"dpb" wrote in message
Really??? Granted it's been a while since I've been involved in new
construction of a multi-story residence, but it would _never_ have
been approved to have a combustible chamber serve as a return
_between_ floors. It was required to have an unbroken inflammable
connection through the plate between floors.


Yeas ago, it was a common practice. My old house, built in the late '40s
was that way. Never say _never_