Chimney Inspections – Chimney smoke testing, Pressure tests, integrity tests and camera inspections

Chimney inspections are various methods of assessing the condition or compliance of a chimney system or appliance related to a chimney.

There are carious types of inspection, some of which are outlined below.

The Full Inspection:

Our full inspection consists of:

A sweep of the flue; a camera inspection (cctv) of the internal flue; an inspection of the appliance if there is one; a smoke integrity/pressure test; a drone inspection of the external chimney; an examination of the debris removed; a smoke draught check; a check of the ventilation into the room (approved document J guidance); a check of CO alarm and placement; a check of the installations compliance; a report detailing the findings.

Further details of aspects of the full inspection can be found by reading on.

When does a chimney need a pressure test & When does a chimney need an integrity test?

There are certain circumstances when a pressure or chimney integrity test is a requirement.

One such circumstance is when a new fireplace is going to be installed, and the existing chimney is to be used. This is because the test will highlight if the chimney is in sufficiently good condtion to contain smoke. If it isn’t, carbon monoxide can and often will leak into other rooms in the property and adjacent properties.

Another circumstance is when an old fireplace is being brought back into use. This is to ensure that no issues have arisen in the years between it last been used and now. The issues can be the same as when a new fireplace is installed as outlined above.

It is also prudent to have a smoke integrity or pressure test carried out when moving into a new home. This is because the vendor may not be entirely transparent when it comes to passing on all issues or problems they’ve experienced with their chimney when in use.

When does a chimney need to be checked inside with a camera?

A camera inspection is essential for highlighting degradation in the chimney in concealed areas.

We’d recommend everyone with a chimney should have a camera inspection at least once. A repeat inspection would be prudent every 3 to 5 years.

Beyond this, there are many circumstances when a chimney camera inspection should be carried out.

If a neighbour is carrying out building work on the party wall for example. If this is the case, we’d recommend having an inspection carried out before the work to check the condtion. Then, after the work has been carried out, the same inspection can be carried out to check nothing has changed. If there is damage, your neighbour will have to pay for it. If you have no evidence of the condtion before the work, who will be able to prove the damage wasn’t always there?

Another reason is if you suspect you have nesting birds. If you do, a camera inspection would highlight whether any nesting material or birds are present.

Another reason would be to check the chimney before a wood burner is installed. This would be to ensure the liner can be installed without damage, the chimney is big enough to accommodate the liner and there are no foreign objects that’ll cause an issue.

Why use us instead of another Company?

More important than the inspection type is who carries out. We have a long list of reasons why you should choose us instead of one of our competitors. We will list just a few which we think will sufficient to convince you we are the only choice in London when it comes to chimney inspections.

1.History

We are part of the Firkins family, famous in the world of chimney sweeps. We have as a family been sweeping chimneys in London since 1860. Over the years there have been over 40 Firkins’ working as chimney sweeps across the capital.

There are things that have been passed down in our family; knowledge and methods, that we will never share. We use that knowledge and those methods to give you the best service in London.

2.Qualifications

Josh Firkins, one of our directors, is currently (March 2024) the only person in the UK to be formally qualified in the art of chimney inspection and design. That means that in our office and on site, we have the person at the forefront of the industry. The best in class. Inspecting chimneys and designing solutions. Why would anybody on a big project choose someone unqualified in a field, rather than someone who has a proven track record in the area. Bonafide qualifications to back it up. Josh not only is the first to receive the award, he has been on many government backed working groups updating the British chimney qualification framework. He helped develop NVQ’s in installation and sweeping at Level 2, as well as the Level 3 in the inspection and design.

3. Experience in CHimney Inspections

Our on site operatives carry out chimney inspections day to day. Whether it is reporting on the condition of chimneys due to party wall disputes, diagnosing issues, carrying out smoke integrity tests to assess existing chimneys suitability for use, or pre installation inspections to assess what types of chimney or appliance can be installed, inspections aren’t something out of the ordinary for us. Quite the opposite. We spend more time carrying out in depth chimney inspections and surveys than we do on standard sweep and service jobs.

Types of inspection:

1. Chimney Inspections – Camera

A chimney camera inspection is the process of passing cameras through a chimney to expose the concealed internal surfaces of a chimney. This sometimes is done simply to ensure the chimney is in tact; sometimes referred to as a ‘look-see’ inspection. Depending on the reason for the inspection though, the type of inspection, the type of equipment used and the reporting method will differ. On one end of the scale we can simply look and offer a basic report. On the other we can offer a thorough report, with full descriptions of the chimney on a meter by meter basis, giving a thorough and detailed overview of the chimney throughout the property. There is not a once sized fits all approach for chimneys. An inspection can take under an hour for one chimney, or in excess of a day for a single flue. We will fit the inspection to meet the needs of the client.

2. Chimney Inspections – smoke integrity tests

When you are having a new appliance fitted or bringing an old fireplace back in to use, you are required by Document J of the building regulations to have a sealed pressurised test conforming to BS EN 1443. The example test given in document J is “smoke test 1”. This test involves filling the chimney with smoke while blocking the top and bottom of the chimney. Then checking in all rooms that the chimney passes through. This consists of checking in the rooms above the fireplace, the loft, rooms backing on to the fireplace and chimney next door, and your neighbours loft. The chimney is also checked at the top to ensure no smoke is seen escaping any other chimneys – for example your neighbours chimneys or chimneys for other rooms.

3. Chimney Inspections – pressure test

The alternative, and the method used widely throughout Europe and Germany in particular, is a sealed pressure test using a specialist chimney testing machine. There are two models that are widely used, the Wohler DP600 and the Wohler DP23. The process with these machines is that the chimney is sealed at the very top, sometimes from the room of the appliance using a bladder or sponge, and the appliance is sealed in the room. Then, the machine is attached to the chimney through a special sponge in the appliance. The machine then proceeds to pump air into the chimney and the machine automatically tests the leakage rate. The dimensions of the flue are put into the machine and it compares the results to the allowable leakage rate in BSEN 1443 and gives a pass or fail reading. This reading is then printed off and the ticket is left with the consumer, or a photograph of the Wohler DP 600 result is taken and attached to the digital report.

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What Chimney inspection do I need?

Our best advice is that we design an inspection around what your desired outcome is. We can give you various options, each with varying levels of depth and suiting various budgets, to allow you to achieve the most detailed and thorough outcome to satisfy yourself, architects, local authorities and installation companies.

Fill in the form below – don’t worry, it doesn’t need top be perfect – and give us a good explanation of what you are trying to achieve in the test box. When it comes to inspections, most of the time it’s be Mr Firkins himself who gets back to you to design the best inspection service for you.

Please fill in the below form to make a booking enquiry: