Articles

Current Issues in Residential Ventilation [June ’04]

-Status of Proposed Changes to OBC Section 9.32 -Some HRV’s Sold in Ontario do Not Comply with 9.32.3.11.(2) -B-Vented Gas Appliances in New Homes -Exhaust Fans Vented into Attics/Soffits

Proposed Changes to 9.32 or Reinventing the Ventilation Requirements [June ’03]

-Review of Changes Proposed to Section 9.32 arising from NBC Proposals

Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Current Status [Feb ’03]

-Carbon Monoxide Detectors Changes arising from Oreg283-2001 (August 2001)
-Current & Past Application, location, standards, installation

Bath Fan Flow Measurement [Aug ’02]

-Techniques for measuring bath fan flow to meet CSA F326 req.
-Professional Flow-Hood; Minneapolis Bath Fan Flow Meter; CMHC Garbage Bag
-Exhaust Fans Vented into Attics/Soffits

Tales from the Duct [June ’02]

-HRV-“off” when in “re-circulate” mode
-Fan outlet size and manufacturer’s recommended duct size
-Range hoods supplementing TVC
-Exhaust fans in garages

Stale Air Stories [Dec ’01]

-HRV’s not self balancing -Falsehoods about Principle Fan location -Changes in HVI Sone ratings -CO detectors mandatory in new homes

On-Line Resources for Ventilation Code Enforcement [Aug ’01]

-Websites for: HRAI Certified Persons; HRAI Certified Products Catalog; OMH; CMHC

What is the Status of “Mixing Boxes” Under Section 9.32? [Feb ’01]

-Part 6 Design, Make-up Air, Requirement for certified ventilation equipment
-Equivalent to HRV?, application to Solid Fuel Appliances

Are Exhaust Ducts permitted to Terminate Inside Attics or Soffits? [Dec ’00]

-Exhaust duct termination and insulation rules

What about Charts that Show XX Airflow @ XX Feet of Duct [June ’00]

-Duct Sizing Calculation
-HRAI Ventilation Manual

Is Plastic Flex Duct Allowed for Bathroom Fans? [Feb ’00]

-Requirements for Bathroom exhaust ducts, flammability -Exhaust duct insulation requirements

Do Bathrooms and Kitchens Really Need Exhaust Fans if they have Openable Windows? [Dec ’99]

-Mechanical Exhaust vs Natural Exhaust -local exhaust requirement, section 9.32

Woodstove/Fireplace Installation in a New Home: What are the Ventilation System Options? [Oct ’99]

-Part 6 Design, depressurization calculation, depressurization test. -qualified ventilation designers -back-spillage, CO defectors, HRV + CO Detector 9.32 option

HRAI Certification Card System Expanded to Include Residential Heat Loss & Gain, Residential Duct Design [April ’99]

-HRAI Certification Programs, Arbitration-Decertification -Rubber Stamps vs Wallet cards, application to permit submissions-Lists of certified persons

Oil Combustion Equipment & Ventilation Requirements: A Case Study – Part 2  [Feb ’99]

-Part 6 ventilation design for Type III houses -House depressurization test, 5 Pa limit

Why are the Venting Classifications Different for Fireplaces?   [Aug ’98]

-Section 9.32 combustion venting classification -particular rules and exceptions for non-solid fuel fireplaces

Is an HRV all you need if a Natural Draft Combustion Appliance is Installed?    [June ’98]

-Section 9.32 reference to Part 6 Ventilation Design -Part 6 Rules for pressure control in the presence of Natural Draft

Potable Hot Water (Combo) Heating Systems: What are the Requirements    [April ’98]

-Potable Hot Water Heating and the UCG (Uniform Canadian Guideline) -Common problems, UCG outline, code reference, contact point

Inspector Operator Information Resources   [Feb ’98]

-Information resources available for consumer/home buyer education -CMHC, ONHWP, NRCan, HRAI, Labels, Manufacturers, Complaints

HRV SYSTEMS: What is the field Experience?   [Dec ’97]

-CMHC Field Survey of HRV Ventilation Systems -What works, what doesn’t work, what can be improved

Labels on Switches: How can such a small thing be such a BIG Problem   [Oct ’97]

-Section 9.32 switch requirements -Circulation fan/Ventilation Fan, where to get labels

Oil Side-Wall Vented Equipment. Positive Venting or Not?    [June ’97]

-Section 9.32 Combustion classification -recognition of combustion venting systems features

OBOA Residential Ventilation Course   [April ’97]

-available OBOA course -Content, benefits, comments from students

Duct Sizing Myths & Mysteries   [Feb ’97]

-fan outlet size vs duct size -9.32 table limitations, Part 6 duct design

HRAI Ventilation Certification Cards  [Nov ’96]

-HRAI Certification, arbitration, decertification -wallet cards, certification of drawings

Using the HRAI Ventilation Record for System Compliance [Aug ’96]

-Part 6 Design for Residential ventilation Systems -Performance Certification, Depressurization tests

Are Switches Required in Exhausted Rooms when a Central System is Used? [June ’96]

-Section 9.32 ventilation designs -Supplemental Fans, central fans, HRV’s, Local Fan Switches

3-Way or Not 3-Way Switches for Principal Exhaust Fans? [Feb ’96]

-Section 9.32 ventilation designs -Supplemental Fans, central fans, HRV’s

Can B-Vented Furnaces be Classified as Induced Draft? [Dec ’95]

-Section 9.32 Combustion Appliance Type Identification -House Type, B-Vent Chimneys, CSA F326 depressurization (5 Pa), test

Connecting to the Forced Warm Air Return Duct…Which Hardware Can Be Used? (Part 4) [Aug ’95]

-Simple outdoor air ducts -Motorized Dampers, Bi-metal (thermostatic) dampers, Mixing boxes

Outside Air Connections to Warm Air Systems for Make-up Air…Part 6 Rules (Part 3) [Aug ’95]

-Part 6 ventilation designs, make-up air
-Spillage susceptible non-solid fuel appliances
-CSA F326 depressurization limits (5 Pa), calculation, test

1993 Building Code Ventilation Requirements……How are they Working? [April ’95]

-field investigation of new code requirements, recommendations
-air quality differences between system types, training and flow-balancing

Minimum Return Air Temperatures in Warm Air Systems…WHY? (Part 2) [Dec ’94]

-problems arising from low temperatures
-continuous furnace blower use
-B-vent chimneys

Outside Air Connections to Warm Air Systems…What are the Rules? (Part 1) [Oct ’94]

-Minimum return air temperatures-design
-outdoor air “mixing boxes”, installation rules

No More High Temperature Plastic Venting….. What to do about the Ventilation System?) [Aug ’94]

-Minimum return air temperatures-design
-outdoor air “mixing boxes”, installation rules

What Switches Go Where for Ventilation Systems? [June ’94]

-Part 9 Ventilation Rules
-Principal, Supplemental, Circulation Fan Switches

Part 6 vs Part 9 in the OBC (Ventilation) [Feb ’94]

-Part 9, prescriptive ventilation systems
-Part 6, designed
-overview of OBC rules for residential ventilation systems

Can Range Hoods be Used for Ventilation Under Section 9.32 Rules?  [April ’94]

-range hoods & other supplemental fans
-total ventilation capacity
-fan sound ratings

HRAI and OBOA programs Concerning New OBC Ventilation Rules [Dec ’93]

-OBOA & HRAI Ventilation Training courses,
-Compliance forms

Requirements for Supplementary Heat in Habitable Basements [Oct ’93]

-Habitable/Walk-out Basements
-alternatives to “just stick in a baseboard”

A Look at the New 1992 HRAI Digest  [Aug ’93]

-Heat Loss/Gain, duct design methods
-overview of changes from 1986 Digest

Fan Requirements; Safety & Performance CSA 22.2 #113, HVI [Dec ’92]

-bath & range hood fans-safety certification requirements
-performance (airflow and noise) ratings; Home Ventilation Institute (HVI) Certification