Stainless steel chimney pipe collapse?

[Smokegetsinmyeyes]

A friend of mine recently had the upper section of his steel chimey pipe collapse while he had a fire burning. I think the pipe is made by a manufacturer named "Hart & Cooley".
The inside of the pipe just caved in from the inside. It wasn't a chimney fire, but the house filled up with smoke. These pipes are supposed to be able to handle about 2100 degrees, and since it was the top section of pipe, not close to the fire, it seems this should never have happened. He is looking into the warranty on the pipe, and said he heard that in one county of his state(Maine) they have outlawed that type of pipe for chimneys. Has anyone else heard of or had such problems with stainless steel chimney pipe?

 

[LLigetfa]

There may have been prior chimney fires that changed the anti-corrosion properties of the steel. A chimney that runs too cool will build up corrosive acid condensate that can eat through steel.

 

[Rich L]

I have 40ft of Hart & Cooley's insulated 8"pipe going on ten years.No problems yet.

 

[gpcollen1]

AS always, the question is how old was it and how was it maintained/run.

 

[LLigetfa]

Back in the old days we ran single wall black pipe up to the roof and transitioned to single wall galvanized for the outdoor section. That outdoor section would rust away to nothing real quick despite being galvanized.

 

[Steve Z]

AS always, the question is how old was it and how was it maintained/run.

Yep agree. Hard too say without knowing the situation a bit clearer. Was it double wall pipe? Without any ifo I'd agree with the corrosive theory due too one of two scenerios. Prior chim fire or cooling condensation of corrosive agents.

 

[LeonMSPT]

Haven't heard of it, or the problem. I especially have never heard of a county level Fire Code or standards for installing wood burning appliances... most towns haven't adopted a fire code, and the state "uses" NFPA, but has also quoted BOCA at times... If a town hasn't adopted a code, then by default it is NFPA 101. They are free to adopt a stricter code, but are preempted from adopting a less strict code.

Not sure of county "authority" to even pass such a standard under the constitution in Maine. Who would enforce it? The sheriff? Too busy trying to run jails and patrol divisions, and investigations, and the court system, on a shoestring budget.

A friend of mine recently had the upper section of his steel chimey pipe collapse while he had a fire burning. I think the pipe is made by a manufacturer named "Hart & Cooley".
The inside of the pipe just caved in from the inside. It wasn't a chimney fire, but the house filled up with smoke. These pipes are supposed to be able to handle about 2100 degrees, and since it was the top section of pipe, not close to the fire, it seems this should never have happened. He is looking into the warranty on the pipe, and said he heard that in one county of his state(Maine) they have outlawed that type of pipe for chimneys. Has anyone else heard of or had such problems with stainless steel chimney pipe?