whats that i see up my chimney?

[martandmill]

Hi all, this is my first post to this helpful site, anyway, the back boiler has been taken out of our chimney and it is just a square hole, no fire back, the round metal tubing that was attached to the flue of the old back boiler in visible , but when i look up the chimney i can see a panel which has been 'fitted' horizontally across the width of the chimney about 1 foot up from the top of the fireplace opening. there is a round hole cut in it through which the metal tubing is poking down through, the back boiler and the panel were fitted in the mid eighty's, so it can't be asbestos can it?
if it isn't how would i remove it as we are hoping to have an open
working fire place to burn coal/wood. thanking you in advance.

 

[foxhole]

Tap it with metal to see if it is metal. in which case you can cut it out.

 

[martandmill]

Hi again, i tapped it, and had a better look -avoiding the cobwebs of course, it sounds like some sort of concrete and it is about an inch thick on further looking. The hole the tubing comes through is much bigger perhaps this concrete shelf was already there. I will check my bro-in-laws fire place and see, I have been given a fire back but do you know if there is s'pose to be something else that sits on top and reaches up to this hole in the shelf, as it looks like it was purpose made so to speak. thanks

 

[mnb]

Go outside and check what type of terminal you have on your chimney stack. Metal, Pot, slots vertical or horizontal etc? Run smoke up the fire opening and ID from outside. Note the result- diagram it.

Installing solid fuel apps. is specialised work - many regs.

The "panel" you refer to was probably installed when the old opening was bricked up for the BB. Cautiously, long chiselling it out will work, BUT

Dont do anything until you are sure of whats what, and what you want to end up with.

This job could end up with : roof work, chimney sweeping, smoke test(s), and work to re-arrange the present fire opening.

Come back with any Q's or when you know a little more.