The next NCSTS of Ireland chimney sweep training course and certified exam will be held in September 2010. This course is limited to a maximum of 12 candidates on a first come first served basis.

The CSAI will address the following:

• Chimney cleaners currently advertising on the internet, in newspapers or telephone books do not have a recognised qualification in chimney inspection or chimney maintenance. Chimney cleaners and anyone thinking of becoming a chimney inspector can now receive a world class qualification by attending the basic chimney sweep training course and passing the certified chimney sweep exam.
• Retailers selling multi-fuel/wood burning stoves and inset stoves are not informing the public to the dangers of not complying to the manufacturer's installation manual for fear of losing the sale. Anyone thinking of purchasing a multifuel/wood burning appliance will be advised on how the manufacturer's installation manual recommends the appliance should be fitted. Customers who have already purchased an appliance but have had it fitted against Building Regulations or the manufacturer's installation manual will be given a quotation for remedial works. Tradesmen who fit these appliances have no qualification in the safe installation of these appliances. The National Chimney Sweep Training School of Ireland will provide multifuel/wood burning stove and inset stove installation courses to certified members of the CSAI.
• The Irish Fire Service currently attend 110 + chimney fires every week. The CSAI will professionally inspect and advise our customers on how their chimney and/or stove should be operated. This one act will reduce the number of unnecessary chimney fires being attended to each and every week by The Irish Fire Service. Household insurance companies paying out millions in unnecessary chimney fire claims are increasing household insurance premiums by 25%.
•  The CSAI will work closely with the Irish Insurance Federation in addressing the problems associated with chimney fires. The CSAI hope that when chimney fire claims are reduced, these savings will then be passed onto our customers.
•  Chimney relining companies without any formal training or qualification in the safe installation of these lining systems are not complying to Building Regulations 1997 Technical Guidance J, Heat Producing Appliances,Health and safety legislation or waste disposal legislation.
• If you have had a chimney fire, The CSAI recommends the following: Always have a member of the CSAI perform a level 2 inspection. This inspection is carried out using a special CCTV chimney camera. If any damage has been caused by a chimney fire it will be explained to you and photographed. A full report including photo's and a quotation for remedial works will be forwarded to your insurance company. If your claim has already been processed,and you feel you were not given the best advice or the chimney relining company that carried out the remedial works did so in a non-professional manner? A CSAI member can carry out a full roof and CCTV inspection to ensure all the remedial works comply to Building Regulations 1997 Technical Guidance J, Heat Producing Appliances.
• The National Chimney Sweeps Training School of Ireland (NCSTSI) located in Wicklow County Campus, Rathnew, County Wicklow will train a maximum of 400 chimney inspectors starting September 7th, 2009 to address all of the above and provide a zoned professional service to our customers throughout the Republic of Ireland. Once certified these chimney sweep graduates having signed the code of ethics and the monthly maintenance fee will be invited to join the Chimney Sweeps Association of Ireland. They will also be welcomed as International members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild of America www.ncsg.org. No experience necessary as full training will be given. In just six days you too could become a certified chimney sweep professional. If you wish to express an interest in the next chimney sweep training course and certified exam, please contact Patrick Cowan on 087-2574267 or email, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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

The National Chimney Sweeps Training School of Ireland in association with the Chimney Safety Institute of America, (pictured above) commenced the First Certified Chimney Sweep Program and exam on January 5, 2009. The Second Certified Chimney sweep Program is scheduled for August 10th. These Students (pictured left) all successfully passed the Certified chimney sweep course and exam. After signing the code of ethics, they were welcomed into the Chimney Sweeps Association of Ireland as Certified Chimney Sweep Professionals and International members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild of America.

Certified Chimney Sweep members will be offered additional tuition involving relining chimneys, fitting of multi-fuel/wood burning stoves and inset stoves to Building Regulations and the Manufacturer's Installation Instruction manuals. Chimney Physics, Installing and troubleshooting Woodburning Heath Appliances, Advanced Inspection and Documentation.

A special word of thanks must go to the Instructors and staff at the Chimney Safety Institute of America. www.csia.org and my colleagues at the National Chimney Sweep Guild of America www.ncsg.org

 National Chimney Sweep Training School of Ireland Offers State Of The Art Training
January 5th, 2009

The first session of the six-day National Chimney Sweep Training School of Ireland opened. The NCSTS of Ireland offers chimney and venting technology professionals the latest and best in training and materials. The session scheduled offered hands-on training for employees, new sweeps, and long-time chimney service professionals.

The National Chimney Sweep Training School of Ireland offers the most complete training program in the industry. Through a combination of hands-on work and classroom teaching, students will master the basic skills used by chimney service professionals.

Participants will learn how to:
1. Inspect and sweep chimneys serving all kinds of fuel-burning appliances.
2.Operate tools safely and efficently.
3. Diagnose and solve chimney performance problems.
4. Understand industry standards and codes.
5. Receive an introduction to relining a chimney and professionally fitting a multi-fuel/wood burning stove and inset stove to Building Regulations and the Manufacturer's installation manual.

After practicing on the state of the art equipment, the NCSTS students will spend a day working with real customers. With the help of instructors, teams of students will inspect and sweep fireplaces, stoves, and chimneys for neighborhood homeowners in the field. At the NCSTS, students will gain real-world experience plus a valuable review of the codes, clearances and standards that chimney professionals must follow. Sessions will be limited in order to provide maximum hands-on participation and learning. Review and instruction sessions will also prepare participants to take the Chimney Safety Institute of America Certified Chimney Sweep exam on the last day of class.
Those scoring 80 or higher on the exam will earn the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential. The cost of registration is €2500 which includes all classroom and hands-on instruction, all classroom materials including the Successful Chimney Sweep reference manual, and the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep exam. The Chimney Sweeps Association of Ireland urgently requires Certified chimney sweep/inspectors in all 26 Counties of Ireland. If you feel like a change or would like to try something completely different by becoming a self employed certified chimney sweep professional then join us. No experience neccessary as full training will be given. 

A WORD OF CAUTION : Before buying a multi-fuel /wood burning stove or Inset stove please be advised that according to Building Regulations -1997-Technical Guidance Document J.Heat Producing Appliances.

• There must be a soot door in place or a way for sweeping of the appliance.
• The appliance should never be allowed to sit on the hearth of the fireplace unless it is at least 225ml.( 9 inches ) away from combustibles. (carpets/wooden flooring/etc..)
• A class 1 stainless steel flexible flue-liner should also be professionally fitted to the appliance.
• The horizontal run should not exceed 150mm (6 inches)
• Never use 90 degree bends.
• Finally, if you're considering slumbering your appliance overnight ( not recommended) we would advise using grade 904 stainless steel flexible liner especially if using smokeless fuel or if your appliance comes with a boiler. 
Fireplace insets are appliances that are partially or completely inserted into a fireplace firebox. While these units are classified as circulating heaters, the front portion of the inset is actually a radiant heater.
Fireplace inset stoves should never be just pushed into the firebox, these appliances require professional fitting, which includes relining of the chimney.

WARNING: A faulty installation can cause danger to the inhabitants and structure of the building. Your building insurance company may require you to inform them that you have installed a new heating appliance.

Check that your cover is still valid after installing the appliance. If you have a multi-fuel/wood burning stove or inset stove and are concerned that your appliance may not be fitted to Building Regulations. Please do not hesitate to contact me or Minister John Gormley email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Any retailer or tradesman that advises you that you do not need to professionally fit a multi-fuel/wood burning appliance to Building Regulations-1997- Technical Guidance Document J- Heat Producing Appliances or the Manufacturers' installation manual has no idea of chimney physics or the sale of goods act (1980).

Small Claims Procedure
The Small Claims Procedure is a special mechanism for dealing with small claims with in the District Court structure. The procedure is designed to handle consumer complaints quickly, cheaply and informally without a solicitor. Claims in respect of personal injuries are excluded and the maximum claim currently is €2,000. You can get an application form and more information on this procedure from your Local District court or online at www.smallclaims.ie . It costs just €9 to bring a claim to the court, but is well worth it if you win.

We have seen and continue to see multi-fuel/wood burning stoves and insets being sold and fitted incorrectly by retailers and tradesmen who have no formal training or qualifications in the safe installation of these appliances, which not only leads to chimney fires, but can also lead to a potential ingress of carbon monoxide poison which can be fatal.

As a chimney fire investigator I have seen an increasing amount of chimney fires associated with multi-fuel/wood burning appliances. These fires accounted for 76% of all my chimney fire investigations for the month of December 2008.

I would like to thank this householder for allowing me the opportunity to inform the public as to what can happen when someone you think is qualified, isn't. The following case involves a double chimney fire in County Wicklow. This chimney had caught fire as the Irish fire service had responded not once but twice to put out the fire. Our investigation uncovered the following facts:

1. The multi-fuel appliances were not fitted to the manufacturers’ installation manual.
2. The creosote deposits in the chimney were not removed before installing the new stainless steel liners.
3. The plumber -with over 20 years experience had used the wrong grade liner.

The 304 grade liner which should only be used for oil/gas melted due to the intense heat of the solid fuel appliance, this then ignited the creosote deposits which moved up and over the unfinished midfeather wall which then transferred to the adjoining property .

This picture is an example of what can happen when a tradesman (?) without any formal training or qualifications in the safe installation of multi-fuel/wood burning appliances can do, not only to you and your family, but also your unsuspecting neighbors' as well.

The lady sleeping next door, awoke with her bedroom floor on fire, luckily she managed to get out. This had been the one of the most serious breaches of Building Regulations I had seen in my short time as a chimney fire investigator. It could have easily resulted in a death. I immediately brought this to the attention of the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley. I had sent many emails in the past to this Minister regarding the increasing number of chimney fires, the role that multi-fuel/wood burning appliances are having on this issue and the real problem of retailers/tradesmen fitting these appliances without any formal training or qualifications. I had hoped that by emailing this photographic proof, the Minister might act. I sent copies of the report to the leaders of Fine Gael and the labour party respectfully. I would like to thank Eamon Gilmore and Deputy Liz McManus for their efforts.

The following is a copy of a reply to the Parlimentary Question tabled on my behalf.

Chun an Aire Comhshaoil, Oidhreachta agus Rialtais Áitiúil: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the concerns raised by an association (details supplied) that chimney fires associated with multi-fuel and wood burning stoves are being caused by poor installations by persons who are not qualified or trained to do so and the safety issues associated with poor installation; the steps he will take to ensure that this issue of training and safety is addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Liz McManus, T.D. Spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 5th February, 2009.

Ref No: 4072/09 the Chimney Sweeps Association of Ireland

REPLY
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Gormley):

I have no function in relation to the training of persons for the installation of multi-fuel and wood burning stoves. Part J of the Building Regulations deals with Heat Producing Appliances and requires that any flue pipe or chimney be designed and constructed so as to reduce to a reasonable level the risk of the building catching fire in consequence of their use. The risk of chimney fires can also be mitigated by prevention measures. In this connection, a Community Fire Safety Programme is promoted by my Department in conjunction with local fire authorities. The aim is to enhance fire safety generally. Educational and promotional campaigns which highlight the importance of fire safety in the home have been prioritised. Chimney fire prevention is an important part of this programme.

Why Worry About Carbon Monoxide (CO)? BECAUSE IT CAN KILL YOU!
What Causes CO? CO results from the incomplete burning of common fuels such as natural gas or liquefied petroleum (LP) gas, oil, wood or coal. A properly functioning heating appliance will normally vent all the products of combustion to the outdoors. If the appliance, chimney flue or venting system is plugged, defective or improperly adjusted, it can cause the products of combustion, including CO, to enter the living space. (please click on safety for a report from my colleague Royal Edwards, NCSG Technical Director) Additional health and safety advice can be obtained by logging onto www.chimneysolutions.ie