How to Inspect Fireplaces, Stoves, and Chimneys Course

Welcome to InterNACHI's free, online "How to Inspect Fireplaces, Stoves, and Chimneys Course." This course is provided by our tuition-free college, InterNACHI® School

Goal:

The goal of this course is to teach inspectors how to inspect fireplaces, stoves, and chimneys.

Objective:  

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  • follow the Standards of Practice for performing an inspection of fireplaces, stoves, and chimneys;
  • understand how each system and component functions; and
  • inspect for and report upon defects observed. 

Course includes:

  • 22,576 words;
  • 12 minutes of video;
  • inspection and writing assignment;
  • research and writing assignment; 
  • 95 quiz questions in 12 quizzes; 
  • 60-question final exam (drawn from a larger pool);
  • instant grading; 
  • a downloadable, printable Certificate of Completion.

You will learn the following: 

  • Chimney
  • Chimney Connection
  • Inlet
  • 3-2-10 Rule for Chimneys
  • Clearance
  • Masonry Chimney Footing
  • Chimney Lining
  • Clay Lining
  • Metal Flue Lining
  • Cast-In-Place Lining
  • Fuel-Gas Termination
  • Type B Vents
  • Type L Vents
  • 2-2-10 vs. 3-2-10
  • Corbeling
  • Chimney Flashing
  • Chimney Cricket
  • Chimney Crown
  • Fireplace Hearth
  • Fireplace Lintel
  • Fireplace Size
  • Firebox Side and Rear Walls
  • Fireplace Throat
  • Fireplace Damper
  • Fireplace Smoke Shelf
  • Fireplace Smoke Chamber
  • Fireplace Ash Dump
  • Ash Dump Cleanout
  • Exterior Air
  • Chimney Flue Size
  • Glass Doors
  • Factory-Built Fireplaces
  • Panel Walls
  • Wood-Burning Stoves
  • Efficiency and Air Pollutants
  • Initial Inspection
  • Fireplaces
  • Hearths, Hearth Extensions and Fire Chambers
  • Initial Single-Wall Metal Chimney Inspection
  • Interior Single-Wall Metal Chimneys
  • Exterior Single-Wall Metal Chimneys
  • Chimney Outlets
  • Flues and Liners
  • Flue Size
  • Connectors
  • Cleanouts
  • Sample Reporting Language
  • Water Damage
  • Water-Damaged Mortar Joints
  • Install a Cricket
  • Efflorescence
  • Indications of Moisture
  • Porous Building Materials
  • Capillary Action
  • Destructive Pressures
  • Spalling
  • Identifying Efflorescence
  • Prevention and Removal of Efflorescence
  • Preventing Collapse
  • Safe Practices for Fireplaces
  • Fireplace Safety for Homeowners
  • Keep Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Clean
  • Safely Burn Fuels
  • Protect the Outside and Inside of Your Home
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • Fire Type
  • Extinguisher Types
  • Inspection of Extinguishers
  • Extinguisher Testing and Replacement
  • Fireplace Fuel
  • Ventless Fireplace Inspection
  • Chimney Kickout Flashing
 

How to Inspect Fireplaces, Stoves, and Chimneys Course

Course # 3900

nachi.org/inspect-fireplace-stove-chimney-course

Activity

Assignments

Estimated hours for the average student

Academic Engagement

Reading online course instructional material at 140 words per minute

2.7

Watching and listening to instructional video

0.2

Taking quizzes

2.9

Taking the exam

1.0

Conducting a directed and independent inspection study performed according to the Standards of Practice, including the development of an inspection report 

4.0

Submitting an inspection and writing assignment

0.5

Submitting a research and writing assignment0.5

Total

11.8

Preparation

Studying & reviewing instructional material in preparation for taking quizzes and exam

10.0

Reading the downloaded student course book including taking the quizzes with the book

2.0

Reading, research, and studying related to completing the research and writing assignment

4.0
Studying and preparing for inspection processes according to a Standards of Practice, including capturing and storing digital images with a camera or device, making observations, evaluating conditions, deducing, formulating opinions, communicating observations in written form, attaining competency in performing inspections and using an inspection checklist or software and other inspection tools in producing a report.
10.0

Total

26.0

Sub Total

37.8

Overall Total

  • 38.0 clock hours
  • 38.0 InterNACHI CE credit hours
  • 3.8 CEU
 
 
In keeping with InterNACHI's commitment to Continuing Education, this course is open and free to all members, and can be taken again and again, without limit.
Reminder to members:  InterNACHI's Code of Ethics 1.10 requires that you comply with all government rules and licensing requirements of the jurisdiction where you conduct business.  InterNACHI's courses and Standards generally exceed the Standards of Practice that you are required to abide by locally.   
This course has been approved by:
Upon completion of this course and passing of the 60-question final exam (drawn from a larger pool), the student can download and print their own Certificate of Completion, which is auto-generated in their own name.
The student's (InterNACHI member's) information is recorded on InterNACHI's servers for membership compliance verification, and automatically logs completion into InterNACHI's online Continuing Education log.
Non-members may view only the first page of the course. 
Members will need their username and password.  If you have forgotten your password, CLICK HERE (instant response) or email fastreply@internachi.org and request it (don't forget your name). 
InterNACHI... #1 in inspection education.
Some features that make InterNACHI's courses superior to existing continuing education options:
  • The course is free for all InterNACHI members.
  • The course is written in pure XHTML code for quick loading.  The course loads fine on old computers and loads fast, even with dial-up.
  • The course is designed using a hierarchal menu coupled with a sequential page navigation.  This provides the student with the option to easily repeat areas of weakness.
  • The course permits the student to start, stop and restart any part of the course as often as desired.
  • There are a variety of images within the course, including diagrams, illustrations and photos. 
  • The illustrations can be enlarged for clearer viewing by clicking on them.
  • The text is integrated into InterNACHI's Inspector Glossary.  Rolling over blue-colored terms provides their definition.
  • The final exam uses multiple-choice questions that reference the images. 
  • The course's quizzes and final exam have numerous advantages over traditional exam systems:
    1. The course, quizzes and final exam incorporate built-in intelligence which identifies and strengthens each student's unique subject weaknesses.
    2. Not only is each question weighted with regard to score, but each answer is weighted, as well as the correctness of each answer being weighted.
      1. Answers to easy questions are weighted such that the student is penalized, in terms of score, for answering incorrectly, but rewarded modestly for answering correctly.
      2. Answers to difficult questions are weighted such that the student is rewarded, in terms of score, for answering correctly, but not penalized for answering incorrectly.
      3. Answers to questions regarding basic safety, or questions every inspector should know the answer to, are weighted such that the student is severely penalized, in terms of score, for answering incorrectly.
  • Upon passing the final exam, the student can print out a Certificate of Completion which is auto-generated in their own name.
The student's (InterNACHI member's) information is recorded on InterNACHI's servers for membership compliance verification, and automatically logs completion into InterNACHI's online Continuing Education log. 

Why online inspector education is better than classroom inspector education.