Chimney sweep

Chimney sweeps undertake cleaning activities of chimneys for all types of buildings. They remove ash and soot and perform maintenance on a regular basis, following health and safety regulations. Chimney sweeps may perform safety inspections and minor repairs.

Chimney sweeps typically do the following:

• inspect the chimney or flue before cleaning
• protect the surrounding area so that soot doesn’t fall into a room
• use brushes on extending rods to clean the chimney or flue
• remove soot and debris using an industrial vacuum cleaner
• use equipment such as smoke-generating machines and CCTV cameras to examine the chimney
• advise customers on the safety of chimneys, appliances and flues

The following job titles also refer to chimney sweep:

chimney-sweeping technician
sweeper
chimney sweeper
flue sweeper
chimney-sweeping engineer
funnel sweeper
smoke-stack sweeper
lump sweeper

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a chimney sweep.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Chimney sweep is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to chimney sweep.

chimney sweep supervisor
fishing net maker
pest management worker
tent installer
event electrician

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of chimney sweep. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of chimney sweep with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

energy conservation officer
energy assessor
energy analyst
followspot operator
life coach

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of chimney sweep.

• Ventilation systems: The types of mechanical ventilation systems that permits the exchange and circulation of air.
• Fire safety regulations: The legal rules to be applied for fire safety and fire prevention in a facility.
• Personal protective equipment: Types of protective materials and equipment foreseen for various types of tasks such as general or specialised cleaning activities.
• Pollution prevention: The processes used to prevent pollution: precautions to pollution of the environment, procedures to counter pollution and associated equipment, and possible measures to protect the environment.
• Domestic heating systems: The modern and traditional heating systems alimented by gas, wood, oil, biomass, solar power and other renewable energy sources and their energy saving principles.

These skills are necessary for the role of chimney sweep.

• Check chimney’s conditions: Monitor and check the faults and current conditions of chimneys and fire places by using specialised smoke-detecting machinery and video surveillance equipment.
• Use personal protection equipment: Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
• Measure pollution: Conduct pollution measurements to determine whether the prescribed pollutant limits are respected. Check firing systems and exhaust paths of gas water heaters, air heaters, and similar equipment.
• Dispose soot from the sweeping process: Dispose and transport soot from the sweeping process in an appropriate manner and according to local and national regulations.
• Advise on potential safety hazards concerning heating systems: Provide information and advice to clients on the type of potential dangers they face, such as suffocation, CO-poisoning or fire, in cases where the fireplaces or chimneys are not swept for a long period of time.
• Protect surrounding area during chimney sweeping process: Use protection methods and materials to keep the surrounding area of the fire place entrance and floor clean before and during the sweeping process.
• Maintain customer service: Keep the highest possible customer service and make sure that the customer service is at all times performed in a professional way. Help customers or participants feel at ease and support special requirements.
• Report chimney defects: Inform property owners and relevant authorities on any chimney malfunctions.
• Examine ventilation system: Check ventilation systems for operationality and fire safety.
• Clean ventilation system: Clean combustion and ventilation systems and related equipment. Eliminate combustion residues and deposits by knocking, scraping, and burning.
• Carry out chimney pressure testing: Perform tests to ensure there are no leaks allowing smoke to enter interior surfaces.
• Use chimney sweeping equipment: Operate tools and equipment meant to clean debris from chimneys such as dust sheets, torches, mirrors, floor sheets, bags for debris and various rods and brushes.
• Clean chimney: Use tools to extract debris from chimneys by using a vacuum cleaner or brush suitable to remove the products of combustion within the flue.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of chimney sweep. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Environmental policy: Local, national and international policies dealing with the promotion of environmental sustainability and the development of projects which reduce negative environmental impact and improve the state of the environment.
• Energy: Power capacity in the form of mechanical, electrical, heat, potential, or other energy from chemical or physical resources, which can be used to drive a physical system.
• Energy performance of buildings: Factors that contribute to lower energy consumption of buildings. Building and renovation techniques used to achieve this. Legislation and procedures regarding energy performance of buildings.
• Environmental engineering: The application of scientific and engineering theories and principles aimed at improving the environment and sustainability, such as the provision of clean habitation necessities (such as air, water, and land) for humans and other organisms, for environmental remediation in the event of pollution, sustainable energy development, and improved waste management and waste reduction methods.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of chimney sweep. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Work in outdoor conditions: Can cope with the different climate conditions such as heat, rain, cold or in strong wind.
• Work ergonomically: Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
• Create chimney inspection reports: Write the measurements, inspections and defects encountered after an intervention on chimney cleaning.
• Maintain relationship with customers: Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with customers in order to ensure satisfaction and fidelity by providing accurate and friendly advice and support, by delivering quality products and services and by supplying after-sales information and service.
• Analyse energy consumption: Evaluate and analyse the total amount of energy used by a company or an institution by assessing the needs linked to the operative processes and by identifying the causes of superfluous consumption.
• Drive vehicles: Be able to drive vehicles; have the approapriate type of driving license according to the type of motor vehicle used.
• Manage a small-to-medium business: Manage the organisational, financial and day-to-day operation of a small-to-medium enterprise.
• Advise on pollution prevention: Advise individuals and organisations on the development and implementation of actions which aid in the prevention of pollution and its related risks.
• Advise on heating systems energy efficiency: Provide information and advice to clients on how to preserve an energy efficient heating system in their home or office and possible alternatives.
• Keep personal administration: File and organise personal administration documents comprehensively.
• Provide customer follow-up services: Register, follow-up, solve and respond to customer requests, complaints and after-sales services.
• Inform customers on environmental protection: Provide customers with information on the impact their heating systems have on the environment and to what extent this impact can be reduced to a minimum by handling the systems in an environmentally friendly way or by using environmentally friendly systems.
• Follow safety procedures when working at heights: Take necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these structures and avoid falls from ladders, mobile scaffolding, fixed working bridges, single person lifts etc. since they may cause fatalities or major injuries.

7133 – Building structure cleaners

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References

1. Chimney sweep – ESCO
2. Chimney sweep | Explore careers – National Career Service
3. Featured image: Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash