Abstract
A series of tests was conducted in five instrumented chimneys to study the intensity and duration of chimney fires due to the ignition and burning of combustible deposits accumulated on chimney linings over a prolonged period of time. These tests were conducted: (1) to establish typical conditions including temperatures in the chimneys and on combustible surfaces nearby, and (2) to determine the duration of the burnout as evidenced by elevated temperatures within the chimney.
The results of these tests point out some areas where the codes and standards covering residential wood heating appliances should be updated to better protect against failure due to chimney fires.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kale, D.,Fires in Woodburning Appliances, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, December 1982.
Harwood, B. and Kale, D.,Fires Involving Fireplaces, Chimneys and Related Appliances, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, September 1982.
Harwood, B. and Kluge, P.,Hazards Associated with the Use of Wood or Coal-Burning Stoves or Free-Standing Fireplaces, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, February 1980.
See, for example, NFPA 211,Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents and Solid Fuel Burning Appliances, 1984, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA, 1984.
Standard for Chimneys, Factory-Built, Residential Type, and Building Heating Appliance, UL103, Sixth Ed., Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., February 1983.
Shelton, J. W.,Wood Heat Safety Garden Way Publishing, Charlotte, VT, September 1979.
Flink, C. R., “Factory-Built Chimneys,” Wood Energy Institute,Proceedings of Wood Heating Seminar IV, Portland, OR, March 21–24, 1979, pp. 339–342.
Stone, R. L., “Solving the Creosote Problem,”Fire Journal Vol. 74, No. 1, pp. 43–49, 78, January 1980.
Maxwell, T. T., Dyer, D. F., Maples, G., and Burch, T.,An Investigation of Creosoting and Fireplace Inserts, contract to the National Bureau of Standards, NBS-GCR-81-365, Washington, DC, December 1981.
Peacock, R. D.,Intensity and Duration of Chimney Fires in Several Chimneys, National Bureau of Standards, NBSIR 83–2771, Washington, DC, December 1983.
See, for instance, Schaffer, E. L., “Smoldering Initiation in Cellulosics under Prolonged Heating,”Fire Technology Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 22–28, February 1980.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Reference: Richard D. Peacock, “Chimney Fires: Intensity and Duration,”Fire Technology, Vol. 22, No. 3, August, 1986, p. 234.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Peacock, R.D. Chimney fires: Intensity and duration. Fire Technol 22, 234–252 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01043126
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01043126