We inspected a house that has a 4" pvc flue attached to a prefabricated propane burning fireplace. the gas valve was inside the firebox, can anyone tell me if this is right / wrong - I called a propane dealer and he said it could be correct - but still a PVC flue???
Go to the manufacture and see what they say.
Roy Cooke
Tim
I’ve seen DUMB…but this just about takes the cake.
Gas valve is OK. But I still don’t like it. You could have a run-a-way appliance and not be able to shut it down.
Now, PVC flue, No Way.
I believe that you will find that the gas stack has to extend at least 2 feet above the roof.
Marcel,It is helpful information, however much of it is for wood burning units. Not Gas. It would appear that Vancouver Gas also sells wood units and did not make it clear on that page that it refers to wood units.
Definately higher than it is…depending on pitch of roof.
It looks like a plumbing vent stack with a cover on it! I would be throwing a fit if I could talk to the home builder and the “three blind mice” referred to as code enforcers. You can not convince me that PVC piping can be used as a flue for fire place. If the homeowner decides he wants a wood burning instead of a gas…you may seriously be in trouble later on. BTW- GOOD CATCH! Way to use your eyes and brain! You are making the inspection industry look good. Good work. Was this a new home?
Both propane and natural gas burning appliances routinely use PVC pipe as a vent.
High efficiency appliances do not need any other type of vent in many cases.
Power vents are almost always constructed of PVC pipe.
Don’t see anything particularly wrong here…even with the height above the roofline.
Propane manufacturers have their own set of rules that do not necessarily need to meet Fuel Gas Codes for vent height.
Check the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
Let’s start with this, that can be life saving for some somewheres.
http://www.wellspropane.net/safety.shtml
http://www.csia.org/homeowners/gasapp.html
http://www.heat-fab.com/products/saftvent_desc.shtml
http://www.propane.ca/cleantruth/residential/venting.asp
Both propane and natural gas burning appliances routinely use PVC pipe as a vent. Not true
High efficiency appliances do not need any other type of vent in many cases.
True
Power vents are almost always constructed of PVC pipe.Not true
Don’t see anything particularly wrong here…even with the height above the roofline.Height of vent through roof holds true as it would for a regular chimney.
Propane manufacturers have their own set of rules that do not necessarily need to meet Fuel Gas Codes for vent height. Read again.
Check the manufacturer’s installation instructions.10-4
Equipment, material, or services included in a list published by an organization that is acceptable to the AHJ and concerned with evaluation of products or service, and whose listing states that either the equipment, material, or service meets appropriate design standards and been tested and suitable for a specified purpose.
Hope this clairifies a few things.
Marcel
I believe PVC is rated for upto 60 degrees celcius. I have never seen a propane or natural gas vented with PVC, always metal.
This may be of interest, see the first article.
http://www.tssa.org/CorpLibrary/ArticleFile.asp?Instance=136&ID=88393FD4893743329E2E1A0A9470C293
Pfffft…
Power vented high efficiency furnaces or boilers rarely require anything BUT PVC for vents.
This is one such inspection item that needs to be defered to the local mechanical code inspection agency for verification and the manufacturer’s installation instructions before writing it off as a ‘bad installation’.
All the more if you have no experience as a mechanical contractor or mechanical codes inspector.
My comment should have read…" I have never seen a propane or natural gas “fireplace” vented with PVC, always metal."
Must be a regional thingy.
Neither have I. It would be interesting to see the installation instructions of such a fireplace PVC chimney.
Well, Larry now that makes three of us. hummmm
Maybe we should all consult with our friendly and expert Code Officer in our local. Don’t Code Enforcement know all these things that they could clarify the Code for us? ha. ha.
This is one such inspection item that needs to be deferred to the local mechanical code inspection agency for verification and the manufacturer’s installation instructions before writing it off as a ‘bad installation’.
Now I am really confused, one minute the Code supercedes and the other the Manufacturers supercede. Help. :mrgreen: 
Marcel
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Is PVC suseptable to UV degredation?