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Besides
masonry
chimneys and prefab
systems, there is another type of chimney system that can be found in
many parts of San Diego referred to as a Rampart General Pre-Cast
Concrete Chimney system. Ramparts are also known as "tilt-up" chimneys
since this is how they are generally installed at the jobsite. There is
an "Achilles heal" to this system that homeowners need to be aware of.
These chimneys were
constructed in Santa Ana, California in a form or cast using a material
consisting of calcium aluminate cement and lightweight aggregate. After
curing for about a month, these units were put on trucks and transported
to the home site and "tilted up" into place on a concrete pad by a large
crane. During the process of putting the Rampart into place, some of
these chimneys twisted, which resulted in cracking the ‘breast plate’ or
‘insulation plate,’ which is located inside the firebox directly above
the fireplace opening.
Other possible causes
for cracks in the insulation plate is seismic activity or extreme wind
load which has been documented. In addition, we have also seen several
cases here in San Diego where we believe extreme usage (heavy burning)
may have created the cracks.
Even hairline cracks
are dangerous because they will widen with heat, and then allow this
heat to transfer through the cracks to combustible materials used in
construction around the chimney. This is an extremely dangerous
situation and a major potential fire hazard! In the decade following our
training in Ramparts, we found that about 60%-70% of the Ramparts that
we have inspected had a cracked insulation plate.
The sad news is that
if your Rampart chimney has a cracked insulation plate, there is no
approved repair and the system SHOULD NOT be used due to the high chance
of a major fire incident. Stove inserts (gas, wood, or pellet) or gas
logs should not be installed, and patching cannot cover the cracks for
long. No repairs have been approved by the manufacturer or by the
Superior and Municipal Courts of California who have made rulings in
cases involving cracked Ramparts.
Unfortunately, the
company that constructed these chimney systems is now out of business so
there is no recourse against the manufacturer.
These systems can be
found throughout California. In San Diego, we have found them in
Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, Paradise Hills, Spring Valley, Lemon Grove,
El Cajon, Tierrasanta, Scripps Ranch, Mira Mesa, San Marcos, and
Escondido but they may be in more areas of San Diego County that we
haven't been to. If your home was built during the mid-1970's to
mid-1980's and you live in one of these areas, you may have a Rampart
system. |
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