CCS Chimney Repair & Installation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct procedure when relining a chimney with a flexible stainless steel liner that serves a gas appliance?
- Use Type 304 stainless steel liner
- Use Type 316 or AL29-4C stainless steel liner (Correct answer)
- Use an aluminum liner for gas appliances only
- Use a clay tile liner inside the existing clay tile
Correct answer: Use Type 316 or AL29-4C stainless steel liner
Type 316 or AL29-4C stainless steel is required for gas appliance liners because they resist the acidic condensate produced by gas combustion.
Question 2: When installing a wood stove insert into an existing masonry fireplace, what is required by code?
- A stainless steel liner running from the insert collar to the top of the chimney (Correct answer)
- Only a damper clamp to secure the insert
- A fiberglass insulation wrap around the existing liner
- A new exterior chimney structure
Correct answer: A stainless steel liner running from the insert collar to the top of the chimney
A continuous stainless steel liner from the insert collar to the chimney top is required to safely vent combustion gases and prevent leakage.
Question 3: What does 'spalling' refer to in chimney masonry?
- The buildup of creosote on interior surfaces
- Flaking or breaking of brick or stone faces due to moisture and freeze-thaw cycles (Correct answer)
- Settlement cracks in the chimney foundation
- Deterioration of the mortar crown
Correct answer: Flaking or breaking of brick or stone faces due to moisture and freeze-thaw cycles
Spalling is the flaking or chipping of the face of bricks or stones caused by water penetrating the masonry and expanding during freeze-thaw cycles.
Question 4: What is the minimum height a chimney must extend above the roof peak according to the '10-2 rule'?
- 2 feet above the roof peak if within 10 feet horizontally
- 10 feet above any roof surface within 2 feet
- 2 feet above any part of the roof within 10 feet horizontally (Correct answer)
- 10 inches above the roof within 2 feet
Correct answer: 2 feet above any part of the roof within 10 feet horizontally
The 10-2 rule requires the chimney to extend at least 2 feet above any part of the roof within 10 feet measured horizontally.
Question 5: What is the recommended approach for repairing a severely deteriorated smoke chamber?
- Apply standard drywall compound to smooth the surface
- Parge coat with a heat-resistant refractory mortar or insulating smoke chamber coat (Correct answer)
- Replace with a prefabricated metal smoke chamber
- Line with standard ceramic tile
Correct answer: Parge coat with a heat-resistant refractory mortar or insulating smoke chamber coat
A parge coat of refractory mortar or specialized insulating smoke chamber coating restores the integrity and efficiency of a deteriorated smoke chamber.
Question 6: When inspecting a chimney after an earthquake, which area should be examined with the highest priority?
- The chimney cap for cracks
- The cleanout door for alignment
- The interior and exterior masonry for structural cracks and displacement (Correct answer)
- The damper for proper operation
Correct answer: The interior and exterior masonry for structural cracks and displacement
Seismic events can cause structural displacement and hidden cracks in chimney masonry that create immediate fire and collapse hazards.
Question 7: What is the purpose of an expanding chimney liner installation system (EX liner)?
- To create a new liner by inflating a bladder coated with castable refractory material (Correct answer)
- To mechanically expand clay tile sections
- To insert multiple smaller liners side by side
- To widen the existing flue using a grinding tool
Correct answer: To create a new liner by inflating a bladder coated with castable refractory material
An EX system uses an inflatable bladder coated with castable refractory that is cured in place to form a seamless liner conforming to the flue shape.
CCS Chimney Repair & Installation 3
What is the correct procedure when relining a chimney with a flexible stainless steel liner that serves a gas appliance?