Missing Fire Collar

This photo was taken in a garage utility closet in an older home in Marlboro, N.J.  The boiler's flu pipe penetrates a sheetrock ceiling above it.  A "Fire Collar" is required when any opening abuts living space for fire protection.  Notice the stain on the sheetrock, above this area I found an open flu pipe connection with lots of condensation building up causing it to drip onto the sheetrock.  Sometimes an easy fix can cause a lot of damage if not caught early.  An annual maintenance inspection of your home is always a good idea.  Of course by a InterNACHI home inspector. copyrighted@2008