Is Vent-Free Gas Heating Right For Me?
While most states permit installation
of vent-free gas heating appliances, a handful of states still prohibit
residential use. Very often, that's because a state's building codes haven't
caught up with vent-free gas technology.
Currently seven states prohibit
residential use: Alaska, Massachusetts, Montana, Minnesota*, Colorado*,
Utah*, and California. However, many local and state codes are currently
being revised to reflect acceptance of this new technology.
For
a map of state restrictions click here
*Several counties and municipalities in Colorado
and Utah permit the product. Wisconsin restricts installation in homes
built after 1980
Because states, counties and municipalities adopt various
codes, please check with your installer or local code officials to assure
the current code in the city where you plan to install permits vent-free
gas appliances.
| NATIONAL BUILDING/MODEL CODES |
The following six model building codes permit the installation
of listed vent-free products:
-
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
-
Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA)
-
Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI)
-
Council of American Building Officials (CABO)
-
International Mechanical Code (IMC)
-
International Fuel Gas Code
Only the International Conference of Building Officials-Uniform
Mechanical Code (ICBO-UMC) does not permit the product
|
Other Considerations:
-
Homes of Extremely Tight Construction -
if you home shows symptoms of inadequately ventilated home (moisture on
inside of windows, mildew, and shower or bath humidity lingers), additional
ventilation may be required prior to adding additional vent-free
gas appliances.
-
Homes with Other Fuel Burning Appliances -
if there are other fuel burning appliances that use inside air for combustion
(i.e. gas ranges, fireplaces, clothes dryers) in the area you plane to
operate your vent-free heating product, you must provide adequate fresh
air to support the operation of all the appliances. Consult your installer
and refer to the Air for Combustion and Ventilation section of the Owners
and Installation Manual for your specific vent-free appliance.
-
Homes at High Altitude - (i.e.
homes at 4,500 feet above sea level or higher) - may experience nuisance
pilot outage and flame shutdown due to lower atmospheric pressure.
-
Bedrooms and Bathrooms - in many
areas the installation of vent-free products is permitted up to 10,000
Btu in bedrooms and 6,000 Btu in bathrooms**.
**ANSI Z21.112 Standard and National Fuel Gas Code permit wall
mounted installations of vent-free gas heater of 10,000 Btu or less in
bedrooms and 6,000 Btu or less in bathrooms.
"Let's Clear the Air"
Facts Regarding the Effect of Vent-Free Gas Heaters
on Indoor Air Quality
In 1995, the scientist at the American Gas Association's
Research Division (AGAR) tested the levels of all five major contributors
of indoor air quality - oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen
dioxide and water vapor (humidity) - against the latest Indoor Air Quality
(IAQ) guidelines and concluded that vent-free gas heating products performed
well within nationally recognized guidelines for indoor air quality.
This research proves that vent-free gas heating products
meets applicable emissions requirements, even when used over extended time
periods, among sensitive populations, and even with oversized units.
Water Vapor Levels - When
outside temperatures fall, so does relative humidity (water vapor). Many
people in cold climates use humidifiers to supplement indoor moisture.
Vent-Free gas heating products are not intended to replace humidifiers,
but they do perform a similar function. AGAR researchers examined relative
humidity at 0 degree F outdoor temperature and a 0.25 air change rate (
American Society od Heating Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineer's
minimum acceptable air change rate is .035/hour). Even under these extreme
conditions, the highest relative humidity measured was 49 percent. That's
still well below the recognized comfort level of 60 percent.
| AGA RESEARCH COMPARISON OF RELATED
IAQ GUIDELINES TO VENT-FREE GAS PRODUCTS" EMISSIONS |
|
Combustion by product
|
Specifying agency
|
National IAQ Standard/Guidelines
exposure level/time
|
Vent-free gas product
|
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) |
CPSC |
15 pp, avg/8 hours
25 ppm avg/1 hour |
2.5 ppm/8 hours
1.5 ppm/1 hour |
| Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) |
CPSC |
0.3 ppm avg/1 hour |
0.22 pm/1 hour |
| Carbon Dioxide (CO2) |
OSHA |
5000 ppm avg/8 hours |
1500 ppm/8 hours |
| Oxygen (O2) |
NIOSH |
19.5% minimum/continuous |
20.4% continuous |
| Humidity (H2O) |
ASHRAE |
60% maximum/continuous |
36.5% maximum
with no condensation |
PARTS
DISTRIBUTORS
FMConline
We also distribute Master propane convection
heaters, infrared radiant heaters, Master kerosene forced air heaters and
Master portable electric generators, as well as Comfort
glow direct vent and vent free fireplaces, gas logs, cast iron stoves,
pedestal stoves, Comfortglow blueflame heaters and plaque infrared heaters.
FMConline.net
We reserve the right to amend
these specifications at any time without notice,
Pricing is subject to change
without notice.