PVC venting

Shaun Anderson

Why is it that North America uses PVC to vent our HE boilers but Europe does not. I was informed once that they use strictly SS vent. Are we being setup for a diaster ?? Just something to kick around.


TheFuture

Constantin

I doubt disaster...

... AFAIK, the Viessmann Vitodens concentric venting system is used worldwide... It is made of polypropylene, which is a thermoplastic, just like PVC though it's not as toxic when it burns, AFAIK. Granted, PP's melting temperature is much higher, and the stuff is "protected" by a outer venting material (Al) on the vitodens vent that isn't flammable...

Perhaps its simply a question of codes catching up to modern heating appliances. I'm sure that the powerful chimney-sweep lobby is not happy about the prospect of even fewer inspections as modern DV systems make headway, for example.