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Is Vent-Free Gas Heating Right For Me? |
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Click here for a map of states allowing ventfree products
*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.
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NATIONAL BUILDING/MODEL CODES
The following six model building codes permit the installation of listed
vent-free products:
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National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
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Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA)
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Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI)
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Council of American Building Officials (CABO)
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International Mechanical Code (IMC)
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International Fuel Gas Code
Only the International Conference of Building Officials-Uniform Mechanical
Code (ICBO-UMC) does not permit the product |
Other Considerations:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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"Let's Clear the Air" 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.
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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
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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 |
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Important Heater Information |
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- Installation must be done by
qualified
service persons.
- Read Owner's Manual before using.
- Check
local codes and ordinances for permitted uses.
- Not for use in recreational
vehicles.
- All products approved for
manufactured
(mobile) home installation.
- We reserve the right to amend
product
specifications without
notice.
- Use with adequate air (ventilation)
only. Humidifies while
it heats.
- Provides water vapor in the area
heated. Refer to owner's
manual for specifics.
- Heating areas based on rooms with
8"
ceilings.
- Operating heater at elevations
above
4,500 ft. could cause
nuisance outages.
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- Is Vent-Free
Gas Heating Right For Me?
- Product cannot be converted between
fuel types.
- The only warranty available is the Manufacturers standard warranty. Please read the warranty for any limitations or disclaimers. Warranty is provided by the product manufacturer, Master Distributors does not provide warranty or extended warranty programs.
- All Vent-Free products carry a
limited warranty.
- All accessories have a limited 30 day warranty.
- ANSI Z21 11.2 Standard and National
Fuel Gas Code revised
in 1994 to permit wall mounted installations of vent-free gas heaters
of
10,000 Btu or less in bedrooms and 6,000 Btu or less in Bathrooms. As
always
check local codes
- States
Prohibiting Sale/Use of Vent-Free Products
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