Cleaning of space around chimney...
 

Hi Everyone,
I have a fireplace (metal) with a metal vent chimney. It has a space
built around it that is sheetrock all around except the front which is
brick. Critters have got into this space and made a mess of my insulation
and I need to get into that space to put it back into place. I feel it could
be a fire hazard to have a fire going with the insulation resting against
the chimney pipe. Do building codes allow for an access door to be cut into
the existing sheetrock or would that possibly violate some sort of fire code
having a possible opening there if there happened to be a fire? Id like to
put a door there that would remain closed except for service. Has anyone run
up against something like this before? I live in the Ft. Worth, Texas area.
Thanks.
Brian