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Case study · Commercial
Drone inspection of a failing chimney stack on a live retail site
Close-range drone inspection of a chimney stack capping for a national commercial roofing contractor, with no MEWP, no scaffold and nobody working at height.
Our client, a national roofing contractor working for FTSE 100 businesses and main contractors, was asked to deal with a tall, redundant brick chimney stack on a busy retail site in North East England. The capping was visibly failing, and before scoping a repair they needed to see exactly what they were dealing with.
The challengeHigh above a live service yard
The cap sits high above a live service yard and access road. The traditional route is a MEWP or full scaffold: cost, lead time, traffic management and operatives at height, all before anyone knows the scope. A capping in this state is a hazard in its own right, with loose material that could come down.
Our approachClose enough to price from
We flew a close-range visual inspection, working right round the head of the stack and down the shaft, capturing high-definition stills from every angle. The focus was the capping: close enough to see individual coping units, joints and the cap covering, while also recording the brickwork, pointing and lightning conductor below. Key observations included:
- Cracked, displaced and missing coping units, with sections lifting at the edge
- A torn cap covering, with loose debris sitting on top of the stack
- Heavy lichen and open joints letting water into the head of the stack
- Weathered pointing and spalled bricks recorded down the shaft
The outcomeSee the problem before you scaffold it
A full, clear picture of the cap from the office, so the best remedy and access method could be chosen before committing to plant or scaffold.
Questions about this project
Can a drone inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
Yes. A close-range drone inspection captures the capping, copings, joints and brickwork in high definition, so the repair can be scoped before any access equipment is booked.
What can a drone see on a chimney stack?
Cracked or displaced copings, damaged cap coverings, open joints, lichen, spalled bricks, weathered pointing and the condition of fixings such as lightning conductors.
Is it safe to fly near a live retail site?
We plan every flight around the site’s operations, with a site-specific risk assessment under our enhanced CAA Operational Authorisation.
Need eyes on something high or hard to reach?
Chimneys, stacks, roofs and façades. We inspect them from the ground, so you can scope repairs before committing to access.