As of August 2007 in Ontario, gas appliances which allow for plastic exhaust vents must use 636 certified venting. The Fuel safety Authority also known as TSSA (Technical Standards Safety Association) issued a directors order that ABS piping that was commonly used in the industry is no longer legal to use for venting gas appliances.
There were many instances of exhaust vents cracking or coming completely apart which allowed unsafe exhaust gases and carbon monoxide to enter people’s homes. This TSSA link will take you directly to the site to read the material around the issue.
The following images will show how to identify the proper venting for the appliance. You can find all the materials required to replace you venting system at Home Depot at a fraction of the cost from a contractor. Along with certified piping and fittings, the proper joint cement also requires having the 636 emblem on it. If you don’t time to drive to Home Depot because your working, order your supplies online and have them delivered and waiting for you when you get home.
Joint primer does not require the 636 stamp of approval. Read the instructions on the can carefully as it takes the cement up to 3 minutes to set. The instructions on the can say 30 seconds but I have found it still may separate. The manufacture claims no primer is needed until 0 deg C or 32F but once again it has been found to make a better joint to always use primer.
Although professionals have several different tools available to them, the best at a reasonable cost for a home owner would be a miter box and fine tooth hands saw. The cuts must be at 90 degree cut to ensure a proper fit. A round file can be used to remove the burs from the inside of the pipe.
Pre-assemble the piping dry with all fittings. Use a magic marker to make corresponding marks on the adjoining fitting to ensure alignment. Cementing the fittings together can now commence. Click this link from Weld-On Products for full assembly.
Watch this brief video to help identify the certified items required to upgrade or replace your broken venting.
January 1st, 2009 at 5:20 pm
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO ANY GAS APPLIANCE UNLESS YOU ARE LICENSED TO PERFORM THESE CHANGES!!! THE CONSEQUENCES CAN BE DEADLY ! HAVE YOUR HEATING SYSTEM INSPECTED BY A PROFESSIONAL WHO IS FULLY AWARE OF ALL DIRECTIVES ISSUED BY THE TSSA (AND THERE ARE SEVERAL) AND WILL ADVISE YOU IF YOUR SYSTEM IS OPERATING EFFICIENTLY AND CONFORMS TO CURRENT CODES. THE COST IS WELL WORTH IT !!
January 1st, 2009 at 6:05 pm
I don’t disagree with your comment one bit. Because the code does allow homeowners to do work in their own homes at least they will have been educated of the dangers and if they wish to continue the repair, they will have been given the right way to do it instead of the cowboy way of doing the job. As for your comment, you are absolutely right, at bare minimum get a final inspection by a licensed gas technician done of the work completed by a homeowner for safety reasons.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:42 am
thank you for your additional comments–I should have specified my comments as “be sure the work is inspected by a Qualified Licensed Technician.
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Correction: Oatey purple primer is not compatible with Ipex Cement. ULC S636 clearly states that all products used (pipe, cement, primer and cement) must be made by the same manufacturer. If any other manufacturers product is used, it will void the certification. This is to ensure that all pieces in the system are compatible. Each manufacturer will certify their products as a system and not as any single item. Inspectors will check to see if all items are from the same source.
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:15 am
Thanks for the comments. I have checked and the manufacture now states these comments. 636 primer was not available in the begining when the venting first came out and it was advised for the use of PVC primers. It has always been manditory of the use of 636 solvent and although primer is not required above 0 C it is a good practice to use it.