brick damage
 

brick damage
i have been asked to inspect a residential brick chimney. there was a fire inside the chimney and the home owner states that when the fire department spray water on the chimney this caused the brick to crack.
has anyone had experience with this? are there any publications concerning damage of brick by fires?
thanks
in "residential rehabilitation inspection guide" (free .pdf download), see paragraphs 4.5 and 4.6, along with appendix a, "effects of fire on structural systems". here is the link
thermal shocking can cause bricks to crack, but i do not know what temperature bricks have to approach to become susceptible. more information would be needed.
you might be able to do a simulation easily as well.
thermal shock is the cause and the chimney most likely will need to be rebuilt.