Summary Forms We brainstormed one day and came up with the need for a new type of form. We call this form a Summary Form. These forms are available in the same installation types listed above. These forms are unique because we further break the installation into sections, as featured below. Within these sections is a color-coded area key to check whether it’s in Operational Ready Condition, Operational Deficient Condition, or Hazardous Condition. Documenting your findings this way makes sense. For instance, the flue liners “C” may be damaged. Based on this finding, condemning the whole chimney and telling the customer it is hazardous is incorrect. Maybe areas D-H are in Operational-Ready Condition. Maybe areas A & B are in Operational Deficient Condition – meaning the crown is cracked, needs some repairs, and the chimney from the roof up (B) needs tuckpointing. It’s great to get good news with the not-so-good news.  There are 8 installation types of Summary Forms. These forms break down the installation by transitions. They are designed as an easy-to-understand form for the customers. Included is Conditions featuring: Operational Ready, Operational Deficient, and Hazardous Conditions. There are two pages for drawings that correspond to the notes page with letters. For more information, please click the image above.  Our Summary Forms are designed for your customer. It breaks out the conditions of each section, where you can check off the condition to the left of the description. Another beautiful part of this form is the explanations included for the three conditions. If used correctly, these forms will convey to the homeowner the findings of your inspection in an easy-to-understand format. In addition to explaining the conditions, they include a cover page where your information and receipt can be placed. Start when business is good, so you are ready when the slow times start! Suppose you put the principles of inspection unity into practice now. When the slow times come, your business will thrive with forward-scheduling items like tuckpointing (Operational Deficient) that can wait for repairs. Your team will perform their inspections using the NFPA 211 Inspection Items, and they will all be on the same page. Your technicians will evaluate the entire chimney per the forms (and Industry Standard of Care), finding defects and verifying conditions. They can communicate the areas of their chimney that are in Operational-Ready Condition. Some may need fixing but not immediately (Operational-Deficient), and some may need repair before further use (Hazardous Condition). You stop trying to sell the job when the job can sell itself without using scare tactics of condemning an entire chimney. If you can continue to do what you’re doing, you will quickly put yourselves and the industry out of business. Standardizing inspection requirements across the board puts everyone on a level playing field. Everyone should already be checking everything outlined in NFPA 211. Some companies do and are very diligent about it. Unity and standardization are the keys to moving your business and this industry forward. Thanks for listening. Tom  These images show an inspection using the Summary Forms. Each image follows the transition point of the chimney which corresponds to the transition location with letters. It's easy to match up the letter on the copy to the letter on the image. #chimney inspection, #fireplace inspection, Prefabricated fireplace, #chimney damage, #flue damage, #flue inspection, #inspection form, #inspection report, #NFPA 211, #National Fire Protection Association, #Chimney Sweeps, #Chimney Industry, #Chimney Standard of Care, #Inspection items, #operational ready, #operational deficient, #hazardous, #chimney transitions, #solid fuel chimney, #liquid fuel chimney
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Individuals other than sweeps can do chimney inspections. Other trades are already doing chimney inspections, and Home Inspectors do chimney inspections as part of an entire home inspection. More and more people are learning about NFPA 211 and the inspection items. Most are interested in performing the best inspection possible, and many are already following NFPA 211. Each member of a company or team should retrieve the correct and consistent information. How often are there inconsistencies within your organization? Are all of your technicians catching everything? Or are they stopping at the first crack or sign of a chimney fire, writing an estimate, and leaving without a full inspection? As an industry, we must step up to the plate. We must perform a full inspection, checking everything, including the little things. We need to explore, discover, and follow all of the inspection criteria set forth in NFPA 211, Chapters 14, 15, and the Annex. After all, every chimney is a little different, although the defects are usually the same. If you are not using NFPA 211 as your guideline for inspections, then please take it out of your proposals & estimates. This way, if something goes bad, at least you didn’t incriminate yourself. The Flue & Hearth Notes™ Summary Forms give you the opportunity to create an easy-to-understand inspection report for your customers. You can add images that correspond with the areas of the installation. There are also definitions for three conditions: Operational Ready, Operational Deficient, and Hazardous. Each section has a "traffic light" so you can mark that section appropriately. These forms are available for 8 inspection types" Masonry Fireplace & Chimney, Masonry Fireplace with an Insert, Masonry Fireplace with a Hearth Stove, Masonry Thimble Chimney Venting a Solid Fuel Appliance, Masonry Thimble Chimney Chimney Venting a Liquid Fuel(s) Appliance(s), Prefabricated Fireplace & Chimney, Prefabricated Chimney Venting a Solid Fuel Appliance and Prefabricated Chimney Venting a Liquid Fuel(s) Appliance(s). Click on the image for more information. #chimney inspection, #chimney industry, #NFPA 211, #National Fire Protection Association, #Hazardous chimney, #Operational Chimney, #masonry chimney inspection, #fireplace inspection, #prefabricated chimney, #inspection forms, #Inspect solid fuel appliance, #inspect liquid fuel appliance, #Inspect chimney, #chimney sweep, #home inspector, #Chimney inspector,
#chimney scanning, #chimney inspection, #chimney inspector, #chimney camera, #fireplace inspection, #masonry chimney inspection, #prefabricated chimney inspection, #chimney inspection report, #chimney defects, #flue defects
 #chimney inspection, #Chim-scan factory training, #chimney inspection camera, #chimney scanning & inspection guide, #masonry fireplace, #prefabricated fireplace, #masonry chimney with thimble, #prefabricated chimney, #IRC, #NFPA 311, #Chim-Scan chimney camera Copyright 2025 Estoban Corporation
Thanksgiving is right around the corner. The smell of roasting turkey, the appetizers and desserts laid out on the counter. Mashed potatoes and gravy simmering on the stove. Candles are glowing on the table, ready for everyone to be seated. Then something happens. Perhaps a burner was left on the stove with an empty pan. Or something near the burner ignites, like a towel or potholder. Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year for home fires caused by cooking equipment (National Fire Protection Association). To keep everyone safe, you must be extra diligent and on the watch for rambunctious kids and sometimes other relatives. Here are some safety tips: • Watch for trip hazards, such as rugs, purses, newspapers to slip on, and other materials in the way. • Never leave the kitchen unattended when cooking. A child could pull a pan off the stove or spill something instantly. Or put their hands on a hot glass cooktop. • Keep flammables away from the stove. It’s hot from cooking. Oils, towels, and other combustibles on the surface could ignite. • Keep knives, extension cords, and lighters put up and out of the way of children. • Be careful with candles. Consider using LED Lighting. • If you don’t have one, get a kitchen fire extinguisher. • Ensure smoke alarms are working. • Don’t leave a fireplace or heating appliance unattended, including pets! (A dog once pushed an air mattress into the fireplace and caught the home on fire). Keeping everyone safe during the holidays is always a challenge. Being prepared is just part of it. Having your “safety team,” which is trustworthy family members to keep on the lookout or tag team corralling the youngsters (like having projects to hold their interest), frees you to look out for the culinary delights of your guests. Happy Thanksgiving!
 It's that time of the year! Pumpkin carving, fallen leaves, cozy fireplaces, and trick-or-treaters. We wish you a happy, safe Halloween and challenge you to use your Chim-Scan© Interior Video Inspection System to visually inspect those fireplaces and chimneys for scary critters and creepy spider webs. In addition, you might want to consider these suggestions:
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 These chimney flue tiles were exposed to a severe chimney fire. National Fire Prevention Week is just around the corner. Are you ready to promote your business? After all, as a chimney inspection business, you are already part of a fire prevention team, which is the chimney and hearth industries. According to the U.S. EPA, the leading factor contributing to home heating fires was failure to clean, principally creosote from solid-fueled heating equipment, primarily in chimneys (NFPA). How can you advertise your business while educating your customers and the public? Here are some ideas: Bring it “online”! – what to do during a chimney fire! Most customers have no idea what a chimney fire is. They don’t know how to watch for an increase in the draft, the clinking sound of breaking clay tiles, the creosote falling into the firebox or oozing into the appliance, and the loud whirring sound as the draft increases. They need to understand that while their chimney may be constructed of masonry or a prefab system, these are designed to vent combustion products and not necessarily the high temperatures and effects of a chimney fire. Post this information on your website and use social media to spread the message. Show your Chim-Scan® Camera in use and the pictures it produces. They may have heard about it on TV or at another venue, but not everyone understands the needs and steps they should take to protect their home and family. Show it off! - Your van parked in strategic spots, employee uniforms, etc. During fire protection week, there will be news with fire statistics, firemen (and women), fire stations, and more. Park your vehicle in a public place. At lunch, it might be a fast-food business. Park it where people driving by can see it. Consider putting a QR Code on your van so they can quickly scan your site while waiting for the traffic light or before heading back to work. Leave it out to advertise in other secure locations when you or a team member is off work. Teach it! - Kids, civic groups, etc. Civic groups and kids’ groups are always looking for speakers to put on a presentation. Does public speaking make you feel uncomfortable? You must remember that you are providing a service that has helped reduce the number of chimney fires and likely saved lives. Pass out coloring books or flyers to the attendees. The National Fire Protection Association has a wealth of informational brochures, games, and coloring pages on its website. Go to www.nfpa.org, then to Events, and click National Fire Prevention Week. Own it! - Newspapers, radio talk shows, TV Stations, etc. Offer to demonstrate your Chim-Scan® chimney imaging camera. TV shows and newspapers love to have local news during this event and filming a chimney inspection adds interest. Radio talk shows are another great venue for spreading the word this week. Most homeowners don’t know the difference between types of creosote. They likely don’t understand that an all-night burn isn’t always a good idea. You own the information; share it! Give it your all! - Drawings for smoke extinguishers, smoke alarms, CO Alarms, etc. During Fire Prevention Week, run daily drawings on your social media accounts. If they “like” your posts, put them in the hat for a drawing for a free fire extinguisher, smoke alarm, and/or CO alarm package. National Fire Prevention Week is one of our industry's busiest times. This year’s theme from the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) is “Smoke alarms: make them work for you!™” During this time, fire prevention is on people’s minds, and some fire departments may talk about chimney or heater fires. It is a great chance to tell your story and share some of the knowledge you’ve gleaned as part of the chimney fire prevention team.
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AuthorTom Urban has worked in the Chimney and Hearth industry for 45 years. He's been an inventor and manufacturer for 40+ of those years. Archives
March 2025
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