Arranging scaffolding or rope access for a full-height external inspection can add days of setup before the first image is captured. A drone survey typically covers the complete shaft, cap, and lining from base to top in a single flight — no access equipment, no setup delay, no one working at height.
Where internal inspection is required, a confined space drone can inspect the full interior of the flue without any person entering the stack — no confined space entry permit, no decommissioning, no cooling-down period.
What is a confined space drone inspection?
A confined space drone inspection uses a cage-protected UAV that flies inside an enclosed structure — such as a chimney flue, tank, or pressure vessel — to carry out a visual condition survey without any person entering the space. The drone transmits 4K video to a pilot on the ground in real time, and every defect is recorded for inclusion in the final inspection report.
Because no human enters the confined space, there is no confined space entry permit to prepare, no decommissioning requirement, and no standby rescue team to arrange.
More about confined space drone inspectionsWhat does an external drone survey do for me?
An external drone survey covers the full height of the shaft, cap, and lining from base to top in a single flight — regardless of chimney height. The drone operates at a safe standoff distance, with no scaffolding, no rope access, and no workers at height.
What a drone survey can detect externally: mortar joint deterioration, brick and concrete spalling, corrosion, cap damage, and lightning conductor condition. Every defect is photographed and included in the final classification report.
See what an external survey coversWhat is the turnaround time?
A typical chimney inspection — external survey plus internal confined space flight — can be completed in a single site visit. The full defect classification report is typically delivered within a few working days of the inspection.
Every site is different, so timelines are confirmed before any work begins based on the specific stack, the scope of the inspection, and the deliverables required.
Discuss your inspection timelineIs decommissioning required?
No. An external drone survey operates at a safe standoff distance and does not interact with the stack. For internal inspection, a confined space drone can enter through the base hatch while the stack remains in service, provided the internal environment is within the drone’s operating limits.
No decommissioning, no cooling-down period, and no confined space entry permit are required.
Discuss your site requirementsA single flight covers the full height of the shaft, cap, and lining — regardless of chimney height. The drone operates at a safe standoff distance throughout, with no scaffolding, no rope access, and no workers at height. What we detect externally: mortar joint deterioration, brick and concrete spalling, corrosion, cap damage, and lightning conductor condition.
What about working at height regulations in Ireland?
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Work at Height) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 318 of 2006) require that work at height be avoided where it is reasonably practicable to do so. A drone survey satisfies this requirement at the first step of the hierarchy of control — the inspection is carried out from a safe standoff distance with no personnel working at height.
Because no one leaves the ground, the duties to provide fall protection, guardrails, or rescue arrangements for work at height do not arise. The regulation’s framework — avoid, prevent, minimise — is satisfied without progressing beyond the first obligation.
More about our regulatory complianceWhere can a drone fly in commercial and industrial settings in Ireland?
All drone operations in Ireland are regulated by the Irish Aviation Authority under the EASA framework (S.I. No. 24 of 2023). Engineers with Drones holds an EASA Specific Category Operational Authorisation (IRL.UAS.AUTH1002) — the first company in Ireland to receive this level of authorisation — which permits operations beyond Open category limits: over populated areas, near airports, and above sensitive infrastructure. Airspace checks are carried out before every flight via the IAA AirSpace app.
For active industrial sites, a site-specific Risk Assessment and Method Statement is typically prepared and agreed with the site health and safety officer before fieldwork begins. The one operational limitation to be aware of: no ATEX-rated flying drone currently exists, so the atmosphere inside a stack must be confirmed safe before a confined space drone enters.
More about our operational authorisations
The confined space drone enters through the base hatch — not from the top — and inspects the interior on ascent. Entry from the base gives the pilot a clear view ahead, so any probes, sensors, or penetrations protruding into the stack are visible and can be inspected carefully before the drone reaches them. What we detect internally: lining cracks, spalling, refractory deterioration, water ingress, coating condition, reinforcing ring condition, support structure, and probe and penetration condition.
Can a chimney be inspected while it is still in service?
An external drone survey does not require the chimney to be taken offline — the drone operates at a safe standoff distance and has no physical contact with the stack.
For internal inspection, a confined space drone can typically enter through the base hatch while the stack remains in service, provided the internal environment is within the drone’s operating limits. Every site is assessed individually to confirm feasibility before any work begins.
Discuss your site requirementsHow does a confined space drone inspection work?
For an industrial chimney inspection, the drone usually enters through the base hatch — not lowered from the top — and flies upward through the full interior of the flue, transmitting 4K video to the pilot in real time. A pilot on the ground controls the flight while monitoring the live feed.
Entry from the base gives the pilot a clear view ahead, so any probes, sensors, or penetrations protruding into the stack are visible before the drone reaches them. No person enters the stack at any point.
More about confined space drone inspectionsWhat confined space regulations apply to chimney inspections in Ireland?
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Confined Spaces) Regulations 2001 (S.I. No. 218 of 2001) require that a person shall not enter a confined space unless it is not reasonably practicable to carry out the work without entry. A confined space drone inspection satisfies this requirement — the inspection is completed without any person entering the flue.
Because no human entry takes place, there is no confined space entry permit to prepare, no decommissioning requirement, and no standby rescue team to arrange.
More about our regulatory compliance
The Elios 3 confined space drone generates a LiDAR point cloud alongside 4K video during the internal inspection. This gives the client a dimensioned record of the stack interior — every crack, spalling zone, coating failure, and structural defect is captured and located in three dimensions. The point cloud is deliverable in standard formats and does not require specialist software to view defect locations.
What is a LiDAR point cloud?
A LiDAR point cloud is a set of millions of individual data points in three-dimensional space, each with an X, Y, and Z coordinate. When a LiDAR sensor fires laser pulses at a surface and measures the time each pulse takes to return, it records the precise 3D position of every point it hits.
The result is a digital twin of the scanned environment — in this case, the interior of the stack — that can be measured, sectioned, and compared against reference geometry. Unlike 4K video, which shows what the surface looks like, a point cloud shows exactly where every surface is.
More about LiDAR surveys More about 3D mapping and digital twinsWhat can a point cloud do for a stack inspection?
A LiDAR point cloud enables analysis that video alone cannot provide. It can detect structural deformation — including ovality, where a circular cross-section has distorted over time from thermal cycling or wind loading — and quantify how far the stack has deviated from its design geometry.
LiDAR can also measure refractory lining wear by comparing the current interior surface against a previous baseline, identifying where bricks are missing or lining has thinned. Build-up of ash, soot, slag, or chemical scale on interior walls can also be captured by point-cloud technology, allowing volumetric calculation of flow restrictions that may be affecting draught and operational efficiency.
Discuss what a point cloud could reveal about your stack
Every defect is described, categorised by type, and assigned a severity level. The report includes a simple orientation diagram showing each defect’s location within the stack — accessible to non-technical stakeholders without specialist software, and ready to hand directly to your maintenance or repair team.
Full-height external coverage from a safe standoff distance. No access equipment, no setup time, no workers at height — regardless of chimney height.
The confined space drone inspects the full interior without any person entering the stack. No confined space entry permit, no decommissioning, no cooling-down period required.
The complete external shaft, cap, and lining surveyed from base to top in a single flight — mortar joints, spalling, corrosion, cap damage, and lightning conductor condition.
The drone generates a dimensioned 3D record of the stack interior alongside 4K video — every defect located in three dimensions, not just captured on footage.
Full-resolution internal video with still photography of every identified fault. Both delivered alongside the LiDAR point cloud in a single inspection.
Each defect described, categorised, and severity-rated. Includes a simple orientation diagram showing defect locations within the stack — no specialist software needed to read it.
Conventional access for a full-height external inspection requires scaffolding or rope access — at significant cost and with personnel at height throughout. A drone survey can cover the complete external shaft, cap, lining, mortar joints, and lightning conductor from base to top in a single automated flight, with no access equipment and no workers at height.
The confined space drone enters through the base hatch and flies upward through the full interior of the flue, generating a LiDAR point cloud and 4K video simultaneously. Every crack, spalling zone, coating failure, and structural defect is captured and located in three dimensions. No person enters the stack at any point — no confined space entry permit, no decommissioning, no cooling-down period required.
Tell us what you need to know, and we will work with you to design actionable deliverables that give you the outcomes you need.
A typical inspection delivers a full-height photographic survey of the external shaft, 4K internal video with still photography of each identified fault, and a LiDAR point cloud of the stack interior — giving you a dimensioned record of the flue rather than just footage.
Faults are usually compiled into a defect classification report: each defect described, categorised by type, and assigned a severity level. A simple orientation diagram shows each defect’s location within the stack, accessible to non-technical stakeholders without specialist software and ready to hand directly to a maintenance or repair team.
Every mortar joint, spalling zone, and corrosion patch photographed in ultra HD from base to cap.
High quality footage of the flue, inside and out, supported by still photography of every identified defect.
A 3D point cloud of the stack interior that can be compared against previous inspections to track change over time.
Each defect described, categorised, and severity-rated. An orientation diagram shows where every fault sits within the stack.
Complex surveys and inspections require more than just a pilot. Our engineers can help you scope your requirements and indentify the right approach.
