Over the last year-and-a-half, our engineering team has been quietly working on a special project involving DuraTech. Our mission?  Find a way to get rid of the continuous shield components (premium shields) that are required with one-inch chimney when paired with solid-fuel space heaters. The role of these shields is to prevent radiation heat energy from overheating and igniting surrounding combustible materials. The shield requirement arises when the chimney serving a solid-fuel space heater passes through a finished floor above, or if the chimney is chased (enclosed) within an attic. Professional installers have always despised these additional shields. They add cost, they add labour, and they add complexity.  Sadly, there are installers who are completely unaware these shields exist. Far too many installations have been completed over the years without them. For years, experienced installers have been asking/demanding the chimney industry to address this problem. Our engineering team found a new, proprietary insulation that is more effective in blocking the passage of radiant heat. For our part, we have always stated we would do it when we were confident it would not compromise fire safety, performance, or long-term durability. So we are proud to announce we are the very first Canadian manufacturer with a true one-inch chimney that can make this claim. See all of DuraTech's specifications, white papers, and product resources by clicking below.