. 175 § 175-42.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Watervliet, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 175 § 175-42, tenants have an interest in knowing that chimneys, flues, and gas vents serving their unit are maintained in a safe, structurally sound condition and that their heating equipment is not improperly connected to a flue shared with another tenancy. If a tenant observes signs of deterioration—such as cracking, visible soot leakage, or missing spark arresters—those observations may be relevant to a housing code complaint filed with the appropriate local code enforcement office. Tenant-rights organizations in the Watervliet area can help residents understand how § 175-42 relates to habitability standards and what options may be available when violations are suspected.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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