Wood stove heating safety warning: most fires start in the chimney, not the woodstove
US CPSC Safety Alert to check fire clearances and chimney condition
Additional wood and coal heating safety suggestions from InspectAPedia.com
Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest.
We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices,
false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at
InspectAPedia.com/appointment.htm.
Wood Heat Safety Alert: Check Chimney Clearances and Chimney Condition
"In 1982, wood-burning appliances accounted for more fires, more fire
deaths, and greater property damage than any other kind of heating fuel --
about 140,000 fires, 250 deaths and $257 million in property damage.
These
losses represented 20 percent of all residential fires in the U.S., 5 percent
of all fire deaths, and 8 percent of estimated property damage." -- CPSC Chimney Safety Document #5017.
Whether your heater is a woodstove, coal stove, or even a gas fired free-standing stove or heater such
as shown in the photo above showing a church heater, a fire-safe installation includes respecting the necessary clearances
from combustibles and other measures too.
CPSC research indicates that most wood heating fires involve the chimney and
not the appliance itself. The majority of these fires are
contained within the chimney and cause no damage to the house.
The Commission
is concerned, however, not only about the chimney fires that did ignite other
parts of the house, but also about the potential future hazard from the
continued use of chimneys whose structural integrity has been compromised by a
chimney fire. This is especially true in light of the fact that many contained
chimney fires are not reported to the fire services; in fact, consumers may not
even be aware that a chimney fire has occurred.
Therefore, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is issuing a special safety
alert concerning chimneys used with wood burning
stoves, fireplaces, and fireplace inserts. The Commission urgently warns
consumers to be aware of the potential fire hazards associated with these
chimneys.
Now that the nation has entered the heating season, the Commission strongly
urges you, if you have a stove or fireplace, to check the chimney for any
damage that may have occurred in the past heating season. If it is difficult to
examine the chimney, a local chimney repairman, chimney "sweep," or
dealer can help. Have any damage repaired NOW.
Most fires involving either masonry or prefabricated metal chimneys occur
because of improper installation, use or maintenance. The Commission staff has
identified the following common causes of fires:
Improper chimney installation
too close to wood framing.
Installation of thermal
insulation too close to the chimney.
Improperly passing the
stovepipe or chimney through a ceiling or wall, causing ignition of wood
framing.
Structural damage to the
chimney caused by the ignition of creosote (a black tar-like substance
that builds up inside the chimney in normal use).
Structural damage to metal
prefabricated chimneys that results in wood framing being exposed to excessive
temperatures or leakage of potentially toxic gases to the interior of the home
can take the following forms:
Corrosion or rusting of the
inner liners of metal chimneys.
Buckling, separation of the
seam, or collapsing of the inner liner of metal chimneys. (This can result
from too hot a fire, especially in high-efficiency stoves and in fireplace
inserts, or from a creosote fire.)
Structural damage also occurs
in masonry chimneys, often associated with deterioration or improper
installation of the chimney. The tile inner liner and the surrounding brick or
block structure may crack and separate, perhaps as a result of the ignition of creosote
that has built up in the chimney. Many old chimneys do not have a tile liner.
If your chimney does not have a liner, the addition of a properly installed
liner is advisable. Also, a clay liner should be sealed with refractory cement.
Even when the heating appliance is properly installed, people with either metal
or masonry chimney systems should frequently check the chimney for creosote
deposits, soot build-up, or physical damage. This involves only a simple visual
examination, but it should be done as often as twice a month during heavy use.
If you see heavy creosote buildup, suspect a problem, or have had a chimney
fire, a qualified chimney repairman or chimney "sweep" should perform
a complete safety inspection. They can arrange for any necessary repairs or
creosote removal, which must be done before the heating appliance is used
again.
There are products now available which, according to recent tests conducted by
independent laboratories, show promise for reducing the production of creosote
and harmful pollutant emissions. Advance wood stove designs appear to provide
more complete combustion of the fuel. Catalytic combustors appear to achieve
similar results, and are available with new stoves or as separate components
which can be installed between the flue gas exit and the chimney connector of
existing stoves.
The Commission advises owners of all chimneys to:
Be sure that the chimney and stovepipe were installed correctly in accordance with the manufacturer's
recommendations and local codes. If there is any doubt, a building
inspector or fire official can determine whether the system is properly installed.
Minimize creosote formation by using proper stove size and avoiding using low damper settings for
extended periods of time.
[DF: and burn dry low-sap firewood, not green firewood; some woodstove manufacturers recommend burring the stove with a hot fire for some period of time at least once daily during the heating season. Also, don't buy a woodstove that is too big for the area to be heated - the result will be running the stove too long at low damper settings which increases the risk of creosote formation in the chimney]
Have the chimney checked and
cleaned routinely by a chimney "sweep" at least once a year. Inspect it frequently, as often as twice a month if necessary, and clean
when a creosote buildup is noted.
Always operate your appliance
within the manufacturer's recommended temperature limits. Too low a temperature increases creosote buildup, and too high a temperature may
eventually cause damage to the chimney and result in a fire.
[DF: inexpensive magnetic stovepipe thermometers for woodstoves can indicate when your chimney is dangerously hot]
If you have had a fire or other safety problem with your chimney, or would like additional information, call the Commission's toll-free
Hotline 800-638-CPSC.
Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website, and if you wish, to receive online listing and credit as a contributor. Particular thanks are due to the many experts and also consumers who read and critique technical articles at InspectAPedia.com.
Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.
Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
InspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest.
The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems
Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.
05/25/2009 - 04/18/2006 - InspectAPedia.com/chimneys/ChimCPSC.htm This is a public document from the US CPSC document cc at www.cpsc.com - Website & Page Design copy; 2009 - 1988 Copyright Daniel Friedman All Rights Reserved - InspectAPedia® is a Registered U.S. Trademark
InspectAPedia ® Home & Site Map 
InspectAPedia® Home & Site Map
