I am currently managing a social business construction group in Peru and came across a family who is using an open fire to cook. The problem is that the smoke is going straight into the children’s room and is aggravating (or the cause of) their asthma. I suggested that we build a chimney but have no experience with them. What are the basics to know when constructing a chimney? Is there an optimum height that creates the best suction? What materials should be used. Are straight bricks and cement good enough? What other factors should I take into consideration?

Topics: architecture, cooking, physics, heat, engineering, construction, fire, mathematics, brick, chimneys