The
purpose of a chimney pipe is to take the combustion products, i.e, smoke
and gases from the appliance to the atmosphere outside the home, and at
the same time, to draw air for combustion into the appliance. Steel
chimney pipes have become a popular, low-cost alternative to
conventional brick chimney. Steel chimney pipes are made by different
manufacturers, but all meet the same basic design standards. They begin
with two steel cylinders, one inside the other. Then they pack the gap
with insulation. In almost every case, the insulation is made of
ground-up fiberglass plus silica.
Rigid or flexible, steel chimney pipe always come in some type of
insulation around it. The steel provides a continuous, even lining, and
the insulation forms an additional layer of protection. Steel is
preferred over other material because of its acid and heat resistant
qualities. Steel also has uniform material strength throughout the
entire structure providing more consistent and predictable results than
wood. Steel chimney pipes are constructed properly, structurally sound
and can be properly installed.
