Profile of an occupation – chimney sweep

Safety and environmental protection

Chimney sweeping is a traditional craft dating back centuries. It has since developed into indispensable trade in terms of building safety and environmental protection, and now combines a wide range of tasks. As well as cleaning chimneys in the conventional manner, chimney sweeps also conduct measurements and analyses of the efficiency and safety of heating and ventilation systems. One of their focuses is operational and fire safety, and these aspects are still among the main tasks of the chimney sweep trade. They also fulfil important activities within the area of environmental and climate protection by supporting energy conservation and the efficient use of resources. Chimney sweeps can, for example, measure whether heating systems produce too many pollutants or waste too much heat energy. Their work within this area will increase in future since ventilation systems play an important role in energy-efficient, airtight buildings. The craft trade of chimney sweeping significantly contributes towards ensuring that legal provisions relating to building, fire safety and emissions control law are applied both to buildings and to the operation of technical plants.

New technologies and customer service

The energy transition, digitalisation and changes in construction practice are all increasingly altering work processes and tasks at chimney sweeping companies. The training occupation of chimney sweep underwent comprehensive modernisation at the start of the 2025 training year in order to secure expertise and expand the task areas. This expansion took the form of additional professional competencies in the fields of energy efficiency, ventilation technology and fire safety, and also included new content relating to communication skills. As well as offering advice on how to heat in a climate-friendly way and save energy, chimney sweeps also provide information on current laws such as the Buildings Energy Act and explain to their customers which stipulations are applicable to them and how they can be implemented. Chimney sweeps also take on the task of clearly communicating to their customers the complexities involved in the transition to the more climate-friendly technologies necessary as part of the energy transition. New technologies may assist chimney sweeps in the performance of their work. Drones, for instance, are used to inspect industrial chimneys which are then cleaned by robots. Sensors are installed in combustion and ventilation systems to monitor exhaust gases and particulate matter.

Significant rise in the number of newly concluded training contracts in 2024

Whereas the number of newly concluded training contracts in the craft trades sector as a whole fell by 0.7 percent from 2023 to 2024, a significant growth was recorded in the training occupation of chimney sweep. The number of new contracts rose from 690 to 849 in 2024, a figure which represents a 23 percent increase compared to the previous year. It remains to be seen whether this upturn will continue and whether the occupation of chimney sweep will become a training sector which attracts greater demand.

147 women commenced training in the occupation in 2024. The proportion of women entering the occupation has increased from 12.4 to 17.3 percent over the past ten years (cf. Figure).
 

Career, advanced and continuing training

The changes in energy supply, in conjunction with the shift away from fossil fuels towards renewable energies and combined with high-tech heat generation by means of digitalised construction and plant technology, will continue to require specialisation in the services offered by chimney sweeps in the future. The occupational profile can be supplemented by various advanced and continuing training programmes in areas such as energy consultancy and fire safety. A master craftsman qualification in chimney sweeping (Bachelor Professional) opens up the route into self-employment, e.g. via the establishment or acquisition of a chimney sweeping company. The qualification of Bachelor Professional for Energy Efficiency and Digital Construction Project Management is one example of a further pathway to professional advancement.

(All links: status 21/01/2026) (Compiled by Arne Schambeck, BWP)

Translation from the German original (published in BWP 1/2026): Martin Kelsey, GST GlobalSprachTeam GmbH, Berlin