The Three Classes of Inspection

for Industrial Chimneys and Smokestacks

Time for an Industrial Smoketack Chimney Inspection?


Aghios Dimitrios Power Plant

Aghios Dimitrios Power Plant

The EPA

Did you know that according to recent studies performed by the EPA and the Government Accountability Office, there has been an increase of smokestacks in the United States that are taller than 500 feet in the last four years. That is some huge smokestacks and all of those have to have industrial stack inspections performed to ensure they are up to federal standards.

The last thing you want is your business to be shut down or delayed because of a smoke stack inspection that you didn’t pass. That is why it’s super important to not only know the classes of industrial stack inspections but to also hire a reputable industrial chimney company to handle the inspection for you. With that in mind, read on below for an explanation of the three classes of industrial inspection your company should know about ahead of time, so that you can be prepared.

Class One Smoke Stack Inspections

A class one inspection is one of the industrial chimney smokestack inspections that can be done while your chimney is still operating. It’s a visual inspection that is done first with a pair of binoculars from the ground. Any industrial chimney maintenance that is needed will be conducted after the inspection. Once the inspector looks at the chimney from the ground, a closer inspection will be done via ladder, other access points, or platforms. These inspections need to be done once a year to minimize problems and to avoid industrial chimney repair if possible.

Critical Structural Damage

Ignoring regular chimney maintenance, in a worst case scenario, can lead to catastrophic results. Without regular industrial chimney inspections as part of your maintenance routine, you may entirely neglect significant structural issues that arise over time with large constructions like chimneys and smokestacks. If unaddressed, these could ultimately require industrial chimney demolition to resolve, and at worst, it could lead to a catastrophic failure that puts people in serious danger.

Class Two Inspections

Class two inspections are performed with industrial chimneys and stacks offline. Rope techniques are used in order to inspect the outside and the inside of the chimney. The condition of the structure is noted by the inspector so that they can tell the business owner when the inspection is complete. There are a few other things that may be inspected once the inspection starts, according to the original shape the structure is in.

Regular industrial chimney maintenance and inspection is crucial to keeping up a safe and healthy work environment for both you and your employees. For more information on chimney inspection or to schedule maintenance with an industrial chimney contractor today, contact Continental Chimney.

Class Three Inspections

Class two inspections are performed with chimneys and stacks offline. Rope techniques are used in order to inspect the outside and the inside of the chimney. The condition of the structure is noted by the inspector so that they can tell the business owner when the inspection is complete. There are a few other things that may be inspected once the inspection starts, according to the original shape the structure is in.

Class three inspections are much rarer than class one and class two and are usually reserved for a unique situation, such as the safety and stability of the smokestack being called into question. This type of inspection will include an in-depth and very expansive inspection of the smokestack, chimney, and everything around it. A class three inspection should be conducted if your business or structure has been damaged by a natural disaster, such as an earthquake, hurricane, tornado, or anything that could cause a safety hazard to occur. It is extremely important to have these inspections done on a regular basis, sooner if it is to be a class three inspection. You also want to have this done regularly so that your industrial stacks stay within EPA and federal guidelines.

This is just a brief explanation of each of the three inspections performed during industrial smoke stack inspections. Remember, the safety of your workers and civilians should always come first. So, have your smoke stack inspection the way you should, and everything will be fine.

You Can Contact Us

Is your industrial chimney smokestack in need of maintenance? For more information on chimney inspections or to schedule maintenance with an expert industrial chimney contractor today, contact us, Continental Chimney, for all your industrial smokestack needs. Safe, efficient, and OSHA approved, we work worldwide. Call us today for a free quote or binocular inspection.

Donald Perry 07/31/2019 Latest Technology



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