Industrial Chimney Smokestack Drone Inspections

360° Views of Past, Present, and Future:

Our industrial smokestack drone inspections will be able to provide an overview of your smokestack's current condition and will provide a detailed analysis of any potential maintenance issue. These high resolution photos and our expert advice will provide for you a detailed analysis of your chimney - inside and out. Our drone inspections are quick, efficient, and safe.

Benefits of a Drone Inspection:

Our Drone Inspections are classified as a Class I Smokestack Inspection, which should be done at least once a year. However, they can never substitute a Class II Chimney Smokestack Inspection , which should be made at least every five years.

Drone Inpections are Efficient – Drone inspections of smokestacks save time by getting our team right to the issues at hand when the job begins. Also, our Drone Inspections may take place while the chimney is still in operation, saving you time as well. Combined with our rope access, should a Class II inspection be needed after the Drone Inspection, our inspections are both accurate and efficient. Our drone will take clear photographs and the data we need to provide a Class I inspection within minutes, giving us a clear indication of areas of your chimney that need inspection. We are then able to seamlessly hone in on the issues at hand.

Drone Inspections are Safe - Many times, drone inspections eliminate the need for our workers to enter hazardous situations. Our drone is sensitive and responsive and with our pilot is experienced. Navigation of smokestacks is therefore easy and safe.

Drone Inspections Save Money - Technology has reduced the need for traditional techniques like scaffolding and ladders for a Class I inspection, leading to lower costs for you.

Schedule your Drone Inspection Today

Like any exposed structure, chimneys deteriorate over time. This is especially true in the colder climates with greater fluctuations in temperatures. But on industrial chimneys, water can get past the façade mortar joints, and then get into the bricks of the chimney column. The bricks then also become soaked, and the three to nine core holes in the bricks fill with water. Freezing weather can cause sections of brick faces to break away from the chimney. If there is enough water, it will flow down inside the column and accumulate in lower sections of the chimney. This can cause cracking or turn the bricks to powder. In concrete chimneys damage from water softens the concrete considerably and has the same effect. Porous concrete and unrepaired cracks allow water to settle around the rebar, this results in rust and cracks.

Continental Chimney Company, LLC offers inspection services.

We are associated with contributing members to the ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers), the engineers we use, regularly work on Chimney and Stack Assessment. We have created Chimney and Stack Inspection Programs for chimney owners throughout the United States.
We can provide your company with a detailed and comprehensive inspection that will assist you in developing planned maintenance based on a Class II inspection. Planned maintenance is considerably more cost-effective than unscheduled maintenance. Planned maintenance is considerably more cost-effective than unscheduled maintenance.
Our efforts and commitment to provide professional inspection services for chimneys and stacks begins with experience and knowledge obtained through repairs. Combining experience with an up to date understanding of industrial practices and material enables us to offer very effective inspections and recommendations for repairs.

Access:

Our industrial chimney inspections are sometimes done using special access ladders with a safety rope around the chimney column. We can access other parts of the chimney with rope access techniques incorporating SPRAT and current OSHA standards. Our technicians are also trained in high angle rescue techniques.
Smokestack inspection should be a routine practice done every few years. Regular inspections mean catching repair problems early which in turn will save a plant money and greatly prolong the life of their chimneys.

Procedures given to detail with documentation:

Our inspections contain inspection photographs every 5 feet or more, along with recommendations for any repairs that may be required. Where the chimney can be proven to be in satisfactory condition, a determination is made on where the condition of the chimney is in relation to its original construction, or how long it may be until future repairs are required.

Internal Inspection Procedures include:

In accordance with OSHA “Confined Space Regulations”, an evaluation of the chimney column or duct interiors will be performed prior to entry for the internal inspection. Before and during our inspection we analyze the interior for confined space hazards, testing the atmosphere for safe levels of oxygen, combustibles and carbon monoxide. If the interior is found to be safe to enter, the interior work will continue.
If the interior is found to be hazardous, the hazardous condition(s) must be removed, and reevaluated for safe conditions prior to entry. All work is performed in accordance with OSHA and standard industry practices.

The purpose of our inspection is to identify and document existing conditions of the entire structure. Included are the following items as a part of our inspections:

Non-destructive visual inspection: Hand tools are used such as a rebound hammer on concrete and steel in order to determine spalling or scale, separation and deterioration.
Photographs or video: Photographic documentation for the present condition every few feet, and comprehensive photos where there has been notable changes or cracks in the structure. A drone is used to get an understanding of the extent of the kind of deterioration we find in our hands-on inspection and to get an overall picture of the structure.
Concrete and steel thickness and density: In this part of our inspection a rebound hammer, ultrasonic thickness gauge, and other tools are used to measure the internal condition of the chimney. This inspection will determine if there is significant deterioration that warrants a more extensive inspection in specific areas, such as the taking of core samples or prism block tests.
Repair materials and procedures: The owner will be informed as to what are the best recommended repairs or suggested maintenance coatings based on our visual inspection.

Contact us today, we would be glad to talk to you:

We contract inspections in NYC and offer nationwide service. Continental Chimney specializes in industrial chimney inspections, factory chimney inspections, refinery chimney inspections, and commercial chimney inspections. We can travel anywhere in the USA and abroad to provide industrial smokestack inspections or commercial smokestack inspections. Locations we have worked recently are in Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, as well as New York State. Additionally, we continually work performing industrial and commercial chimney piecemeal dismantlement and repairs.
If your operation has not had a chimney smokestack inspection in the last 10 years this year would be the best time to contract an inspection. We have the expertise to manage your commercial chimney repair and industrial chimney repair to ensure your workplace remains safe.

Based on our smokestack inspection findings, recommendations for industrial chimney repair will be made and the various items assigned to a category based on the severity of damage. Categories are as follows:

Category I Damage which is not threatening to the structural integrity, nor would we anticipate deterioration to rapidly accelerate, thus affect the structural integrity or substantially increase repair costs. (Long-term repairs – scheduled within 3 – 5 years) Category II Damage which requires attention; repairs should be made in a timely fashion (Short-term repairs – scheduled during the first available opportunity or within 2 years) Category III Damage which presently compromises the structural integrity or creates a safety hazard and therefore warrants immediate action on an emergency basis.