Sweeping Magazine- August 2015

Sweeping August 2015 VOLUME 39 #7

The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology

The Progress Issue To Grow Or Not To Grow

Root Canal Revisited

What Chimney and Hearth Companies Need to Know about OSHA Ask Not What The Guild Can Do For You‌

SAVE THE DATE Mark your calendars to join us at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, FL February 24-27.

Chimney Sweeps Anywhere , Planet Earth

Departments President’s Letter 3 Editor’s Letter 5 Coach’s Corner 10 Technical Q&A 24 New Members 25 Supplier Profile 27 Progressive Perks 30 History Project 32 Date and Events 34 Around The Tech Center 42 Classifieds 43 Where Has Your Sweeping Been 43 Darwin Award 44

Cover illustration by David Bruce

Table of Contents Sweeping August 2015 Volume 39 Issue 7

Features To Grow Or Not To Grow

What Chimney and Hearth Companies Need to Know about OSHA

Root Canal By The Numbers

Ask Not What The Guild Can Do For You…

6 14 17 28 August 2015

Jim Brewer Gas Venting and NFPA 54 (317) 203-0088 x: 3 John Pilger Oil Flue Sizing, Relining or NFPA 31 (317) 203-0088 x: 4 Randy Brooks IRC, NFPA 211 or Customer Communications (317) 203-0088 x: 5 Bart Ogden Stainless Steel Lining, Video Scanning and Narrative Report Writing (317) 203-0088 x: 6

Fred Joy Installation and Venting of Pellet Stoves (317) 203-0088 x: 7 Jay Walker Dryer Vents (317) 203-0088 x: 8 Rett Rasmussen Vented and Vent Free Gas Logs and Controls (317) 203-0088 x: 9 Rich Martinez Dryer Vents or Masonry (317) 203-0088 x: * Rich Rua General Sweeping or Relining (317) 203-0088 x: 0

NATIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP GUILD BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2015-2016

TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Chris Prior Masonry Construction and Restoration and Priorfire Fireboxes (317) 203-0088 x: 2

2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168 (317) 837-1500 Fax: (317) 837-5365 Frances Kelly Excecutive Director fkelly@ncsg.org Megan McMahon Director of Finance mmcmahon@ncsg.org Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator dcornelius@ncsg.org Donna Lee Kasmer CSIA Certification Coordinator dkasmer@csia.org Claire Rutledge Program Coordinator crutledge@ncsg.org

August 2015

Darcy Marlett Director of Communications and Marketing dmarlett@ncsg.org Tom Spalding CSIA Director of Communications and Marketing tspalding@csia.org Ashley Edridge Director of Education ashley@csia.org Sara Sichting Office Manager ssichting@ncsg.org

COMMITTEE CHAIRS and TASK FORCES 2015 – 2016

STAFF

Resources

Region 6 Bob Ferrari (530) 941-5818 bob@flueseason.com

Vice President, Region 5 Jasper Drengler (715) 304-8934 drengler01@gmail.com

Secretary, At Large Director Gregg Boss (636) 391-2226 englishsweep@att.net

Treasurer, Region 3 Ron Rust (803) 730-5858 tophatswp@aol.com

At-Large Director Fred Joy (785) 986-6432 joyfredm@live.com

Region 1 Mike Elliott (508) 987-6348 sootguy@aol.com

At-Large Director Dennis Dobbs (256) 845- 9814 info@fireplaceservicecenter. com

Region 2 Ed Ridgeway (856) 241-7999 masons@chimney-duct.com

To contact any member of the Technical Advisory Council, please call (317) 203-0088 and select the extension for the person who is best qualified to answer your question: Be advised that advice given by NCSG’s Technical Advisory Council (TAC) reflects best practices of the chimney sweeping industry. However, we are unable to account for any particular type of situation since regional variations in construction practices and additional environmental, physical and geographical factors necessarily vary the level of service appropriate for a particular fireplace and/or chimney.

Additionally, local laws and ordinances may govern and/ or supersede the information and any recommendations provided. Final determinations are the responsibility of a local professional with firsthand knowledge of the situation, and the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Neither NCSG nor any member of TAC will be held liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from the use of or reliance on information provided by anyone associated with TAC. By your use of this member benefit you acknowledge acceptance of these terms.

President, At Large Director Jeremy Biswell (913) 236-7141 fluesbrothers@yahoo.com

Region 4 Jeff Keefer 513-248-9600 info@chimneycareco.com Bylaws Jasper Drengler (715) 304-8934 drangler01@yahoo.com Ethics Andy Raycroft (703) 836-7858 andy@rooftopchimneysweeps.con Governance Jay Walker (850) 562-4692 sweepingJ@aol.com Government Affairs Mike Elliot (508) 987-6348 sootguy@aol.com International Relations John Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneyman@aol.com Long Range Planning Jeremy Biswell (913) 236-7141 fluesbrothers@yahoo.com

Supplier Representative Chris Datillo-Wiles (678) 290-8200 chris@usfireplaceproducts. com

Bob Ferrari (530) 221-3331 bob@flueseason.com NFPA 211 Representative Jim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewer@magic-sweep.com NFPA 31 Representative John Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneyman@aol.com NFPA 54 Jim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewer@magic-sweep.com Technical Advisory Council Michael Segerstrom (908) 253-9190 chimneysweeps@optonline.net Scholarship Committee Fred Joy (784) 986-6432 joyfredm@live.com

Membership

ADVERTISING RATES for Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technology may be obtained by contacting Malisa Minetree at (317) 815-4688 or sweepingads@me.com Layout and design by David Bruce, Red2 Design Bureau NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press releases and articles to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlett@ncsg.org. Submissions should contain items of interest or importance to the chimney and venting industry. Submissions should not contain direct solicitations, prices, or a call to action on the part of our readers. Submissions may contain images or artwork attached in a .jpg format.

In all cases, NCSG reserves the right to edit submissions to fit space limitations, keep the release and publish at a later date, or refuse to publish the release for any reason. Neither publishing, nor refusing to publish the submission should be considered a statement of NCSG’s opinion regarding the release.

NCSG further reserves the right to reject at any time any advertising determined not to be in keeping with the publication’s standards.

Acceptance of advertising by Sweeping magazine does not necessarily constitute endorsement of products or services advertised. NCSG does not make any effort to review or substantiate claims made by advertisers. © 2014 National Chimney Sweep Guild, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. (317) 837-1500

R

ecently, my family and I flew to Miami, Florida for vacation and a cruise. We flew in and rented a car. I was happy to find that my wife had rented a full size Dodge truck as our rental car. I used to have a Dodge truck and sure did enjoy it. This brand new, 4 door truck had all the bells and whistles and was a real joy to drive.

We stacked the luggage in the truck bed and started our first adventure from Fort Lauderdale to Miami. We got to our hotel for the night and valet parked the truck. The next morning, the valet had noticed a nail in the tire of the rental truck.

This was a real challenge being in an unknown city, getting ready to board a cruise ship for a 5 day cruise, and dreading coming back to a flat tire on a rented truck in the parking garage we left it in!

My wife, Brandi, called the rental car company. That call consisted of being transferred from one department to another, until she was finally put on hold and hung up on.

That was frustrating. So, I started out on my adventure to find a tire repair place close to the hotel. Luckily, I found one within 5 miles that was open on a Saturday. This was a chain tire establishment which I felt comfortable with.

several other customers, I tried to listen and brush up on my ½ year of Spanish language experience I remembered from high school several decades ago.

I made my way to the front of the line and started my attempt at communication. After several broken sentences of poorly pronounced words in Spanish, the attendant smiled and said in perfect English, “so I’m guessing you are here for a cruise that leaves today, so that must be a rental truck?” I chuckled and confirmed with a yes. I told him about that nail in the tire. He asked what rental company we rented the truck from, looked it up in his computer, and printed a ticket for me to sign.

I looked at the ticket and there was no price, only a ticket that said that I agreed to work and that they could move forward. I politely asked how much it would be and that I would understand if it would get altered if the tire could not be repaired. I just wanted to know what I was getting into.

The attendant put me at ease and explained that they are one of the few shops in the area that is approved by several rental car

President’s

Letter Jeremy Biswell

President

When was the last time you checked your customer service?

3 S W E E P I N G

I entered the establishment and quickly realized the entire staff was of Cuban descent and no one was speaking English. Keep in mind, this was Miami, Florida, which has a HUGE Cuban population (approximately 34% of the population) so this was to be expected. As I stood behind

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The attendant offered me a seat and a cup of coffee.

That was nice. There was a television with local news in the waiting area and big windows to watch the technicians work on your vehicle. I watched as a technician went to my rental truck, pull a plastic seat cover out of his pocket, cover the seat, floor board, and even the steering wheel!

I thought, wow, talk about no trace left behind that a possibly dirty clothed technician was in my nice new truck! Pretty impressive.

Shortly after, that same tech pulled the truck right back out, cleaned up the covers he used in the truck, and came back in to the reception area. He handed the ticket to the attendant and smiled.

The attendant called me over, handed me the keys and said, “You’re all done.”

4 S W E E P I N G

companies to repair their tires and they have accounts set with them, so they would take care of the problem with the car rental service. I was thinking, “Well, that sounds convenient, but I wonder if I will have to deal with some problem on the back end with the rental car company.”

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I questioned the speediness.

The attendant told me that the nail had not punctured the tire, no air loss, and that they checked all the other tires for damage and found none. “Good to go, have a great cruise, and God Bless.”

I was blown away. Not only from how they took care of the vehicle, but from the honesty, patience, and

professionalism I had just experienced from them.

Wow and amazing.

I shook everyone’s hand, promised to write a glowing review online about the experience, and was on my way back to the hotel, where I told my story of great service to the valet, the hotel front desk staff, and my wife and kids. That experience really turned a bad day into an instant start of a great day!

This is just one of the great stories I have from this year’s family vacation.

Vacations are great to times to get away from the norm and experience the world around you.

I challenge you to do a check on your customer service. Sometimes the daily grind makes us forget the experience we are providing our customers. I want our customers to feel the way I did when I visited that tire shop in Miami. I was in need of a good service, time was an issue, and I was weary of being taken advantage of. These are similar things our customers are dealing with when they hire our services at their home.

Make their experience from your company excellent.

Think about it and enjoy this excellent issue of Sweeping Magazine!

Jeremy Biswell, President NCSG

W

elcome to the August issue of Sweeping Magazine!

Once a year we send Sweeping Magazine not only to our membership but to over 5,000 additional chimney businesses throughout the country in order to share a little bit about our thriving association with other chimney companies.

Throughout this issue you will find advice from a wide variety of professionals who work with the chimney industry.

The National Chimney Sweep Guild is proud to have members with so many varied fields of expertise. There is hardly an issue of Sweeping magazine that doesn’t offer business, marketing, technical, safety, and even legal advice.

For this issue we are reprinting “Root Canal By the Numbers”

by Stephen Kuber, originally published in October of 2002.

In the short time I have been editor of Sweeping magazine I have received at least a dozen requests for copies of this article. We have reprinted it here with updates from the author.

Before you close the issue be sure to check out the “Where Has Your Sweeping Been?” featuring Tom Dragon from National Chimney on top of Mt. Kilimanjaro plus Darwin Awards on the very last page. Darwin Award is one of the magazine’s most popular features. Each month we feature a peculiar (and often very dangerous chimney) spotted by one of our chimney sweeps.

If you’re not currently a member, or you would like to get more out of your membership by getting involved, we would love to talk to you. Check out www.ncsg.org, give us a call at 317-837-1500, or send an email to Debbie Cornelius, NCSG Membership Coordinator, at dcornelius@ncsg.org.

Editor’s

Letter Darcy Marlett Editor

We hope you enjoy this copy of Sweeping Magazine!

Cheers,

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5 S W E E P I N G

To Grow or Not To Grow Taylor Hill

Spark Marketer

6 S W E E P I N G

The Right Question

A

s a marketing company, people ask us if we can “make their phones ring”. But the real question you should be asking is: “Can I handle the work when my phones ring?”

Over the last few years, we have heard many chimney companies say they want to grow, when in reality, they don’t. They want a spigot to turn work on and off as they can manage it. It’s not about growth and it’s not about the customer; it’s simply about them managing their workflow in a manner that, well, works for them. And while there is nothing wrong with this, you have to communicate clearly

August 2015

with your marketing company so you get the results you want and expect. If you ask for something else, you will get something else.

Pick a Direction There is something magical about being an Owner/Technician. You are able to bring in the work you want, without the headache and hassle of employees, certain tax liabilities, and overhead that multiple truck operations have to deal with. You are the master of your universe as long as your universe doesn’t collapse.

It’s the changing nature of business and the unexpected that always causes problems. Since we started working for service businesses over 4

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years ago, we have heard of several unexpected deaths as a result of work related injuries or falls; illnesses that were not expected and that affected the business owner; and life-altering events like divorce or loss of a loved one that changed everything for the owner or those left behind. In every situation, those who have talked to us have said the same thing: they never saw it coming and, of course, they didn’t plan on it coming.

The Choice is Yours

8 S W E E P I N G

Every business owner has a choice: grow your company so that it will take care of those left behind, or, talk to a financial person, an attorney, and your accountant and get things in order as a one truck operator, so that your loved ones are taken care of if something should happen to you.

looking to get so they know where you are going.

Only when everyone on your team knows the direction you are headed can they best help you.

If Growth is the Choice then Start Walking At the same time, pointing out a direction means nothing. Walking in that direction and leading means expecting those around you to come along or be left behind! As a business owner, you will have to learn to lead, and the first person you have to convince to follow you is you.

If the latter is your choice, we can help you maintain your business and set up a spigot.

Using AdWords, Facebook ads, or other adrelated services, we can turn on business when you need it and turn it off when you don’t.

Many of us have big dreams, but we don’t see ourselves in them. We see ourselves watching the dreams go by and wishing we could really be “taking that ride�. We believe we are crack technicians because we have proved that for years, but leading a company is a different thing altogether. That means we have to learn different skills, stretch ourselves beyond where we have been and are comfortable, and create happenings when we need them to happen.

You just have to tell your marketing company, your business coach, your CFO, and anyone else you have hired to help you, exactly what you are

If you do that, we’re all in! Why? Because once we know where you are headed and that you are committed to moving even if you’re not yet

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Challenges You will have challenges along the way and so will your team.

There will be days where you will feel defeated and others where you will discover multitudes of wins. It’s business and that’s just the way it goes.

As your marketing partner, what we want to know is that: When the phone rings 100+ times a day, you will figure out how to take all the calls and book and serve the customer in a way you would want to be served. I want you to ask yourself: How long would you wait for a chimney sweep? 1 week, 2 weeks, maybe?

If you’re asking your customers to wait more than that then

you need to figure out a way to change it. If you don’t, then all that marketing money you spent for new and repeat business is running to your competition because you couldn’t manage it.

But what a great challenge that is! That is, if you’re up for growing your company.

Taylor Hill is Co-Founder and Crew Chief for Spark Marketer, a local online marketing company specializing in marketing for service businesses across the US. Taylor is the perfect combination of frank and funny, and manages to lead the motley, yet brilliant crew of creatives at Spark Marketer to get the job done right.

He is passionate about helping service business owners navigate the Internet oceans filled with sharks and unsavory pirates. @sparkmarketer, facebook.

9 S W E E P I N G

com/sparkmarketer, @taylorkhill

August 2015

M Corner Coach’s Greg Polakow

Boss School

ost people who start their own business will tell you one of the main reasons for doing this is they don’t want to work for someone else. They don’t want a boss. The truth is, you probably can query any group anywhere and discover an overwhelming discontent with bosses in general. Whatever the skill is for being a good boss, it does not seem to be something that comes naturally to any of us.

So, what is it that most bosses do that causes such a low rating from their employees? Why do they fail and how can that be fixed? Is it even possible for anyone to be a good boss?

Or, does the very idea of a boss rankle us at some deep and personal level because of our built in desire for selfdetermination and freedom?

A recent article from the Harvard Business Review states, “...our research strongly suggests that bosses—albeit accidentally and usually with the best intentions—are often complicit in an employee’s lack of success. How? By creating and reinforcing a dynamic that essentially sets up perceived underperformers to fail.”

10

What is that dynamic that leads underperformers to fail? To put it simply, lack of trust.

S W E E P I N G

The article gives an example of how this can happen: A boss gives a subordinate a task to do without explaining the purpose of task. The boss sees the completion of this assignment as beneficial for both the employee and the organization. However, since the subordinate doesn’t really understand the reasoning behind the assignment or the

August 2015

purpose of it, he may view it as a mode of micromanagement on the part of his boss. He may see it as a heavy handed incursion into his job. Because of this he is less than enthusiastic about fulfilling the task. He may put it off, or do it half-heartedly.

This can initiate a string of events that leads to a downward cycle in the boss/ employee relationship. The boss becomes disappointed in the outcome and decides the employee needs more supervision, tighter control.

The employee views this as lack of trust, because increasingly every activity and decision is now monitored by the boss.

Soon the employee loses confidence in his ability to initiate anything, to contribute anything and becomes less and less proactive requiring and more and more supervision. As a result, he begins “living down” to the lowered expectations of his boss rather than living up to higher expectations. Needless to say, this rarely ends well.

Okay, this is just one example.

But the bottom line here is that the relationship between employee and boss, as with any relationship, is built on three important things, trust, communication, and appreciation. Unfortunately, like it or not, there is much more to being a boss or a leader than giving orders.

The truth is, the more your employees understand about how they fit into the organization and the whys behind any job description or any directives, the more perfectly they will perform what is expected. The more

employees are given the latitude to make decisions based on this understanding, the more they will rise to the occasion and perform to or beyond expectations.

communicate as a boss? First of all, you need to communicate very, very clearly and thoroughly what your expectations are.

When you are less than clear, your employees become frustrated. They may feel uncomfortable about asking you for more specifics. They don’t want to look dumb. So they go about trying to accomplish a task shrouded in vagaries. They may be unclear what the outcome should look like, what priority this task has over others, what resource they can use, and exactly what it is you want done.

This is about communication. To be a good boss you must, above all else, be a good communicator.

Because no matter how much you know, no matter what your level of technical expertise, no matter what your expectations are of your subordinates, if you can’t communicate effectively with your employees, you lose.

And when you lose, you make life drudgery for those who work for you, and you also make life drudgery for yourself. Whatever is accomplished at work is filled with frustration, strain, anger, and disappointment.

Secondly, and on an ongoing basis, a good boss communicates information that will help the employee grow, help him see the larger picture of his role in the organization as a whole.

Yes, you can refer to this as training. But understand that

So, what is it you need to

training never takes a holiday.

It is an ongoing, purposeful, well conceived process that has both formal and informal aspects. The formal aspects may take place in a classroom.

The informal aspects happen daily as important information is constantly being transmitted from boss to employee in impromptu meetings and casual conversations. This becomes part of your continuing relationship with the employee. It is you fulfilling your role as mentor, teacher, and inspiring leader.

Thirdly, a good boss communicates appreciation for a job well done whenever an employee meets or exceeds his expectations. I’m not talking about saying things like, “nice job,” or, “good work”. I’m talking about praising very specific behaviors, especially those you

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have discussed before and want to reinforce. This might be something like, “Hey, John, I really liked the way you got your work area cleaned up yesterday on that call to Mrs. Smith’s house...” Or, “I am so pleased with how your truck looked this morning, all the tools in place and all the material you needed for your work today. Great job.”

By doing these things you move from the realm of boss to the realm of leader. And people will not only follow a leader, they will come to anticipate what it is he or she wants and work to meet those expectations before they are even expressed. They do that because it becomes rewarding for them to please someone who they know and feel always has

their best interests at heart, is always coaching and teaching them, respects them, and communicates with them.

Are these easy things to accomplish? They can be, when you have learned the language, techniques, and attitude needed. This, like anything else, requires some training and, above all else, practice.

You will only be inspired to do these things when you come to realize that YOU are the key to the success of your employees, and they are the key to the success of your business.

and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level, take a look at www.cvccoaching. com Greg can be contacted at greg@ cvccoaching.com. You can also obtain great business tips from the Facebook page CVC Coaching and Youtube channel CVCCoaching. Follow Greg on Twitter at Greg-cvccoach@Ttrader108

Greg is an industry educator and coach. He served for many years as the Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Copperfield Chimney Supply. Greg is a member of the CVC Coaching Team. For more information about Greg and how the CVC team can assist you individually

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What Chimney and Hearth Companies Need to Know about OSHA

By Marge Padgitt

T 14 S W E E P I N G

he Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was established in 1970 as a means of reducing workplace injuries. The act gave power to OSHA to regulate private sector industries. All companies, large and small, are required to comply with OSHA regulations. 4,585 workers died on the job in 2013, so it is apparent why safety regulations are in place.

What this means for a chimney or hearth industry contractor, including chimney sweeps, masons, restoration contractors, hearth appliance installers, etc. is that steps need to be taken to assure compliance and reduce or eliminate work place injuries and illness, and reduce fines if an accident does occur.

Basically, what OSHA looks for during routine random inspection, or after an accident, is that the company has safety measures in place to avoid such accidents. These safety

August 2015

measures include having a safety program set up; a safety manual in every truck, workshop, and office; a safety coordinator in place; and regular safety training for all employees.

OSHA goes from city to city with a team of inspectors looking for job sites in commercial and residential areas and does random inspections. They will also inspect a company if a customer or employee files a complaint or if there is an accident on a work site.

10-Hour OSHA Training: In some states the OSHA 10-hour training course is required. Although initially conceived as a voluntary program, seven states have implemented legislation to make OSHA 10hour training mandatory for employees.

It is likely that more states will follow.

The 10-hour training program is an in-depth certification plan, created by OSHA and administered by government authorized trainers,

not by OSHA directly. The 10hour program takes a minimum of two days to complete. The program focuses on the most prevalent hazards in the field and are designed to greatly improve worker safety. Many large contractors who hire subs, and all federal, state, county, and city government agencies, and seven states have made the completion of these programs mandatory. States currently require OSHA 10hour training are Connecticut, Missouri, Rhode Island, Nevada, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York. Most states require renewal every five years.

Other states are considering the implementation of this program.

Regardless if the 10-hour training is required, it is an excellent program to take to familiarize business owners and managers with the myriad of OSHA regulations. The CSIA and NFI have approved CEU credits for this course offered by Robert Kellogg with Safety Consulting & Training Services, LLC. Following are some of the key OSHA requirements that apply to our industry, however, this is by no means a complete list and further training is recommended.

Some Key OSHA Safety Requirements: • Regular safety training for all employees with documentation of attendance • Fire Prevention in place on work sites and in vehicles • Medical and First Aid stations in vehicles and on work sites • Injury reporting to OSHA • Electrical Hazards

• Personal protective equipment (Eye, ear, feet protection)

• Secure the ladder

• Machine Guarding

• Wear non-slip shoes

• Fall Protection in place

• Place on stable, level ground

• Proper respirators for each type of job

• On decks, secure a stop for the ladder with 2 x 4s

• Blood borne Pathogen training

• Always fully extend the ladder and lock in place

• Hazard Communication • Emergency Action Plan in place • Safety coordinator assigned • Recordkeeping up to date • Safety manual • Material Safety Data Sheets in all vehicles Fall Protection is a major factor in the chimney and hearth industry, and in fact, all industries. Falls from heights are a top cause of workplace injuries and fatalities. In 2013, 291 workers died from falls with 25 percent of those occurring from a height of 10 feet or less.

Fall Protection Requirements: • A fall arrest system is required if there is risk of a worker falling from an elevated position of 6 feet or more.

• A full-body harness with a shock-absorbing lanyard is required • Inspect all fall protection equipment before each use • Make sure the harness fits properly • Wear a harness and stay connected • Fall protection must be inspected prior to each use and be in god working order Ladder Safety Tips: • Choose the right ladder for the job • Maintain three points of

contact on a ladder

• Do not work on the top rung • Rungs must be parallel, level, and uniformly spaced • Don’t carry tools in your hands while climbing – get them up where you need them another way • Always face the ladder when going up or down • The horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder should be ¼ the working length of the ladder

Scaffold Safety Tips: • Use scaffold when doing repair work to a chimney — this is fall protection and no harness is required • Top rails on scaffold must be between 38 and 45 inches high and must be on all open areas of the scaffold (no rail needed on the side where you are working such as next to a chimney) • Make sure footings are level, have base plates, and mud sills

15

• Platforms must be fully planked

S W E E P I N G

• Tie down scaffold to secure it • Scaffold must be able to support four times the maximum intended load.

Do not overload with materials, or place heavy materials on one side only.

• When off scaffold, a safety harness is required – don’t step onto a roof without it

August 2015

• A “Competent Person,” usually a lead man/woman must be assigned at every job site and be responsible for fall protection and job site set up, as well as training employees and inspecting equipment.

There is a separate training program for Supervisors and Competent Persons.

In 2013, OSHA issued 5,423 scaffold citations, up from 3,814 in 2012. Since scaffold is used often in our industry, this would be a key point to cover with employees.

A company that does not meet or exceed OSHA’s safety requirements runs not only the risk of workplace injuries but also serious fines, decreased productivity, and lawsuits.

A chimney contractor in the Midwest recently was fined over $40,000 for several minor infractions after a random inspection where no injury occurred. A chimney sweep company in Kansas City got into serious trouble a few years ago when a worker fell to his death while installing a custom-chimney cover off of a ladder. The company is no longer in business.

As of January 1, 2015, all employers must report fatalities and severe injuries to OSHA.

Now these questions can be answered in full with the OSHA 10-hour training program.

More information: www. safeconstrainserv. com, www.osha.gov Marge Padgitt is a 30-year industry veteran, CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep and NFI Certified Woodburning Specialist. She is the president of the Midwest Chimney Safety Council and has served on the BOD for the NCSG, MWHPBA and MHA. Marge and her husband, Gene, own and operate HearthMasters, Inc. in Independence, Missouri.

For years the questions regarding exactly what OSHA requires for our industry have been rather blurred, with differing opinions being offered by various instructors.

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Root Canal By The Numbers

By Stephen D. Kuber, CSIA #309

This article was originally published in the October 2002 issue of Sweeping Magazine, due to the volume of requests we receive for a copy of it we have reprinted it here with additional notes and updates from the author.

A NOTE OF CAUTION: This procedure should only be attempted by a person thoroughly trained and experienced in the safe and correct use of gas cutting torches and someone familiar with the internal construction of masonry chimney and masonry fireplaces. All appropriate safety equipment should be used at all times. If you are not properly trained, you should contract with a competent individual to do the cutting and

removal of the steel fireplace unit sometimes referred to as a metal heatform. One or more people should act as spotters during the cutting phase, looking out for any flying sparks that could damage the home or its contents. People not directly involved in the removal procedure should stay away from the work area. This procedure only applies to a masonry chimney structure and is never performed on a factory built fireplace.

August 2015

17 S W E E P I N G

Materials

Tools

1. Approximately 36 or more heaping shovels of sand

1. Cutting torches

16. Plaster trowel

2. Goggles

2. Damper frame assembly

3. Two pairs of welder’s gloves

17. Furring strip to help span or story pole in firebox construction

3. Mortar

18. Brick rule

5. Fiberglass

4. Old heavy shirt or a leather welder’s shirt

6. Ceramic wool type insulation

5. Leather welder’s hat

20. Florescent drop light

6. Spark striker

21. Exhaust fan with cord

7. Bonding agent (optional)

7. Mixing pan or wheelbarrel-deep mason type

22. Ladder or ruby red slippers- click three times

8. Hoe/shovel

23. Broad slot screwdriver

9. three to five gallon buckets

24. Vice grips

10. Mortar pan or board 11. Brick trowel, jointer/ slicker, margin trowel

26. Carbon dioxide fire extinguisher for extreme needs

12. Brick hammer

27. Brick splitter

13. Eye protection

28. Sponge

14. 24” and torpedo levels

29. Bench Brush

15. Hawk

30. Sweeping equipment

4. Fireclay

8. Angle iron 9. Firebrick 10. Chamber Tech 2000 or equivalent 11. Wooden 2 x4 about four feet long 12. Brick for backfill

1A

Step

First, set up to sweep the unit. Vacuum off the smoke shelf and the side vents. (Make sure you look because they can have anything stuck in there!) With the fireplace as clean as possible, you’ll get less dirty and have less dust and debris in your eyes, ears or mouth. (You’ll be glad you swept thoroughly if you talk a lot on the job.)

18 S W E E P I N G

1B

Step

Remove all items from the fireplace area such as pictures, knickknacks, etc. Move and cover furniture with fabric, not a plastic sheet. Roll back the homeowner’s rug if possible. You’re not expecting a problem; you’re just protecting their property. (If you that to them you will make them feel a lot better.) If the rug is not rolled back, consider covering it with tarps and then plywood to prevent any burn or carpet damage. I like to use an old closed-loop

August 2015

19. Pencil

25. Spray bottle

rug flipped over without a rubber back that is covered with a welder’s tarp. I also use the welder’s tarp to protect the hearth extension.

1C

Step

Now that the sweeping part is complete, set up the equipment and prepare the work area for the next round.

1.) Use a drop cloth folded in half. An older one if best because you may get spark holes in it. It’s important to fold the cloth in half (from 9 x 12 to a 9 x 6 for example) because it adds protection and time for your spotters to react.

2.) Pack vent areas with a phone-booksize quantity of fiberglass insulation without backing. This prevents smoke from entering the room while cutting. Check the rear of the room for additional vents.

3.) Next pour about one-half inch or more of mason (clean) sand on firebox floor to reduce molten splatter. Place previously cut dust board

Dome X

First Cut

X

F

B A D

B D

E

C

Air Chamber

A

C

Dome Outside Walls

HH II

CC AA

GG (6”x 42”x 1/4” or ½” plywood) in front of opening. This stops spark spray and gives you a place to lean. You can prop it up with a metal bucket or other nonflammable materials.

Step

2

Keep acetylene/oxygen tanks outside and feed your cutting hose through an open window on windward side if possible.

This will help venting. The reason you keep the tanks outside is to prevent fire if anything were to leak.

Step

3

Make sure you secure the tans from falling.

Set exhaust fan on flue top. I use

AA BB

EE FF DD

a reclaimed boat bilge fan. It’s approximately a 9” round fan with a sealed motor so dust will not burn it out. It is also spark proof for bilge fumes. Exhausto also works great and is stronger if needed. Watch out for nearby laundry that is drying or for other dust-sensitive situation.

Step

4

You’ll need to have a spotter with you. Fill a spray bottle with water and instruct your spotter of his/her job to watch for sparks, everywhere!

Step

5

JJ Deadman

With the pressure properly set at the tanks, start cutting the rear side corner. (See “A” in diagram.)

Lay the torch against the rear wall and glide it down. Cut both sides at the same location.

The cut “B” and then “C.” when cutting “C,” cut ½” up from the floor as the area often fills with rust and becomes difficult when cutting. Rust produces its own oxygen when cutting and causes spitting and sparking. Cut “D” next. Hit the plate with a mash hammer and it should drop loose if your cuts are true and the baffle is no longer holding.

On most units there is a baffle approximately 8” up from the base of the unit that runs front to back. This may also be affixed to the outside box. At this point, you may have to cut through the panel to get to the baffle. (See dotted line on the picture.) Keep in mind, all the metal removed is hot and should be taken out

August 2015

19 S W E E P I N G

of the building and placed on a safe non-combustible surface.

With the side walls removed, your first cut on the rear wall should be across the bottom.

Next cut the top at about 1” to 2” below the damper groove.

This way you can support the plate without it dropping on you head. You may also find a baffle holding the plate. It so follow the steps you took for the sides.

Step

6

Now cut a wooden 2x4 about 1” to 2” shorter by the opening arch (see “X” in photo). This is your “dead man.” You’ll see why later.

Now cut the rear sheet metal which is a lot thinner than the front metal. This is the outside box. At the top corners and a few inches from the bottom,

remove the metal. Next remove the side where the “dead man” is, keeping the “dead man” in place. The dome and shelf may lower some. Don’t worry yet.

Now cut the last section. Without the “dead man” in place you could be one too. Whenever possible make the farthest cuts first and try to be careful of the splatter. After a while you will not jump so fast from the splatter. Congratulations, you’re almost halfway finished.

Turn on the vacuum and gently lower the “dead man.” You will be surprised that with a little pressure you can slide the dome down. Most often you can jockey the section around. And if you need to, you can cut more. Make sure you have someone to help you when removing because it’s full of rust and dust. Next open the door, lay down the

runner and carry it out. Now repeat after me, “Yahoo!”

Step

7

Using chalk, record the remaining pressure in the tanks on the tanks. Then put all the torch equipment away.

Step

8

Put on your mask and longsleeve shirt. Then with a pot brush or coal shovel. Scrape out the insulation, keeping both the exhaust fan and vacuum running. Pack it into a plastic bag or ash dump if deep enough.

(You and the owner should decide what’s best.) With all the insulation visually removed, crawl inside and vacuum the surface. The mortar will not bond if dust is left on the surface of the masonry.

Step

9

If the smoke chamber is built properly, the brick is corbeled so you can just parge it. It may be stepped poorly, or block may have been used. If so, you can then take stucco mesh and press it to form the smoke chamber and then parge. Chamber Tech 2000 works great here when applied properly. Other materials may also be available. The fan helps speed up the set-up time for the parging materials. Moisten the parged surface with water from a spray bottle to prevent cracking. Bonding agents can also be used- just read the label.

Step

10

Starting the firebox. Some homeowners want the same outline as the original metal heat form while others want the sides splayed in more. Either way, they both start with a half brick. Working from the front to the back, you can lay the brick on the flat or the shiner which is the narrow edge. If you lay it on the shiner, you may use about 70 bricks for the firebox.

If on the flat, plan on using 90 or more bricks.

More often than not, two to 70 lb bags of mortar will suffice for a firebox. The mix I use for a firebox is one part Portland, one part fireclay, and one part sand. I personally suggest back filling the firebox. I have found that you can go faster if you do one side up about 6 courses, and then the other. Do the rear last with the roll starting with the third course. Yes, you can still interlock the corners. I fill the back with mud and firebrick to stabilize the roll. Sometimes I use full firebrick or splits to form the smoke shelf. Lastly, wipe down the completed firebox with a sponge and water. Remember when doing the roll, mark the side walls with a pencil, 14 inches from the inside of the face brick. This will be the rear of the damper frame. Make sure you measure your frame as some may vary. This will help you set the goal for your roll. Take your time. Don’t rush the roll. Most often the damper is going to be 30 or 33 inches long. You’ll need a 36” 4x3 angle iron. Most of the fireboxes are eight courses tall. Don’t forget to try and mount the damper before you get too tight. You may have to prop the damper up on some dry brick to lay the last course. Try to set the damper eight inches to 12” above the lintel. If you still can’t fit a damper, then set a top damper. Don’t mortar the damper assembly in solid because heat expansion could cause cracking in the masonry. A non-combustible, compressible, fibrous insulation such as ceramic wool should be placed between the damper and adjacent masonry to allow for movement.

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Step

11

Remove the insulation from the vents, brick shut with firebrick and parge over. Now set the grills.

Step

12

If you’re laying a new floor, try splits. It is better to lay this last as you’ll have one to two inches of more work area and you will not need them to set up before building a firebox.

Step

13

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Even though my steps typically stop at 12, expect 13 on occasion.

This tep is taken when you discover that the flue tiles are supported only by the metal

heatform unit. As you cut, they shift or drop. Before cutting, LOOK! If in double, drill and pin the base flue tile unitl don.

Perhaps, they were loose-filled instead of bricking! My alltime favorite job was the whole area around the flue tile of a two-story chimney which was backfilled with beach sand. I felt like the boy who had his finder in the dike. Gee, I love my work.

It’s so consistently inconsistent.

Personal note: Always check mantel and other combustibles for proper clearances and construction for defects such as cored block, etc. This repair is not for the novice sweep.

Root Canal Update One thing which you may discover in later units would be a secondary triangular chamber beneath the smoke shelf. This

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22 S W E E P I N G

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When you see a unit with no vents exposed treat them all as though they are likely covered by sheetrock or wood. The reason I say this is because most often they are. You may be able to remove the vertical joint between the metal box and face brick. With this area open it can allow your assistant to spay water here as you are cutting the metal panel away.

Always cut the top rear and bottom first, before the last cut is made. This allows the panels removal after this last front cut, where a concern may be waiting. Always remember…

Attempt to direct sparks away from the front of the fireplace, towards the rear of the firebox.

This will reduce the chance of catching any combustibles on fire. If it does don’t panic just spray and remove the section cut, to access better with spray.

Recently I needed to build the smoke chamber as after the box removal all that was left was a huge rectangle opening. The flue tiles were sitting on 2 rebar that was mortared into the masonry.

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will add about 1 hour to the removal process. Although it may seem no big deal it will be better to just start cutting it out then to play games or try to save it. Cutting out each panel starting with the sides keeps you from cramping up by changing sides and moving about.

First to do is pencil off the inside of the firebox to be laid. Most often the follow the original outline. Then beyond that build up a 4” cored black wall to 10” above the lintel bar. Now since I didn’t have a breast either, build one. I chose

to use 2” x 3” x ¼” angle iron up and in, also. You will build for this, using the 3” side as the the back wall last as you need bed. Next I use filler cored brick. the room to sit inside to build Then set wall ties if open joints it up. Presently I am presently in original work allows them to 61 at 5’-7” and overweight (185), be added. I apply a plaster coat the fit isn’t as easy as when 150 to the back of the face brick; I lbs. and in my 30’s)) Just take now set the first course after you time and let the bricks set buttering the head and back of up. You can also cut and use the cricks, set them in a row.

4x8x16” solid black, when able.

Then I tap the angle iron with I have also at times I pinned a the brick laid in place tight to metal strip to support the block the plastered area and measure below the tile. After all has set from the angle to the back brick up I coat it with Chamber Tech wall. This keeps it running or like material about 2” thick. square to the original rear I always write my proposal open wall. After cobbling the brick ended. Meaning that the price 1/2 – ¾ up and in towards the before I start is based upon how flue, the 34d or 4th course lay a a unit should be built and any Flemish bond. Allow this to set unforeseen flaws will need to be up otherwise you will have the readdressed for cost increases. displeasure of it falling on your Always scan the flue and sweep lap. Draw a line using your level it before even writing proposal to determine side angle needed. as this could be seen and it is 1 Sweeping News (Snews)_Smoothcore_Z-Max_7"x4.875"_AREESHOW Dec 30, 2014.pdf You can start bringing the side more honest to mention before

work starts. If you find it after and it would have been seen during a scan it is not so cool and can discredit your honesty in the eyes of you customer.

When pricing I figure out how many days it should it take and add a day the material cost plus 10% or more, now add the labor charge. The open cavity and need to build back walls then the smoke chamber should run 55% over the root canal itself.

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Technical

Q&A

Micheal Segerstrom

NCSG Technical Advisory Chair

Answer: Opportunity! Being a member of the NCSG offers opportunity in many facets of the industry.

Let’s take a look at some of these opportunities and the benefits they include.

There’s a great opportunity for discounts. A wide variety of vendors, suppliers and manufacturers offer discounts exclusive to NCSG members.

These discounts on products and services we use can add up to thousands of dollars in savings.

Question: What is the biggest benefit of being a member of the NCSG?

The NCSG offers one of the best educational opportunities in the industry at the NCSG convention. Convention happens once a year at different locations, and there’s always multiple days of classes to choose from. Even if we are not certified, if our employees are not, it’s still a great opportunity to get education!

Convention also offers an opportunity to see our friends in the industry from across the country, even our friends from foreign countries. A chance to hang out, catch up, swap stories, and enjoy the camaraderie of our trade!

The trade show at Convention also provides another great opportunity. We get to see the latest tools and products, and talk directly to the manufacturers and distributors.

We will also often get discounts on things ordered or purchased at the trade show!

24 S W E E P I N G

Being a member of the NCSG also gives us access to certain industry-related private chat lists and message boards.

This is an opportunity to get to know other members from

August 2015

across the country. These can also be great places to ask a technical, business or other question and get an answer quickly. Often we will get more than one answer, and learn how things work for others in different parts of the country.

Another member benefit is the installation manual library.

As an NCSG member, we have access to this library anytime.

If we need a manual, especially for something old, hard to find or unique there’s a good chance we will find it there. no one else has a library as extensive as the NCSG and this is an exclusive member benefit!

Other opportunities or benefits include a subscription to this magazine, SWEEPING, the monthly Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology, a free listing on the NCSG website, access to the Technical Advisory Council and its array of industry experts, and representation by both staff and members at affiliated trade meetings and functions.

In summary, being a member of the NCSG provides us with benefits and opportunities that can be found nowhere else the industry!

New

Members

REGION REGION REGION REGION REGION REGION REGION REGION

REGION REGION

114 22543365 CONNECTICUT

NEW JERSEY

OHIO

OREGON

Kristopher Pereira | Advanced Chimney Solutions LLC | Prospect

Tim Lynch | Home Inspection Service of New Jersey | North Brunswick

Roy M. Schmidt II | Swift Sweep Inspections | Celina

Maria Woodall | ADDCO Electric Fireplaces | Portland

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MARYLAND

VERMONT

Jason Smith | Chesapeake Restoration Group, Inc. | Stevensville

Steve May | Chimney Works and Rocky Mountain Stoves & Fireplaces | Harrison

MICHIGAN Erik Bloomquist | Bloomquist Chimney | Grandville

REGION REGION

REGION

Chris Anderson Jr. | Monocacy Chimney Care, Inc. | Myersville

PENNSYLVANIA

Rulon Claus | Hearth Tech, Inc. | Hatfield

INDIANA

REGION REGION

44 55 66 Jim Donovan | Lincoln Peak Properties | Waitsfield

Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool

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ASK NOT WHAT THE GUILD CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THE GUILD Eugene M. LaFlamme

28 S W E E P I N G

P

rofessional trade associations offer many benefits, including opportunities to network, complete continuing education requirements and stay abreast of changing codes, laws, and technology. It is not enough, however, to join a trade association, such as the NCSG, and simply be a passive member. To get the most out of your membership, consider volunteering for a leadership position or, in the very least, become actively involved and take advantage of the educational and training opportunities.

August 2015

From a legal perspective, an NCSG membership also buys you credibility should you ever find yourself in front of a judge or jury. Juries, and with good reason, are typically more inclined to accept a sweep’s professionalism if they are NCSG members, have CSIA certified sweeps, and engage in regular continuing education and training.

In litigation, one of the first things plaintiff’s attorneys ask for are a list of the sweep’s trade associations, professional certifications and training records. If a sweep does not belong to an association, has not obtained any professional certifications and lacks any training or educational records, the plaintiff’s attorney will undoubtedly exploit such a scenario to their benefit. Armed with this evidence, the plaintiff’s

attorney will be able to paint the picture that the sweep is a fly by the night or haphazard professional that does not value safety, training or education.

The inverse, however, is also true. If a sweep is actively engaged in the NCSG, stays up to date with its CSIA certifications and makes training and education a priority, that sweep’s defense counsel will use such information to the sweep’s advantage. In doing so, the defense counsel will be able to paint the picture of a safety conscious and well-informed professional before the jury.

While most court cases will ultimately turn on the facts related to the merits of the case, membership in the NCSG does put a sweep in a better position to present ancillary

evidence that would cast the sweep in a positive light. This is especially true if the sweep is involved in a leadership position or actively participates in the educational curriculum.

In civil cases, which is where a sweep would most likely find itself in a fire loss case, the burden of proof is only a preponderance of the evidence.

This means that a sweep will be found liable if the scales of justice tip in favor of the plaintiff. While the following is somewhat over simplified, the preponderance of the evidence burden is often expressed in percentages as the 51%-49% standard. In essence, if a jury finds that there was a 51% chance that the sweep caused the fire, the sweep will be liable. If, however, the jury believes there was only a 49%

chance that it caused the fire, the sweep in that situation will likely not be liable.

Given that a case can sometimes turn on a very slim margin or minimal percentage, it is important to take advantage of every opportunity to put forth educated and well trained professionals. The NCSG is a great venue to start and continue those efforts.

Eugene M. LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC, a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases. Eugene’s practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries.

He can be contacted at elaflamme@ MLLlaw.com or (262) 522-7000.

29 S W E E P I N G August 2015

Progressive

Perks Debbie Cornelius

Membership Development Coordinator

This article has been printed previously but it is worth sharing with current NCSG members and those that should be members again. The first question one should ask is “Why go it alone when taking one of the biggest risks in your lives?” Next, review the 7 reasons why you have or should join a trade association.

Information

7 REASONS WHY YOU JOIN A TRADE ASSOCIATION!

Opportunity to learn about key industry trends, regulations, vendors thru newsletters, magazines, emails, discussion list, technical sessions at convention and networking with peers.

Inspiration “Aha!” moments may be one person’s idea that springboards your own. Again this comes about thru the many networking opportunities of belonging.

Support As a member you now have access to hundreds of individuals who are actually unpaid consultants or advisors that can help you succeed.

Energy Savings and Safety for a

30 S W E E P I N G

Smarter Home Fireplace

SAFETY

DESIGN

EFFICIENCY

Referrals And Other New Business Opportunities Not only do these come from the trade association’s website but from other members of the trade as well. And again, it may be a referral from another member of the trade in an area they do not service or possibly a need for assistance in a project that is too large to handle alone.

Resources The best resource is a colleague willing to share information or experiences. The most obvious is access to qualified vendors who understand the industry.

And finally, member benefits such as industry-specific insurance at a discounted price.

Affirmation You may think everyone else is more knowledgeable but then you share an idea and other members use the information. This is definitely

• Protects against downdrafts • Eliminates spillage and CO release due to building depressurization • Automatically shuts down fireplace operation, if conditions are unsafe.

• Freedom to integrate almost any fireplace design • Eliminates the need for glass doors • Enables chimney designs that defy traditional design rules

• Chimney is closed when the fireplace is not used • The draft is never excessive which saves fuel • Perfect operating conditions eliminate unnecessary emissions.

For more information on how to save money and make your fireplace safer, please visit www.chimneyfans.com or call 800.255.2923

August 2015

They offer information, inspiration and sometimes even a shoulder to cry on.

an ego kick and confidence builder when other members of the trade say it and show it.

Fun Those that succeed are those that have fun both at home and in business. Becoming an “Active” member of the trade can make you a happier person plus you will make life long friends and meet interesting colleagues.

their experiences, knowledge and even the mistakes they have made. This all adds up to spending your time wisely, increasing your chances of success in business and having some fun as well!

Not a member – call us to discuss the benefits of being a member today. It is a decision you will not regret!

The best resources in business are the people you meet within your trade – informed and experienced. And it is so easy.

Attend a training class, join the Discussion List, join in all of the activities available at the Annual Convention and Tradeshow and you will be exposed to many different colleagues from all over the country who are more than willing to share

31 S W E E P I N G August 2015

History

Project

By Claire Rutledge

History Project Archive Spotlight This bag was used by NCSG members who swept the White House in August of 1988, during the term of President Ronald Reagan. 1988.2.1.

“If you can dream it we can build it”

32 S W E E P I N G

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Dates and

Events

August 3-9, 2015 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org August 7, 2015 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep速 Review & Exams Richmond, VA For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org August 10-11, 2015 CSIA Chimney Physics CSIA Technology Center For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org August 10-16, 2015 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning

34 S W E E P I N G August 2015

- Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org August 12-13, 2015 CSIA Chimney Physics Fredericksburg, VA (Sponsored by Mid-Atlantic Chimney Association) For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org August 13, 2015 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep速 Review & Exams Alpharetta, GA (Sponsored by Chimney Solutions) For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org August 13-14, 2015 CSIA Masonry Repair for Chimney Professionals CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield, IN For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org August 17-23, 2015 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org August 24-29, 2015 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training School CSIA Technology CenterPlainfield, IN For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA. org August 24-30, 2015 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA. org

August 31 - September 6, 2015 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org September 7-13, 2015 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org September 14-20, 2015 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit

www.CSIA.org September 18, 2015 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® Review & Exams Atlantic City, NJ For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org September 21-27, 2015 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org September 28 – October 4, 2015 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org September 28 – October 3, 2015 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training School CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield, IN For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org October 5-11, 2015 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org October 12-18, 2015 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with

August 2015

35 S W E E P I N G

Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org October 15-16, 2015 CSIA Inspection and Report Writing CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield, IN For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org October 16, 2015 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep速 Review & Exams Albany, NY For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org October 19-25, 2015 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with

36 S W E E P I N G August 2015

Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org October 26 - November 1, 2015 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org November 2-8, 2015 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org

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CSIA Update AUGUST 2015 REPORT

www.CSIA.org

Credential ‘makes the phone ring’ CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep count at 1,600 and climbing after training school, 1-day reviews There are now more than 1,600 chimney sweeps in North America that carry our CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® credential. The number of CCS technicians is 8 percent higher than in December, and continues CSIA’s role as the industry leader for chimney education and training. “The CSIA certification is not easy to obtain, nor maintain,” said Ashley Eldridge, CSIA Director of Education. “But it is coveted, and it provides value to the chimney sweeps, to the companies that employ them, and to consumers.”

Eldridge said he is proud that the number of CCS sweeps has climbed from 1,485 in December to 1,614 in mid-July even though the exam is more difficult to master than in previous years. The credential carries more weight, and it is more widely recognized than ever from a variety of influential stakeholders — from organizations like the American Society of Home Inspectors and the Pennsylvania Attorney General, to Fireman’s Fund insurance. Fireman’s Fund produced a white paper to its policyholders on how to avoid being a victim of a chimney fire, using CSIA’s expertise to craft their document.

The CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® credential was established in 1983 as a method for homeowners to measure a chimney sweep’s technical expertise. The CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep®

trademark is a symbol of a sweep’s professionalism, understanding of, and dedication to their industry.

Companies that use the trademark must have at least one certified individual on the job site performing or supervising the A set of patches ready to be mailed out to new credential holders. sweeping and/ chimney or inspection, according to CSIA’s sweeps, Trademark Use guidelines. and Stoner Those that get credentialed must made it his sign the CSIA Code of Ethics, which goal to get promises the sweep will do right by to 1,900 -the customer. Some of the biggest or higher. benefits of CSIA certification, beyond the reputation enhancement, The CSIA board of are the referrals that it provides, as directors those with up-to-date certifications estimates can be found on CSIA.org.

Ashley Eldridge about “The credential makes the phone 6,000 ring,” agreed Jeffrey Peterson, people work on chimneys in some of Potomac Services in Sterling, capacity nationally. “They are Virginia. Peterson has been a CSIA staying with CSIA in great numbers Certified Chimney Sweep since 2008. because they know there is a real reliability in this credential,” Stoner Mark A. Stoner, president of CSIA, said. “It tells the consumer that the made increasing certification sweep achieved the original and numbers a priority in March 2014 highest possible certification from a during the National Chimney Sweep nonprofit organization whose vision Guild annual convention. At the is that every family enjoy a safe, time, CSIA had about 1,400 certified warm home.”

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AUGUST 2015 REPORT

www.CSIA.org

Now serving: 1,600 CCS; 325 C-DET CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps, That Renewed With CEUs Connecticut Jim Davis | Mainline Heating & Supply | Ashford Illinois Jack Lutz | Lutz Chimney Services | Eureka Kansas Bruce Lemaire| Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc. | Wichita

New CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps

Masonry | Portland

Arkansas

Ken Lamoreaux | Smokestack Masonry | Willow Street

Pennsylvania Ronald S. Anderson and Mark Nickerson | Hearth & Home Furnishings | Zelienople

Aaron Libertini | Top Hat Chimney and Roofing | Springdale California Michael Morrison | Chimney Champ | San Diego Kansas Todd Jacobs | Home Safe Hearth & Chimney | Wichita

Elliot Woods | Wells & Sons Chimney Service | Gilbertsville South Carolina Nick Henderson | Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps | Laurens Tennessee David McCray | Chim Chimney | Hermitage

Maryland

Virginia

Stephen Lunt | Swept Away Chimney Sweep | Marshfield

Branden Wahl and Justin Pentifallo | MCP Chimney & Masonry | Damascus

Artem Moiseyenko | Old Dominion Chimney Liners | Penn Laird

Stephen Ruchala Jr. | Ruchala Chimney Sweep | Hubbardston

Joshua Merson | Chimney Tek | Pasadena

New Jersey

New Hampshire

Patrick Curran | Guardian Chimney LLC | Montvale

Gary MacMillan | Fireside Sweeps LLC | Freemont

Ohio

New Jersey

Massachusetts

Simon Anderson | Lehman’s | Kidron Matthew Durham | Mason’s Chimney Service | Mickleton Pennsylvania New York Kenneth Ferraiolo | Weller’s Chimney Joseph DeVirgilio and Matthew Sweeps | Schuylkill Haven Marreo | Hudson Valley Chimney Virginia Service | Poughkeepsie Scott Linneball | Magic Sweep Austin Morrone | Ace Chimney Corporation | Chesapeake Experts | Ronkonkoma Kirby Ragland | Chimney Saver Solutions | Richmond Wisconsin David Askue | Mr. Chimney Sweep | Ashland

AN EASY WAY TO CERTIFY? ONLINE CEUs: CSIA has over 65 courses as part of

our easy-touse Chimney Academy. Get started: e-mail crutledge@ csia.org.

Nicholas Guy | Blue Ridge Chimney Services | Harrisonburg Jeffrey Shear | Winston’s of Northern Virginia | Fairfax Wisconsin David Fisher | Pratt’s Professional Chimney | Burlington Taran Peltier | Design Chimneys LLC | Sparta

North Carolina James Black | Chimney Pro | Kannapolis Blake Crocker | Smoke Alert | Garner Kristina Owens | Owens Chimney Systems | Charlotte Ohio Anthony Traversa | Abbey Road Chimney Sweep | Brookville Oregon

Students at the National Chimney Sweep Train-

Adam Reich | American Chimney &

ing School review their notes June 24.

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AUGUST 2015 REPORT President’s Report

MANUAL OVERHAUL UPDATE As many of you know, CSIA is in the midst of a complete rewrite of our manuals and tests. It’s been a whirlwind steered expertly by our education Mark A. Stoner development committee, in particular Chuck Roydhouse. We’re over a year into our decision to revamp the CCS Certified Chimney Sweep technician and C-DET Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician credentials, not to mention our goal to develop a third credential related to chimney liners. We want to ensure that we have the best possible outcome for the new manual and test, meeting both our budget and timetable. An undertaking like this wouldn’t be successful without the input of venting experts. I’d like to thank the following individuals: Chuck Hall, Hope Stevenson, Jim Brewer, Greg Polakow, Jerry Isenhour, and Ashley Eldridge, CSIA Director of Education.

On the C-DET side of things, thanks to Roydhouse, Cliff Budnick and Tim Reiher as well as John Bently, C-DET Committee Report chairman, and Eldridge.

OFF TO EUROPE ESCHFOE, the European Federation of Chimney Sweeps, holds a meeting annually. CSIA attends every other year, for the technical session, and that’s the situation for 2015. From Aug. 26 to 30 in Bavaria, Germany it’ll be myself, NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee chairman John Pilger (also CSIA past president), CSIA Education Director Ashley Eldridge, and CSIA-NCSG Executive Director Frances Kelly.

Some of us will also stay for the

www.CSIA.org Education class spotlight Chimney Physics TWO UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES! Aug. 10-11 in Plainfield & Aug. 12-13 in Fredericksburg, VA [sponsored by Mid-Atlantic Chimney Association].

Resolution of chimney performance issues, solving air pressure problems, identifying the symptoms of indoor air pollutants, determining combustion air requirements for vented appliances. CSIA CEUs: 3-T, 3-CS, 3-HS, 3-CL | NFI CEUs: 4-E

CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® Review & Exam August 13 | Alpharetta, GA [sponsored by Chimney Solutions] September 18 | Atlantic City, NJ October 16 | Albany, NY November 13 | CSIA Technology Center, Plainfield, IN [LAST CCS for 2015!]

Masonry Repair for Chimney Professionals [2-Day] August 13-14 | Plainfield, IN [CSIA Technology Center]

Inspection and Report Writing Oct. 15-16 | Plainfield, IN [CSIA Technology Center]

CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician® 2-Day Workshop/Exam November 5-6 | Plainfield, IN [CSIA Technology Center]

National Chimney Sweep Training School August 24-29 | Plainfield, IN [CSIA Technology Center] September 28-October 3 | Plainfield, IN [CSIA Technology Center]

Complete calendar: csia.org/education International Gathering of Chimney Sweeps in Santa Maria Maggiore, Italy, Spazzacamini, Sept. 4-6.

WEATHER PARTNERSHIP Did you know? CSIA is a NOAAapproved Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador. Our staff pledged to help publicize safety tips to the public (such as lightning awareness) when the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration asks. CSIA staff will use any opportunity to raise ADVERTISEMENT

the awareness of our organization.

JUST FOUR CCS REVIEWS LEFT Sweeps, make sure and keep on top of your annual payment due date or your 3-year anniversary.

If you are to expire, please retest!

Note that only four in-person CCS review/exams remain in 2015, but you can complete the online review and test at your convenience!

Dateline: Nashville, TN

AUGUST 2015 REPORT

Education & Certification

All-time high of 25 attend gas class

Interest in CSIA’s Installing and Troubleshooting Gas Hearth Appliances reached another record, in its 14th year. Attendees, under the direction of CSIA instructors Jim Brewer, Mike Van Buren

and Ashley Eldridge, got to work on the latest equipment, including gas logs, during the class held July 20-24. We had 25 students representing 15 companies, including CSIA Past President John Pilger

and NCSG Past President Diane Pilger. “A great value,” several students told us early in this week. The class is held once per year at the CSIA Technology Center, using the latest in equipment.

We appreciate Fireside Distributors, Hargrove Premium Products, Napoleon Products, Valor Fireplaces, and National Chimney, for their item/venting donations that helped students to learn!

Badge bonanza for Blake!

Of our 1,900+ professionals certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America, just 99 carry both the Certified Chimney Sweep technician and C-DET Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician credentials. Gregory “Blake” Crocker of Smoke Alert in Garner, North Carolina, obtained both badges in the same week. He took (and passed) his C-DET exam on June 24, then earned his CCS om June 27 while in Plainfield, Indiana for the National Chimney Sweep Training School. Blake’s a firefighter, so he’s used to wearing different hats!

New CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians California Dylan Bryant and John Staats | Black Beauty Chimney Services | Chico Kansas Robert Gehring | Home Safe Hearth & Chimney | Wichita

North Carolina Blake Crocker | Smoke Alert | Garner

Maryland

Vermont

Giuliano Cuete | Airwiz Clean Air | Germantown

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Around the

Tech

F

irst of all I would like to welcome the more than 5,000 potential new members who are reading this column for the first time. Here in the “Around the Tech Center” section of Sweeping Magazine we strive to give NCSG members an idea of what’s been happening at the Technology Center in Plainfield, IN, headquarters of the NCSG and the CSIA, and how their staff has been working to support them and the chimney industry.

This past month we continued our busy summer of education and meeting by welcoming the CSIA board of directors to Indiana for their annual budget meeting the Installing and Troubleshooting Gas Hearth Appliances class. We were pleased to host many longtime Guild members for this year’s gas class, including NCSG immediate past President Diane Pilger.

This summer has also brought many storms to the Tech Center and we have worked to clean up the many limbs that have fallen as a result.

42 S W E E P I N G August 2015

Center Frances Kelly

Executive Director

On the staff side we were happy to welcome Brittney Sichting, daughter of Office Manager Sara Sichting, as a temporary member of staff this summer. Brittney helped out with filing, mailing, and other administrative tasks to free up staff time and was a huge help.

I hope that all of you, new members, long-time members, and potential members alike have a chance to come to the Tech Center at some time during your chimney careers.

Best, Frances Kelly NCSG and CSIA Executive Director

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Where Has

Your Sweeping Been ?

Tom Dragon, Controller for National Chimney, brought his Sweeping to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

What are they reading at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro these days?

According to Tom Dragon, Controller for National Chimney, it’s Sweeping Magazine.

National Chimney, an NCSG Supplier Member, has instituted several different programs to reward its employees. One recently introduced program involves both community service and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: Traveling to Tanzania to volunteer at the Mwereni Integrated School for the Blind followed by a trip to the summit of the world’s highest free-standing mountain—Mt. Kilimanjaro.

“It’s literally a breath-taking trip to the 19,000 ft. summit,” says Mr. Dragon. “It’s also heart-warming to help so many children at the school and Orphanage. I appreciate Darin Bibeau [National Chimney’s President/ Owner] for giving me this opportunity.”

Want to be in Sweeping Magazine? Take a photo of yourself with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark and send it to marketing@ncsg.org.

August 2015

43 S W E E P I N G

Darwin

Award Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief?

“We found this chimney near Shreveport, Louisiana on the roof of the house.

I sure hope they don’t use it!”

Kevin Russell New Buck Chimney Services, Frierson, LA

Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlett@ ncsg.org. for publication in Sweeping. Or, mail it to NCSG, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. Include a few words about the scene and location.

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44 S W E E P I N G

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