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CHIMNEY
SAFETY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA POSITION
STATEMENT ON THE CHIMNEY SWEEPING LOG™ The
National Fire Protection Association recommends that all chimneys be inspected
annually with cleaning, maintenance, and repairs performed on an as needed
basis. The Chimney Safety Institute of America is concerned about widespread
advertising and promotional claims for the Chimney Sweeping Log™, which state
or imply that this product is a safe and effective alternative to these
long-established and accepted safety procedures. As an
educational organization dedicated to consumer safety and fire prevention, we
provide below a list of these advertising and promotional claims, along with the
facts that place them in the appropriate context: CLAIM:
Smoke from the burning Chimney Sweeping Log™ causes accumulated creosote to
become brittle and flake off during subsequent fires, thereby falling harmlessly
into the firebox, where it can be easily removed. FACT:
While the claimed chemical reaction and resulting flaking of the creosote
may occur, the fact is that many chimneys do not provide a straight path from
the flue to the firebox or from the firebox to the outside. Accordingly, falling
creosote actually may land and accumulate on a curvature, smoke shelf, baffle,
catalytic combustor, or offset, and, if not removed, may lead to a blockage and
resulting fire and carbon monoxide hazards. CLAIM:
The Chimney Sweeping Log™ has been tested and proved effective for all types
of chimneys and fireplaces. FACT:
The OMNI testing laboratory, which conducted the study of the product that is
cited on the manufacturer's Web site, tested the product in a single wood stove.
CSIA is not aware of any independent laboratory studies that have tested the
effectiveness and/or safety of the product in the many other chimney
applications, such as pre-fabricated fireplaces, pellet stoves, masonry
fireplaces, wood or pellet fireplace inserts, or a combination wood/oil boiler. FACT:
OMNI measured the effect of the product only on the lowest connector/chimney
pipe on the wood burning stove (i.e., the portion closest to the fire). This is
the portion of the chimney that would naturally heat and dry creosote deposits
during normal stove operation, thereby likely causing some portion of the
creosote to flake off, even without the use of any specialized product. It is
important to note that OMNI did not use a control - a similar stove burning
conventional fuel -- making it impossible to compare the effectiveness of the
Chimney Sweeping Log™ with the effectiveness of burning any other type of
fuel. CLAIM:
The Chimney Sweeping Log™ cleans chimneys as well as, or better than,
mechanical or brush sweeping. FACT:
Even if the product fully performs to the level claimed in its promotional
materials, it only will reduce the thickness of the creosote deposit; it will
not remove it altogether. At best, this will result in only a partial chimney
cleaning. It is important to note that, in testing the product's performance,
OMNI Laboratories used a wire brush to remove all of the creosote from the
chimney surface so that it could be weighed and compared. Mechanical
brushes and other tools are designed to clean the entire chimney, including
hard-to-reach places inside the chimney itself. During the process of
mechanically removing creosote from the chimney, the professional chimney sweep
is charged with the responsibility of removing as much of the creosote and other
debris as possible throughout the chimney system. A professional sweep can also
study both the internal and external portions of the chimney with sophisticated
equipment, and diagnose any obstructions or structural problems with the
chimney. CLAIM:
The Chimney Sweeping Log™ has been tested and certified by Underwriters
Laboratories. FACT:
Underwriters Laboratories has neither tested, nor certified the product for its
effectiveness at cleaning chimneys. Rather, UL tested and certified compliance
with the existing safety standard for manufactured logs, which requires that the
heat released when the product burns remain within a stated range. At
CSIA, we believe that there are three elements necessary to ensure a safe and
properly functioning chimney: 1. A
complete chimney inspection by a qualified professional; 2.
Performance of necessary chimney repairs by a qualified professional; and 3.
The mechanical sweeping of the chimney and the removal of creosote and other
potentially hazardous material by a professional chimney sweep. For more
information about chimney safety or to respond to this bulletin, call Greg
Williamson, CSIA Executive Director at (317) 837-5362 or visit www.csia.org.
CSIA is a non-profit, educational organization focused on the prevention of
chimney and venting hazards. |
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