Evaluating Fire-Damaged Masonry Chimneys Using Video-Recording Technology

Abstract

Chimney fires, like structure fires, almost always leave important evidence behind. Unlike structure fires, however, the evidence from a chimney fire may be located in the inaccessible boundaries of the chimney flue. To examine this evidence, special video inspection equipment, designed for confined space applications, is required. Modem camcorders, adapted for the same purpose, can be used to achieve the same result. This paper discusses chimneys, creosote accumulation, chimney fires, and chimney fire damage, and then describes a technique for using camcorders to conduct detailed engineering evaluations of chimneys. The paper concludes by discussing field interpretation of masonry chimney damage.