Explore how we handle chimney flue replacements and crane operations using a manlift!

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When smoke billows from a chimney, it’s venting safely from a home or building through a flue encased inside the stone. Modern flue liners are generally made of stainless steel or aluminum and like everything else, must be replaced through the years. When a chimney flue deteriorates, it becomes a building fire hazard, which must be dealt with immediately.
Southern Air’s sheet metal mechanics recently found themselves replacing two 65-foot long flues at Virginia Tech. After weighing the safest and most cost-effective solutions, our team chose to utilize two cranes for the lift and installation; one to lower the flue pipe into the chimney, the other with Southern Air personnel in a personnel-basket. Safety attended the lift to provide guidance about the criteria which must be met before picking up a person with a crane. It’s a very dangerous operation if safety is not the first consideration.
The personnel basket itself must undergo on-site testing prior flying tradespeople into the air. Crane operators must hoist the basket with a 1,200-lb steel plate attached allowing it to suspend for 15 minutes. This test ensured the basket and cables could handle the winds and load rating of our team.