What Our Industry Is Missing

​I recently read that people spend much of their spare time on smartphones and the internet. Hey, with so much information and entertainment, why pick up a book or learn a new hobby when you can watch someone else in an app? The desire to discover, learn more, understand, and be the best is diminishing. Instead of scanning the entire flue, searching every crack and joint, the inspection often stops at the vertical crack in the flue tile. It’s like a “good enough” mentality. When it comes to chimneys, if defects are missed, is this ever “good enough”? It seems that we, as an industry, are failing the American Public.
Insufficient or poor-quality information
I’ve been sent reports from homeowners all over the US. They are concerned, and from these reports I’ve seen, they have a right to be. Some of these reports have been from industry “leaders.”
In these reports, confusion is woven into many of the inspection reports I’ve received. Some contain a multitude of pages (up to 20+). Some have paragraphs on some pages, and several pages later, the corresponding image sits surrounded by other images. Connecting the paragraphs with the photos is impossible in the homeowner's eyes. In addition, I’ve picked up on some defects from the pictures not mentioned in the report and incorrect information in the report.
Some sweeps still use the old single fireplace with checkboxes from almost four decades ago. The customer wonders what a fireplace form has to do with their oil boiler and gas water heater. Then there’s NFPA 211 Chapters 14 and 15, along with the inspection items, which aren’t listed on these old forms. 
 Some reports contain technical jargon and scary words like condemned, house fire, death, etc. The customers don’t understand what’s going on. They feel pushed and aren’t sure where to turn to get their questions answered. Sometimes, a competitor straightens them out. Other times, they find us online and send us copies of their reports. This is a credibility wrecker within this industry. 
Customers won’t buy something they don’t understand.
Customers who don’t understand why they need a repair may get a second opinion because the report is weighted in technical jargon and scare tactics. It’s essential that the customer understands the defect first and then is presented with a solution written in an easy-to-understand manner. That’s called solution selling. Present the defect so the customer understands the problem. THEN, present the solution, which usually sells itself. Customers feel better because they “get it,” they are making an informed decision, and aren’t pressured by threats such as “Your house will burn down.”
No unity of inspections
In 1998, a group of chimney specialists created Chapters 14 and 15, including the Levels of Inspection and the inspection items in the NFPA 211 Annex. The goal was to eliminate confusion about chimney inspections and streamline the industry. This created the chimney industry Standard of Care. Unfortunately, not all chimney inspection technicians use this information, even today, 25+ years later. 
Imagine if each airline pilot's prep before a flight with 250 people wasn’t standardized with an industry-standard preflight checklist. Some might take shortcuts. Others will take a long time to check everything. But no one would be on the same page. This lack of coordination historically resulted in accidents. When there is no consistency, problems arise. This is happening in our industry.
The future of our industry depends on unity, particularly chimney inspections. This was the goal in 1998, which was the thorn in everyone’s side).
If our industry continues to ignore the Levels of Inspection and not follow the requirements set forth in NFPA 211 Chapters 14 & 15 and items in the Annex, it will not end well. Usually, this happens with litigation. It is already happening. It’s called failure to report. That’s also in NFPA 211. NFPA 211 Chapters 14 & 15 are now case law. The precedence is set. If you are not following the Inspection of Existing Chimneys (chapter 14) and hitting these items, it’s just a matter of time. It may lead homeowners to get rid of their fireplaces.

This is an outdated inspection form used by some sweeps to cover a variety of installation types. It is MISSING inspection items set forth in NFPA 211, Chapters 14 & 15 and the Annex which is the Chimney Inspection Industry's Standard of Care.

Here is an example of modern inspection forms by installation type. Each form has a multitude of applicable checkboxes for that type of installation. There are eight installation type forms available. These are the Flue & Hearth Notes™ Inspection Forms. Click on the image for more information.

Customers become confused when they read a report with technical terms. It's important to understand the defect first, then to be presented with a solution, preferably options.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publishes the 211 Standard. This is the Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances. Within this book in chapters 14 & 14, and items in the Annex, is the chimney sweeping industry Standard of Care. It is case law.

​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.

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