Our Mission
It is the mission of the Chimney Sweeps Association of Ireland to foster public awareness of issues relating to chimney and venting performance and safety, and to promote the education of associated professionals through technical training and certification opportunities.

Dublin Corporation introduces a €500 chimney fire call out charge. To prevent this unnecessary expense from occurring always employ the services of a CSAI certified chimney inspector.

The next National Chimney Sweep Training School of Ireland course and certified examination is scheduled for January 9-14, 2012. Those wishing to express an interest in the above please contact Patrick Cowan on 087-2574267 or emailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 http://www.csia.org/

Don't Take your family's safety for granted! Call a CSAI Certified Sweep.  A dirty, damaged or blocked chimney can lead to a chimney fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. That's why the Chimney Safety Institute of America and the Chimney Sweeps Association of Ireland recommend that homeowners have their chimneys checked annually.

 http://www.csia.org/sweeping.htm

But who should inspect it? Call a CSAI Certified Chimney Sweep.           CSAI Certified Chimney Sweeps have passed a rigorous test that examines their knowledge of the codes, practices and standards of the trade. CSAI Certified sweeps have learned how to do the job right- as competent, qualified service professionals.

CSAI certification is an individual credential, awarded to sweeps only after they have attended the National Chimney Sweep Training School of Ireland and passed the Certified chimney sweep examination.The credential must be renewed annually with recredentialling every three years by a combination of continuing education and testing.

You know a sweep is certified if he or she carries a photo identification card with their CSAI certification number and expiration date.

What to do when hiring the services of a chimney sweep.                       Ask plenty of questions about the sweep's business practices. Is the company affiliated with consumer protection organizations or the local chamber of commerce? What kind of experience and training do the company have, and how long have they worked there? Have there been any complaints lodged with local government office of consumer affairs?

What else can you do to ensure the best service?                                   Find out if the company has a valid liability insurance policy to protect you and your home against accidents. A professional sweep shouldn't take chances.

The CSAI Certified Chimney Sweep credential is the hallmark of excellence among chimney service professionals. Related industry leaders and knowledgeable homeowners understand the quality and value this credential represents. Those who have earned the CSAI credential have demonstrated their commitment to the industry, to fire prevention and to their customers.

How to find a certified sweep?                                                                    To find a CSAI certified sweep in your area please click on the members tab above. 

The CSAI is dedicated to chimney and venting safety. CSAI is committed to the elimination of residential chimney fires, carbon monoxide intrusion and other chimney related hazards that result in the loss of lives and property. CSAI educates the public, chimney service professionals and fire prevention specialists about avoiding and correcting these hazards.

Advantages to using the services of a CSAI chimney sweep:                    A CSAI certified chimney sweep has the ability to professionally examine your chimney and venting system. The CSAI sweep will carry out a visual inspection of your fireplace and/or multi-fuel appliance and the findings will be explained to you after your chimney has been professionally swept. You will then be issued with a receipt and a CSAI certified chimney inspection certificate. Selected Household Insurance companies are heading towards a 10% discount on your household insurance policy if your chimney has been inspected and swept by a CSAI member and you are in receipt of a current CSAI chimney inspection certificate.

HSA warning about pellet stores
27 May 2011
The Irish Health and Safety Authority have asked us to draw your attention to a significant danger of gas poisoning from stored wood pellets following a fatal accident where a householder entered a pellet store.
http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Topics/Safety_Alerts/Wood_Pellet_Feed_Hoppers_Tanks/

April 6th, 2011 AA Irelands advice on preventing chimney fires.
http://www.aaireland.ie/AA/Insurance/Home-Insurance/Avoid-Home-Chimney-Fires.aspx
How to maintain your home’s chimney
To avoid chimney fires homeowners should consider inviting a CSAI registered Chimney Sweep to their home to inspect and certify their chimney. It’s also recommended that homeowners consider fitting a cap over the top of their home’s chimney to ensure that debris can’t get in to obstruct air flow.

Cowan Chimney Solutions Ltd's approved Training Programmes and Trainers have been placed on the FÀS/EI National Register of Trainers. The registration number of Cowan Chimney Solutions Ltd. is 903750 and the registration expiry date is 09/08/2013. All Trainers are Fetac Approved Instructors (Level 6).

The Chimney Sweeps Association of Ireland was founded in February 2007, to bring about change, by raising the standards of chimney inspectors and to educate the public in preventing chimney fires and potential carbon monoxide intrusions.

This is a recent podcast from the Joe Duffy Liveline program. Carol explains what happens when a wood burning stove is not fitted to Building Regulations 1997 Technical Guidance Document J-Heat Producing Appliances.

Liveline Podcast - carbon monoxide poisoning 08 March 2011

Carol's wood-burning stove is the likely cause of her carbon monoxide problems. http://www.rte.ie/radio1/podcast/podcast_liveline.xml

This is yet another recent example of a "tradesman/chimney specialist" who not having any qualification in the safe installation of appliances, fitted a multifuel appliance and twin wall system in a timber frame house in County Wexford. This householder had put the children to bed, but awoke on hearing a "clink clink" sound. While trying to find the source of the sound, the householder pulled down the attic ladder only to find the attic on fire.The result can be seen here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7Zgtjdq4NE  the Irish Fire Service attended removing the stove and hearth before this video commenced. The family were saved but the home was damaged.

Latest News: October 21, 2010 -Due to the downturn in the economy, the 6000+ chimney fires being attended to every year by the Irish Fire Service (the highest per capita in the world), the unprofessional installation of thousands of multifuel stoves and the cleaning of chimneys by chimney sweeps who haven't any formal training or certification. Household Insurance company loss adjusters are now voiding chimney fire claims if they find that the stove/ insert stove was not fitted to Building Regulations 1997 Technical Guidance Document J-Heat Producing Appliances and/or the Manufacturers' installation manual. 

The National Chimney Sweep Training  School of Ireland was established to educate and encourage chimney sweeps within Ireland and Europe to establish correct and uniform practices and methods of regulation throughout the industry.

The objective of the National Chimney Sweep Training School of Ireland is to educate the established sweep or the complete novice in all the tried and tested procedures outlined by working in conjunction with the Chimney Safety Institute of America©. Using their well established training course, tailored to suit the regulation applicable within Ireland, the National Chimney Sweep Training School of Ireland aims to empower the successful candidate to establish his or her chimney sweep business.

With this certification the now professional, ethical and highly trained chimney inspector will be able to bring this understanding to their customer base providing the knowledge and tools to efficiently and above all safely heat their homes. The modern sweep is tasked with keeping abreast of all industry changes and passing on these practices to his or her customers.

To this end the course will cover:

• Introduction, overview and prerequisits
• Technical notes on chimney construction
• Building Regulations 1997 TGDJ- Heat Producing Appliances
• Manufacturer's Installation Manuals
• Combustion
• Creosote...The why's and hows to control
• CO Intrusion and how to eliminate
• Safe practice and vermin control
• Ladder Safety
• Practical Sweeping
• Tools in the Arsenal
• Ethics
• Video, Photographic and anecdotal examples.
• Business Modeling- (Effective Marketing, Diary/Time Management, CRM, etc.)
• CHIMSCAN© and other Inspection Methods.
• 100 Question Examination with 80% Pass Requirement.