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When does a camera inspection apply :

Although our summary visual inspections allow us to identify a vast majority of the gaps in your chimneys, it is possible that in some cases, it is insufficient.

Indeed, when a chimney has a slight curve, it becomes very difficult to inspect the state of the chimney and to detect anomalies. It is therefore in this type of situation that a camera inspection applies.

The inspection of your chimney is not to be neglected, as your chimney is subject to thermal shock, deformation and some cracks may occur.

You have a request from your insurance company?

It is important not to confuse insurance requests about fire separation and camera inspections.

Camera inspections are done from the fireplace to check the inside of the duct in cavities or partitions that are not visually accessible.

For insurance claims for those who live in a condo, please refer to the information related to the integrity of the fire separation per floor in chimney pits for multiplexes.

The fire separation of each unit in a multiplex is crucial to protect the property of others. If a fire is triggered in a unit, each unit must have a minimum fire resistance of at least 30 minutes. In the event of a fire, this allows the fire department to move and to control the fire. If there are gaps in the separations, the fire will spread faster than the standards allow. This type of situation occurred in the past and it ravaged a 24 units multiplex.

Since 2009, this standard has been taken more and more seriously by condominium insurances.

Most of the time, they require a modification or a conformity certificate on the integrity of the chimney and fireplaces installation.

The first step is to determine the type of fire separation between fireplaces and chimneys.

This step includes at least one opening of the partition near a fireplace in order to visually access the chimney shaft. If the chimney stack does not meet the standards, it must be modified or completely uninstalled to restore the fire separation just like the equivalent of the rest of the unit.

If the wells are modified to keep the chimneys, an engineer must primarily create a full report and then support the changes. If the fireplace and chimney extraction is chosen, the engineering service becomes optional, which greatly reduces the costs.

View guide View technical informations

• Get an annual chimney check. Have chimneys inspected annually, and cleaned as necessary, by a qualified professional chimney service technician. This reduces the risk of fires and carbon monoxide poisonings due to cresote build up or obstructions in the chimneys

• Install a chimney cap to keep debris, animals, rain and snow out of the chimney.

• Choose the right fuel. For burning firewood in wood stoves or fireplaces, choose well seasoned wood that has been split for a minimum of six months – one year and stored in a covered and elevated location.

• Never burn Christmas trees or treated wood in your fireplace or wood stove.

• Build it right. Place firewood or fire logs at the rear of the fireplace on a supporting grate. To start the fire, use kindling or a commercial firelighter.

• Never use flammable liquids.

• Use a fireplace screen. Use metal mesh or a screen in front of the fireplace to catch flying sparks that could ignite or burn holes in the carpet or flooring.

• Keep the hearth area clear. Combustible material too close to the fireplace, or to a wood stove, could easily catch fire. Keep furniture at least 36″ away from the hearth.

• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Place detectors throughout the house and check batteries in the spring and fall. When you change your clocks for Daylight Savings Time, remember to check your batteries.

• Never leave a fire unattended. Before turning in for the evening, be sure that the fire is fully extinguished.

• Supervise children and pets closely around woodstoves and fireplaces.