Chimney felling

Chimney felling refers to the practice of demolishing or "felling" a chimney stack, considered by some to be a dying art. Modern health and safety rules have largely dispensed with the practice in industrialized areas, where its safety hazards have cause it to be replaced with the current use of packed explosive around the base.

Related Topics:
Chimney - Explosive

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The UK's Fred Dibnah became a celebrity for his sensationalized technique of chimney felling —lighting a large fire in the bottom of a stack and watching the chimney belching smoke as it's last act, was ideal pyrotechnics for television.

Related Topics:
Fred Dibnah - Pyrotechnics

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None of his technique of cutting away the stack, supporting it with pit props, and then burning the props with old tyres, was necessary for a safe felling.

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All that is necessary is for two men to carefully cut a hole in the stack and then expand that hole one way and then the other (in equal measures) until a certain point is reached (i do not want to give away too many of the tricks of the trade here!!!!!, and then walk away from the stack and wait for it to fall.

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There are 2 techniques that are used to indicate when the chimney is beginning to lean, and it is from these that the experienced chinmney feller knows when to remove himself and his tools from the fall path of the stack. I have been involved in the felling of many chimneys and i have never yet seen one fall outside the target, or been involved in any kind of a panic.

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If you watch a Fred Dibnah felling it is more like, "Run for your life". He knew better, we think, but it was for telly!!! -->

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