Scottish Fire & Rescue Service: Chimneys

Your Safety

Chimney Fire Safety

Chimney fires in Scotland account for around 1,000 incidents every year

Chimney Fire Safety Week is part of the national fire safety campaign. It calls for homeowners to clean up their act and get their chimneys swept by an approved sweep. This helps to prevent chimney damage, and in worse cases, household fires.

Having a certified sweep clear the flue makes disaster much less likely to strike.

How often the chimney should be swept?

The type of fuel burned in a fire determines how often the chimney should be swept.

Where smokeless coals are burned, the chimney should be swept at least once each year.
Fires burning bituminous coal or peat need to have the chimney swept twice per year.
A chimney serving a fire where wood is burned should be swept quarterly when it is in use.

Chimney Defects

Defects in a chimney can also cause fires. People are encouraged to go into the loft or roof space occasionally to check the chimney while the fire is alight.

This will allow them to check for soot coming from cracks and defective brickwork or mortar joints.

Taking these steps prior to the winter months, when fires are likely to be in greater use, will help prevent emergencies from happening.

Fire and Smoke Alarms

If a fire does strike then early warning is crucial. Your home should have the following fire and smoke alarms to meet the standards:

One smoke alarm installed in the room most frequently used for general daytime living purposes.
One smoke alarm in every circulation space on each storey, such as hallways and landings.
One heat alarm installed in every kitchen.
You should have a carbon monoxide detector fitted in any room where there is a carbon-fuelled appliance. These include boilers, fires including open fires, heaters and stoves or a flue.

All alarms should be ceiling mounted and interlinked.

For more information on maintaining your chimney and how can help with fire prevention.

Firefighters are available to conduct FREE Home Fire Safety Visit (HFSV) to prevent accidental dwelling fires from occurring and to protect the public from being injured in such events.