Enabling Others to Do Great Work: Supporting Chimneys for Africa
Chimneys for Africa required real-time data validation to prove the efficacy of their culturally consonant chimney design—a critical step toward saving lives and achieving a widespread global health impact.
In Australia, we rarely think twice about the air in our kitchens—modern exhaust systems handle the residue of cooking. This reality stands in stark contrast to the experience of millions worldwide. For communities where indoor wood-fire cooking is a vital cultural tradition, the air is deadly. The kitchen becomes a hazard, pumping out a toxic concoction of contaminants that cause irreparable respiratory and nervous system damage. This practice leads to 3.2 million preventable deaths annually, predominantly among women and children.
At Air-Met Scientific, we believe in supporting projects that enable others to do great work. Since 1984, we have provided equipment for safety and environmental integrity, but our latest project goes beyond compliance—it's about improving people’s living standards and their right to breathe clean air in their own homes. This impactful story began right here in Melbourne and saw our DustCanary take flight to East Africa to support Chimneys for Africa, an organisation delivering a simple yet profound solution. We were privileged to provide our technical expertise and technology to help validate their life-changing mission.
Featured Video: In Conversation with David Baulis
Hear the story of the mission directly from the source. In this video, Andrew Marom from Air-Met Scientific catches up with David Baulis from Chimneys for Africa to learn more about the critical research trip, the project's ambitious mission, and the future of their culturally consonant design.
The Barrier: Why Previous Solutions Failed
The problem isn't a lack of engineering; it's a lack of cultural sensitivity. Cooking over indoor fires is a deeply held cultural tradition, but the smoke is deadly. In many communities, there is a mutual understanding that food and belongings outside of a hut are communal, and can be taken by anyone. This is why one's own food must be stored and prepared inside of their own hut.
Previous ventilation designs for under-resourced communities have consistently been rejected because they required residents to fundamentally change practices and traditions. This approach was not only irrelevant but fundamentally flawed, as the solutions could never take root with widespread adoption, thereby limiting the impact to only a tiny number of people. It was an engineering solution that ignored the human element.
The Chimneys for Africa Difference: Consonance Over Conformity
This is why Chimneys for Africa was founded. Driven by engineer David Baulis and anthropologist Natasha Baulis, they approached the problem by listening first and foremost.
They developed a solution defined by cultural consonance—life-saving ventilation that respects traditional ways of living. Their simple yet revolutionary chimney design integrates rather than replaces traditional cooking practices. Easily constructed by locals in remote locations with basic materials and minimal tools, the chimney delivers on their mission to achieve better health for women and children through culturally consonant design.
A Simple Solution: How the Chimney Works
Step 1
A flat pack metal hood, cowl and pipe set—laser cut or hand cut using a stencil. The "IKEA" of chimneys. ~30min
Step 2
The 2D chimney form is shaped by hand (rolled) into a cone and bolted together with 9 bolts. Flue pipes are then bolted onto the cone. ~45min
Step 3
The chimney is installed through a small opening made in the roof and is topped with a cowl for maximum updraft and rain protection. A specialised design exists for thatching. ~60min
The Data Requirement: Validation in the Field
The Need for Real-World Certainty
Chimneys for Africa embarked on a 6-week research and development trip to East Africa. While they were confident the design worked, they required concrete, measurable data to validate the chimney's effectiveness in the most crucial environment: the end-users' homes.
“A lab test can tell us how the chimney performs under ideal conditions. But only by installing the chimney in the homes of our intended end-users and watching how they utilise the chimney in practice can we gain a proper understanding of the influence of fuel choice, home design and cooking habits, on the overall efficacy and suitability of these units. This detailed, real-world insight is what will ultimately help to achieve wider acceptance, widespread uptake, and long-term adoption of the Chimneys for Africa design.”
Their primary data requirements were stringent:
- Accurate measurements of smoke exposure and ventilation before and after installation.
- Personal exposure data, specifically capturing the air quality for the individual person cooking.
The Solution: The DustCanary Trend 420 Monitor
Upon being introduced to David and the mission, Air-Met Scientific was delighted to learn that we were perfectly positioned to provide the specialised technical expertise and equipment to support them. We recommended the DustCanary Trend 420 Personal Real-Time Dust Monitor and a selection of Air Quality Monitoring Equipment to the team at Chimneys for Africa for their project requirements.
Our solutions met both of their crucial requirements by providing:
- Real-Time Data: Measuring airborne particulates instantaneously, providing immediate feedback in the field on the chimney's performance
- Personal Exposure: Unobtrusively attaching to the clothing of the person cooking, ensuring the data reflected the exact air quality they were breathing
“We’re particularly excited to be using the DustCanary to test the real-time impact of the chimney on the air that women will be breathing—how their posture (e.g. leaning in to stir) and their methods (e.g. moving the pot on and off the heat) will influence the efficacy of our design.”
DustCanary real-time measurement results provided by GHD
The Impact: Making a Difference
The real-time data collected by the DustCanary provided the essential validation required to measure the true, life-saving impact of the chimney design in the field. Crucially, this quantifiable data is being used to inform and engage stakeholders, leading to greater funding and support so the project can achieve wider adoption, reaching more homes and communities across Africa.
“Every time we get an instrument or a piece of equipment into someone’s hands, we enable them to do great work. This is our purpose. To make a difference.”
Air-Met Scientific is proud to support initiatives such as Chimneys for Africa which are making a profound difference to global health and the environment. If you would like to follow this life-changing project, please visit their website or connect with David on LinkedIn.
