CSIA Update

FEBRUARY 2015 REPORT

www.CSIA.org

CSIA certifications to improve

Committees to upgrade chimney sweeping and dryer exhaust manuals, add a liner credential
CSIAs update of our Successful Chimney
Sweep reference manual, an effort that will
make our credentialed chimney sweeps and
dryer exhaust technicians become better at
their job, is on to its next phase, says Chuck
Roydhouse, a 20-year CSIA Certified Chimney
Sweep who is leading the manual/review/exam
upgrade as part of his board of director duties.
The SCS manual, which debuted in the 1980s,
had its eighth edition in October 2011. The end
benefit is to help homeowners and businesses.
Were currently ready to start our next update,
which actually instead of an update is going
to be a rewrite. We are going to create a new
manual and the reason for that is because,
as with everything else like technology and
training, our certification process has moved to
a different level, Roydhouse said. We are no
longer just chimney sweeps; we are chimney
sweep technicians. Theres a lot going on with
indoor air quality, how chimneys perform, and
how chimneys are healthy, that a technician
needs to be aware of. Were going to add some
things dealing with that. Were going to update
the curriculum, update the testing, and make
it more in line with what youre going to find in
todays world working in the chimney industry.
Roydhouse has advice for the approximately
1,500 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps plus
300 CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians.
What you would want to do is continue your
certification, Roydhouse said. Just because
we are changing the manual would give you no
reason to stop using traditional methods that
were using now as far as certification. Keeping
the certification is key; as the certification
changes and evolves and other certifications
are added, youll be grandfathered in.
There will be a way to pass over to the new
certification. No one will be left behind; no
one will be left out if their certification lapses
because its the old one. We will have a way to

bring everybody into the fold.

Roydhouse, owner of Clean Sweep of Anne
Arundel County (Maryland) Chimney Service
Inc., is in charge of educational development
and was appointed by CSIA President Mark
A. Stoner to be chair of the committee that is
working with an outside contractor a test
specialist known as a psychometrician.
Following meetings with special task forces
that were asked to review current chimney
sweep practices from all over the U.S., the
psychometrician sent out surveys to thousands
of professionals asking them for their input,
with a deadline of Jan. 26. CSIAs goal is
comprehensive textbooks that will be even
more relevant, Roydhouse said. The surveys
will help the oversight committees looking at
each certification to get an understanding of
what test-takers are interested in.
Students seeking certification will continue
to use the current edition of the manual,
along with the NFPA 211 (Inspection) and the
International Residential Code, according to

We are no longer just chimney

sweeps; we are chimney sweep
technicians. Were going to
update the curriculum, update
the testing, and make it more in
line with what youre going to
find in todays world, working in
the chimney
industry.
-- Chuck
Roydhouse,
CSIA Board of
Directors

CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge.

We are committed to ensuring that all of our
publications, including Successful Chimney
Sweeping manual, reflect the most up-to-date
content that is beneficial to professionals on
the job. Those in the chimney industry that
are certified through CSIA can be confident of
that, Eldridge said.
The SCS will get revamped by spring 2016,
with the C-DET process to follow.
We also have additional exciting news to
announce as part of this dual CCS/C-DET
exam and manual upgrade.
Due to popular demand, the Chimney Safety
Institute of America is likely to expand our
educational lineup to include a new credential
regarding the installation of stainless steel
liners. The Stainless Steel Technician
credential will give chimney professionals
the experience and expertise to handle this
popular service to homeowners.
CSIA, of course, will help market this new
credential as we do with the CCS and C-DET
certifications.
Several CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps have
told staff that they appreciate the boards
decision to always keep our education/
training current.

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FEBRUARY 2015 REPORT

www.CSIA.org

New CSIA
Certified
Chimney
Sweeps

mation, including showcasing dryer

CSIA Certified Chimney
vent nightmares, giving consumers
Sweeps, Renewed With CEUs a risk calculator, showcasing dry-

California

New Jersey

Joe Allen|White Glove Chimney and

Duct|Redding

Jeff Leonard|Leonards Chimney

Sweep|Southampton

Florida
Tammara
Quintard|Doodlebuggers|Pensacola

California

Randy Brooks|Brooks Chimney

Sweeping|Ojai

Pennsylvania
Richard Anderson|Andersons Chimney
Sweeps, Inc.|New Cumberland

Georgia

Tennessee

Levi Romans|Original Chimney

Sweep|Watkinsville

Josh Lee | Ashbusters Chimney Service

Inc.|Smyrna

Indiana
Kenny Bunch | Chimney & Masonry
Outfitters|Indianapolis

Wisconsin
Howard Rowell|Royal Chimney
Service|Milwaukee

PRESIDENTS NOTE

er vent-related fires that have been

reported in the media, and having a
blog, videos, and other social media
elements. We aim to make this the
most useful website for this topic in
the industry. This website will include
a free zip-code locator search engine,
similar to what our techs enjoy on csia.
org. Well also keep our C-DET pros
visible on csia.org. Simply put, when
they find us, they find YOU. Because
just a few referrals pays the cost of
your three-year certification, its the
best form of advertisement. It can work
for you, too.
Sweeps Week 2015 - Ill be
there, will you? Fellow sweeps,

make sure and join us for a fun time

June 8-12 at the CSIA Technology
Rocco P. Bersane, Jr.|Magic Broom
Website for C-DET techs
Center in Plainfield, Indiana. Well
Chimney Sweeps |Waldorf
The chimney and venting indusbe tackling construction projects at
North Carolina
trys No. 1 websitecsia.org
our 10,000-square-foot facility. This
is also going
Michael Quigley | Smoke Alert | Garner had over
961,000
page
to be Year 4
Tennessee
views and
of assembly
Robert (Bobby) Keeley | Patriot Chimney
430,000 unique
of our beau| Collierville
visitors in
tifully-built
Timothy Simpson | Ashbusters Chimney 2014. We have
fireplace/pizza
Service Inc. | Smyrna
positioned
bake oven
ourselves as a
(shown in the
Thomas P. Manus, II | Ashbusters
go-to
resource
picture). Ron
Chimney Service Inc. | Smyrna
for the conand Renee
Mark A. Stoner,
sumer. Now CSIA President
Brigman are Ron and Renee Brigman pose next
to our fireplace/pizza bake oven.
were excited
leading this
to announce a consumer-oriented event, which features food and
website that will provide value
multiple days worth of CEUs.
to those who hold the C-DET, or
CSIAccess - do you get it? We
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technidistribute a newsletter by e-mail once
New CSIA Certified Dryer
cian, credential. Our new website per month that is designed to go to
Exhaust Technicians
is dryersafety.org. We already
CSIA certified personnel, as well as
have
used
that
URL
so
it
has
a
high
pros no longer credentialed. CSIAcOhio
search ranking from Google and
cess is short but news-packed. If you
Thomas Lewis|Mr Sweep of Cincinnati
other websites. We are packing
arent getting it, but want to, e-mail
|Liberty Township
this site with a lot of helpful infor- tspalding@csia.org. We can help anytime at office@csia.org.
Maryland

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FEBRUARY 2015 REPORT

www.CSIA.org

Affiliated & informed

From Philly ...
EDUCATION THERE & HERE

... to Plainfield

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John Pilger (top photos), CSIA Past

President, spoke to more than 50 home
inspectors January 8 in Philadelphia,
PA on Chimney Darwins then gave a
talk onChimney Inspections to over
100 inspectors on January 9. It was part
of ASHI InspectionWorld 2015, where
CSIA exhibited over the course of four
days. CSIA Board Members Chuck
Roydhouse and Michael Segerstrom
(left and right center) helmed the booth
along with Pilger and Tom Spalding,
who showed scores of inspectors the
csia.org finder on our tablet. We also
had a caricature artist in our booth. On
Jan. 22 in Plainfield, Indiana, CSIA Education Director Ashley Eldridge gave a
two-hour presentation to 20 firefighters
from our town, teaching them about
chimney issues and venting techniques.

CSIA 2015
Education Calendar
As of 1/22/15 - Schedule subject to change. Please contact the
Chimney Safety Institute of America prior to making travel arrangements.

CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review & Exam

February 17 | Lancaster, PA [part of NCSG 2015 Convention]
March 13 | CSIA Technology Center, Plainfield, IN
May 15 | Scranton, PA [sponsored by Olympia Chimney Supply]
June 5 | CSIA Technology Center, Plainfield, IN
July 31 | CSIA Technology Center, Plainfield, IN

Chimney Physics
April 1617 | CSIA Technology Center
August 1011 | CSIA Technology Center
Diagnosis and resolution of chimney performance issues, solving air
pressure problems, identifying the symptoms of indoor air pollutants,
determining combustion air requirements for vented appliances. CSIA
CEUs: 3-T, 3-CS, 3-HS, 3-CL NFI CEUs: 4-E

August 7 | Richmond, VA
October 16 | Albany, NY

Installing and Troubleshooting

Gas Hearth Appliances

November 13 | CSIA Technology Center

July 2024 | CSIA Technology Center

In-person intensive review sessions help candidates prepare for the exams.
The review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study. CSIA CEUs:
1.50-T, 1.50-CS, 1.50-HS, 1.50-CL NFI CEUS: 6-T

Service and installation, including appliance standards, combustion

requirements, pipe sizing and installation, troubleshooting, carbon
monoxide testing and fuel conversion.

September 18 | Atlantic City, NJ

CSIA CEUs: 4-T, 4-CS, 4-HS, 4-CL NFI CEUs: 16-T

Inspection and Report Writing

May 1112 | CSIA Technology Center
Oct. 1516 | CSIA Technology Center
Chimney inspections and evaluations, report writing including regional
and environmental influences, effective photo documentation, digital
organization and administrative procedures. CSIA CEUs: 4-T, 4-CS, 4-CL
NFI CEUs: 12-T

Masonry Repair for Chimney Professionals [2-Day]

August 1314 | CSIA Technology Center
An intensive class combining a short period of classroom theory followed
by hands-on projects. Students will learn how to mix mortar and how to lay
brick as well as learning joint finishing, tools of the trade, and all aspects
of chimney repair. CSIA CEUs: 12-T

National Chimney Sweep Training School

March 2328 | CSIA Technology Center

CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician

1-Day Review / Exam
February 17 | Lancaster, PA [part of NCSG 2015 Convention]
March 20 | Independence, MO [hosted by Midwest Chimney Safety
Council]
In-person intensive review sessions help candidates prepare for the
exam. CSIA CEUs: 1.25-T, 1.25-CS, 1-HS, 1-CL

CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust

Technician 2-Day Workshop/
Exam
July 2930 | CSIA Technology Center
November 56 | CSIA Technology Center
In-person intensive review sessions, along with hands-on instruction,
help candidates prepare for the exam. CSIA CEUs: 9-T, .5-CS, .5-HS, 1-CL

June 2227 | CSIA Technology Center

August 2429 | CSIA Technology Center
Sept. 28Oct. 3 | CSIA Technology Center
Fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems, equipment
operation, health and safety considerations and step-by-step instruction in
codes, clearances, standards and practices. CCS CEUs: 4-T, 4-CS, 4-CL, 4-HS
NFI CEUs: 16-T

Online classes
anytime access | csia.org
Over 70 courses to choose from, with a bevy of CEUs. Curriculum is
online, so you can sign up and start learning at the convenience of
home or work!

Register today at www.CSIA.org or call us at (317) 837-5362.