I-Home improvement

[Capt_Nemo]

Opp'ssss The facts about them there logs.......Chimney Sweeping Log Position Paper


CHIMNEY SAFETY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA:
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 [phone] or visit www.csia.org. CSIA is a non-profit, educational organization focused on the prevention of chimney and venting hazards.
http://www.csia.org/csl-position-paper.htm

Rick...
"The cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing."
-Oscar Wilde,

A place to report scum,,,errrrrrrr I mean scams......
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