Chimney sweeps are not just a symbol of good luck - they guarantee that your home will not only be warm, but also safe. Whether you heat with a fireplace, stove or wood boiler, you simply can't do it without a well-functioning chimney.

The first records of chimney sweeps in the present-day Czech territory date back to the end of the 14th century. The first chimney sweep guild was founded in the Czech lands at the beginning of the 17th century. The Association of Chimney Sweeps of the Czech Republic continues these traditions.
Hand in hand with the development of fuel appliances and building materials, the chimney trade has changed fundamentally. However, one thing has not changed - chimney sweeps work to protect the lives and homes of users of fuel appliances. They ensure the fire and operational safety of their customers in the operation of flues. In other words - chimney sweeps today, as in the past, simply wear good luck.

Expertise - quality - responsibility

The Association of Chimney Sweeps of the Czech Republic is an authorized professional association incorporated into the Chamber of Commerce of the Czech Republic, founded in 1990. It provides its members with lifelong professional education, cooperates with the state administration in the development of technical standards and legislation.
He has been an active member of the European Federation of Master Chimney Sweeps for many years and works closely with professional and volunteer firefighters. Members of the JCCR are bound by a code of ethics as set out in their statutes.

Combustion path: the basis for safe heating

A functional and safe flue gas duct is one of the basic prerequisites for the safe operation of fuel appliances.
Cleaning, inspection and revision of flue gas ducts are carried out in accordance with Act No. 133/1985 Coll., on fire protection, as amended, and Decree No. 34/2016 Coll., on cleaning, inspection and revision of flue gas ducts.

In addition to rights and obligations, the Act also contains definitions of terms. The Decree describes in detail the manner of performing individual acts and in the annexes lists specific cleaning and inspection times for different fuel types, including sample reports.

Important to know: ignorance of the law is no excuse

The Spalin route - a cavity designed to vent flue gases to the open air. For solid fuel appliances, this is usually the flue and chimney.

Cleaning and inspection of flue gas ducts

• Cleaning and inspection of the flue is carried out by a person who holds a trade licence in the field of chimney sweeping - "authorised person"
• Cleaning of the flue pipe used for exhausting flue gases from a solid fuel appliance with a nominal output of up to 50 kW can be carried out on your own.
• Cleaning of the flue is carried out by removing solids, deposits and impurities from the flue and its components and by removing solid parts of the flue gases accumulated in the chimney flue and condensates from the flue.
• The inspection of the flue gas duct is carried out after it has been cleaned by assessment:
  • whether the condition and design of the flue at the time of the inspection conforms to the technical requirements according to which the flue was designed, constructed and put into use,
  • whether the condition and design of the flue gas duct ensures that, under all operating conditions of the connected fuel appliances, the flue gas is safely discharged and dispersed into free air,
  • Ensuring free and safe access to the flue pipe and its discharge, sweep, inspection, measuring and cleaning openings,
  • the flue gas flue in terms of keeping safe distances from combustible objects and building materials of reaction to fire class B to F,              
  • ensuring the fire safety of visible and accessible areas of the flue, especially when the flue penetrates building structures, attic space or roof and flue outlets through the building envelope,
  • its structural and technical condition and
  • whether there have been any significant changes from the condition found in the previous inspection or review.

Revision of the flue pipe

• The flue inspection is carried out by an "authorised person" who is also the flue inspection technician
• The flue inspection is carried out
  • before commissioning a new flue or after any structural modification of the chimney,
  • when changing the fuel type of the connected fuel appliance,
  • before connecting a fuel appliance to an unused flue,
  • before replacing a fuel appliance, except for the replacement of an appliance of the same type, type, design and performance, provided that the suitability of the flue is confirmed by a report on the cleaning and inspection of the flue,
  • after a chimney fire, or
  • in the event of cracks in the flue pipe in use, as well as in the event of a reasonable suspicion of cracks in the flue pipe in use.

If you don't have a reliable chimney sweep yet, or if you need advice on the design or maintenance of your chimney, visit the SKČR website www.skcr.cz