Saxony-Anhalt reforms chimney sweep rules to ensure safer heating systems
In Saxony-Anhalt, 215 authorized district chimney sweeps—including seven women—ensure that heating systems and stoves pose no risk to people or buildings. Within their designated inspection districts, they regularly check the operational and fire safety of heating appliances and record their findings in the official inspection log. They also conduct professional acceptance tests for new heating systems. Operating under state mandate, these authorized sweeps work to prevent safety from being left to chance.
The State Administrative Office of Saxony-Anhalt oversees the tendering process and appointment of authorized district chimney sweeps. Candidates are selected based on their qualifications, expertise, and professional performance. Appointments are made for a fixed term of seven years, and reaching the statutory retirement age during this period does not disqualify applicants. After the term expires, sweeps may reapply. In exceptional cases, and under specific conditions, individuals may be permitted to continue in this responsible role until the age of 70 upon request.
Due to the widespread shortage of skilled labor, vacancies in inspection districts are not always filled immediately after the previous sweep retires. To bridge gaps, the Chimney Sweep Trade Act allows neighboring authorized district chimney sweeps to be temporarily assigned by county or city authorities to ensure the operational and fire safety of heating systems. If repeated tendering attempts fail, Saxony-Anhalt's regulations permit the permanent dissolution of inspection districts, with their properties reassigned to adjacent districts—another responsibility of the State Administrative Office. However, since territorial expansion of existing districts has natural limits, legislators recently amended the Chimney Sweep Trade Act. Now, at the request of an authorized district chimney sweep, employed master chimney sweeps—or journeymen with equivalent qualifications—may also conduct inspections and ease the workload of district holders.
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