“A Chimney Is the Backbone of Building Services”

WHY A QUALITY CHIMNEY IN NEW CONSTRUCTION IS MORE THAN JUST A BACKUP OPTION

Jürgen Böhm in an EFA interview

Leipzig. The debate on resilience, power shortages, and supply security is usually framed in terms of energy – rarely in terms of construction. Yet a building’s long-term operational capability is often determined at the planning stage. Should a new building be designed purely electrically, or should it deliberately remain technologically open? A conversation with Jürgen Böhm, board member of the European Fireplace Association (EFA), responsible for flue gas systems.

Mr. Böhm, Norway requires chimneys in certain new buildings to ensure an electricity-independent heat source. From your perspective, is this a meaningful tool for strengthening resilience in the building sector?

Jürgen Böhm:First, we need to clarify what Norway actually regulates. In new buildings, there is an obligation to provide an alternative, non-electric heat source alongside purely electric heating systems. Due to climatic conditions, there is a greater awareness of heating security there than in Germany. The underlying idea is certainly worth discussing here as well. If I design a building for fifty or sixty years, I should consider whether I want to make it entirely dependent on a single energy source. This is where the chimney comes into play. It is not a nostalgic relic but a planning option that ensures long-term flexibility.

In Germany, we are increasingly discussing supply security and resilience in the face of electricity or gas shortages. What role can flue systems and pre-installed chimney systems realistically play in such an overall concept?

Jürgen Böhm: We must distinguish between the resilience of an individual building and the stability of the overall energy system. At the building level, resilience means remaining operational when electricity or gas is temporarily unavailable. And here I say quite clearly: a chimney is the building’s energy insurance policy. It is the backbone of building services. Without this backbone, options are severely limited. A high-quality chimney system deliberately keeps open the possibility of connecting a fireplace or supplementing the heating concept later on. It does not force anyone to operate a stove immediately—but it does not exclude the option either. At the system level, decentralized fireplaces can also relieve the power grid during peak loads. If many buildings theoretically have the option to switch from electric heating to an alternative, it increases the stability of the overall system. It is not a substitute for infrastructure, but a stabilizing factor.

The term “emergency chimney” sounds exaggerated and technically imprecise. You mentioned that mandatory solutions can be problematic. Where do you see the line between sensible precaution and mere symbolic policy?

Jürgen Böhm: The term “emergency chimney” is too narrow because it links the component solely to crisis situations. A modern chimney is not a crisis accessory but part of a long-term building strategy. Symbolic policy begins when something is formally required but not technically usable in practice. A half-hearted or poorly designed shaft may exist on paper but does not create real capability. Sensible precaution means planning a high-quality, future-proof chimney system from the outset that can flexibly respond to different heating concepts.

If we take resilience seriously: what structural requirements must be met so that an electricity-independent heat source can actually be operated safely and practically in an emergency?

Jürgen Böhm: Safety comes first. Flue gases must be reliably discharged—that is a fundamental requirement of building physics and regulations. A properly planned and tested chimney system ensures exactly that. And we must be honest: a chimney alone is not enough. Anyone who wants to heat in an emergency also needs an operational fireplace. Modern fireplaces are low-emission and suitable for everyday use, so they can be operated regularly. Resilience is not created by temporary measures but by integrated, tested systems.

Resilience is not only about technology but also acceptance and usability. How important is it that such solutions are suitable for everyday use and not just intended as rare emergency options?

Jürgen Böhm: Everyday usability is essential. It must be clear where the fireplace will come from if it is suddenly needed. A modern fireplace used alongside central heating creates routine and acceptance. It can absorb peak loads and take on a key role at short notice if required. Resilience is created in everyday operation, not in exceptional situations.

You are a board member of the European Fireplace Association and responsible for flue systems. What role do resilience and supply security play in your association’s strategic considerations?

Jürgen Böhm: At the EFA, it is clear that fireplaces and chimneys are technically inseparable. A fireplace only functions with a suitable flue system. That is why we do not view resilience in isolation but in the interaction between building services, construction planning, and energy infrastructure. Our role as an association is to highlight that buildings should be designed so that a fireplace can be properly integrated. Technological openness and long-term flexibility are core elements of our strategy.

If there were political efforts to strengthen structural provisions for electricity-independent heating: what would an intelligent and practical regulation look like?

Jürgen Böhm: If we talk about future-proofing, we must not leave builders alone with this decision. We need smart support measures that encourage integrating the chimney as a resilient component of modern buildings from the outset. This can be achieved through targeted information, objective guidance in energy consulting, and meaningful financial support—such as funding modules or incentives in new construction that reward technology-open planning instead of treating it as an unnecessary luxury.

Profile

Jürgen Böhm, Board Member of the European Fireplace Association (EFA), responsible for flue gas systems; Head of Sales for chimney systems at Erlus AG; many years of experience in system integration and market development of modern flue systems.

About EFA

Founded in 1996, the EFA is the association of the fireplace industry for all European countries and represents the interests of its members in the fields of solid fuel fireplaces, flue technology, as well as accessories and supplier industries. More information can be found at: www.efa-europe.com

Contact EFA: +49 176 231 164 20, mail@efa-europe.com, Reprint permitted / copy requested