Chimney Sweeping

Chimney sweeping is a craft trade covering inspection, cleaning, revisions and maintenance of flue ways, chimneys and flue pipes. Operating it requires meeting the general conditions under Sections 6 to 8 and a professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 of the Trade Licensing Act.

Examples of activities

• cleaning of chimneys and flue pipes
• inspection of flue ways
• revisions of flue ways
• lining and milling of chimneys
• measurement of flue gases and chimney draught
• construction and repair of chimneys
• design of a flue way
• issuing a report on the inspection of a flue way

What this trade is and what it is for

Chimney sweeping is a craft trade listed in Part B of Annex 1 to the Trade Licensing Act (Act No. 455/1991 Coll.). Its content is the professional care of flue ways, that is, chimneys, flue pipes and connected equipment through which the flue gases from boilers, stoves, fireplaces and other fuel-burning appliances are discharged. The chimney sweep ensures that these ways are clear, tight and operationally safe, thereby protecting building users from fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.

The chimney sweep's work is directly linked to fire protection and to the obligations of property owners under special regulations (in particular the decree on the cleaning, inspection and revision of flue ways). Inspections, cleaning and revisions carried out by an authorised person are often a condition of the validity of insurance and of the final building approval of heating equipment.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

The Chimney Sweeping trade covers in particular the following activities:

• cleaning and inspection of chimneys, flue pipes and flue ways;
• revisions of flue ways and issuing of the relevant reports;
• measurement of chimney draught and inspection of operability;
• lining, milling and structural modifications of chimney bodies;
• assessment and design of a flue way for the appliance to be connected.

Boundaries with neighbouring trades: The actual bricklaying construction of a chimney as a building structure may fall under the craft trade Bricklaying. The connection and installation of gas appliances belongs to the trade Installation, repairs, revisions and testing of gas equipment and filling of vessels with gases; plumbing work on pipework usually falls under Water Installation, Heating Engineering. The chimney-sweeping operations themselves (inspection, cleaning, revision of the flue way) are, however, reserved precisely for this craft trade. If the activity exceeds the scope of a single trade, several trades must be notified.

Conditions for obtaining the licence under the law

To obtain the trade licence you must meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record. A clean criminal record is proven by an extract from the Criminal Records Register, which the office obtains itself. The Act requires neither medical fitness nor liability insurance for this trade. At the same time, there must be no obstacle to operating a trade under Section 8 (in particular insolvency under the conditions laid down by law); the recognition of professional qualifications from abroad is then governed by Section 7.

As a craft trade, Chimney Sweeping requires a professional qualification. This can be proven by one of the routes under Section 21: an apprenticeship certificate, a school-leaving certificate, a diploma from a higher vocational school or university in the relevant field, recognition of professional qualification under Section 7(5), or verification of a full professional qualification under Act No. 179/2006 Coll.

If you do not have education directly in the field, you can use the alternative qualification under Section 22: education in a related field (apprenticeship certificate, school-leaving exam, higher vocational or university education) supplemented by 1 year of experience in the field, or completed retraining at an accredited institution plus 1 year of experience, or 6 years of experience in the field without a certificate of education.

If you do not meet the qualification personally, you can prove it through a responsible representative under Section 11 – a person who meets the conditions and is responsible for the proper operation of the trade. The same person may perform the role of responsible representative for no more than four entrepreneurs.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

1. Fill in the Unified Registration Form (URF). It also serves to register with the tax office, the social security administration and the health insurance company.
2. Submit the notification. You can do so at any Trade Licensing Office (municipal trade licensing office), electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or at a Czech POINT contact point.
3. Provide the documents: proof of professional qualification (Section 21 or Section 22), and where applicable documents on the responsible representative.
4. Pay the administrative fee of CZK 1,000 on notification, or CZK 800 for electronic submission.
5. Wait for the entry. The Trade Licensing Office will make the entry in the Trade Register within 5 working days of notification. The licence arises as early as the date of notification.

You will find the detailed procedure in the guide How to start a trade.

Documents and fees

• Proof of professional qualification under Section 21, or alternatively under Section 22 (education in a related field + experience, retraining + experience, or 6 years of experience).
• Completed URF (trade notification).
• Documents on the responsible representative, if you appoint one.
• A clean criminal record under Section 6 (the extract from the Criminal Records Register is obtained by the office).
• Administrative fee: CZK 1,000 (notification) / CZK 800 (electronically).
• Time limit for entry: within 5 working days of notification.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an apprenticeship certificate to do chimney sweeping?

You do not have to hold an apprenticeship certificate directly in the field. The qualification can also be proven by a school-leaving exam, higher vocational or university education in the field (Section 21), or alternatively under Section 22 – a related field with 1 year of experience, retraining with 1 year of experience, or 6 years of experience in the field.

What if I do not meet the professional qualification at all?

You can operate the trade through a responsible representative under Section 11, that is, a person who meets the qualification and is contractually responsible for the operation of the trade. One person may act as a responsible representative for no more than four entrepreneurs.

When can I start doing business?

The trade licence arises as early as the date of notification. The office will make the entry in the Trade Register within 5 working days.

Is medical fitness or insurance required?

No. For the Chimney Sweeping trade, the Act requires neither medical fitness nor liability insurance. You must meet the general conditions under Section 6 (legal capacity and a clean criminal record) and there must be no obstacle under Section 8.

How much does notification cost and where do I submit it?

The administrative fee is CZK 1,000, or CZK 800 for electronic submission. You submit the notification at any Trade Licensing Office, via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or at Czech POINT.

Sources

• Ministry of Education – database of regulated activities, detail of the Chimney Sweeping trade
• Act No. 455/1991 Coll., the Trade Licensing Act
• Ministry of Industry and Trade