Water heater vent ducting...need advice

[dnasser (David Nasser)]

Metal ducting leads up to …what looks like an older asbestos vent piping.
Should this be called out…( that the asbestos vent pipe should removed ) and replaced with current duct materials?

David

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x296/dawlita/Nachi/chris078.jpg

[jjonas (Jeffrey Jonas)]

It’s probably Transite and looks in good condition. I would mention it’s presence only, but would definately report on the improper mounting/brackets attempting to hold it in place. Is that twine???

[jfunderburk (Joe Funderburk, CMI)]

“The vent includes a Transite pipe, which is comprised of a solid, cement-like material that is known to contain asbestos fibers. Admittedly, these fibers could not easily escape from within the material, but the majority of heat vents, and certainly those that pass through attics, are required to be double-walled, or Type-B. And, as an imperceptible crack in a single-walled vent pipe could result in a fire, we recommend that the Transite pipe be replaced with a modern double-walled type.”

[jjonas (Jeffrey Jonas)]

@jfunderburk

“The vent includes a Transite pipe, which is comprised of a solid, cement-like material that is known to contain asbestos fibers. Admittedly, these fibers could not easily escape from within the material, but the majority of heat vents, and certainly those that pass through attics, are required to be double-walled, or Type-B. And, as an imperceptible crack in a single-walled vent pipe could result in a fire, we recommend that the Transite pipe be replaced with a modern double-walled type.”

Nice comment Joe, but I don’t think I agree completely with it. I don’t have time to look it up now, but I believe your requirement applies to metal vent material only. Even so, I would consider adding your comment to my report, depending upon more information of it’s condition, as a suggestion vs a recommendation, for safety of course.

[lkage (Larry Kage, CMI)]

@jfunderburk

“The vent includes a Transite pipe, which is comprised of a solid, cement-like material that is known to contain asbestos fibers. Admittedly, these fibers could not easily escape from within the material, but the majority of heat vents, and certainly those that pass through attics, are required to be double-walled, or Type-B. And, as an imperceptible crack in a single-walled vent pipe could result in a fire, we recommend that the Transite pipe be replaced with a modern double-walled type.”

The underlined is an important comment with transite pipe.

[dnasser (David Nasser)]

@jjonas

It’s probably Transite and looks in good condition. I would mention it’s presence only, but would definately report on the improper mounting/brackets attempting to hold it in place. Is that twine???

Thanks Jeff…

[dnasser (David Nasser)]

@jfunderburk

“The vent includes a Transite pipe, which is comprised of a solid, cement-like material that is known to contain asbestos fibers. Admittedly, these fibers could not easily escape from within the material, but the majority of heat vents, and certainly those that pass through attics, are required to be double-walled, or Type-B. And, as an imperceptible crack in a single-walled vent pipe could result in a fire, we recommend that the Transite pipe be replaced with a modern double-walled type.”

Thanks Joe…Im going to save this info.

[dnasser (David Nasser)]

@lkage

The underlined is an important comment with transite pipe.

Thanks larry…

[mlarson (Michael Larson, WI Lic. # 1672-106)]

And EPA says:

Asbestos-Cement Pipe

 EPA considers asbestos-cement pipe to be a "facility            component" (as defined in 40 CFR 61.141) of the facility which            owns or utilizes the pipe. In addition, **EPA considers  asbestos- cement           pipe to be Category II nonfriable asbestos  containing material.** This           material becomes "regulated asbestos  containing material"           (RACM), as defined in 40 CFR 61.141,  when it becomes "friable asbestos           material" or when it "has a  high probability of becoming or           has become crumbled,  pulverized or reduced to powder by the forces expected           to act  on the material during the course of demolition or renovation            operations regulated by [40 CFR Part 61 Subpart M]." Consequently,            the crushing of asbestos-cement pipe with mechanical equipment will            cause this material to become RACM. The demolition and  renovation provisions           in 40 CFR 61.145 and the waste disposal  provisions in 40 CFR 61.150           apply to asbestos-cement pipe  where the pipe is considered RACM, and           the amount of pipe  being removed and crushed is at least 260 linear           feet for a  single renovation project or during a calendar year for individual            nonscheduled operations.

[dnasser (David Nasser)]

@mlarson

And EPA says:

Thanks Michael…Im going to save all this info.

[jpope (Jeffrey Pope, CMI)]

@jjonas

Nice comment Joe, but I don’t think I agree completely with it. I don’t have time to look it up now, but I believe your requirement applies to metal vent material only. Even so, I would consider adding your comment to my report, depending upon more information of it’s condition, as a suggestion vs a recommendation, for safety of course.

Modern standards identify B-vents as “double-walled steel vents,” but the Transite piping used in these applications were (at that time) classified as “Listed B-vents.”

The biggest concern (for me) is the potential for cracks that cannot be seen, but will allow heat to escape. For this reason, I always recommend replacement as a “recommended safety upgrade.”

[jjonas (Jeffrey Jonas)]

Thanks Jeff. I wasn’t aware of the Transite classification being a “B-vent” (at the time).

Another concern, would be the exposure to elements above the roofline, but the OP didn’t comment on that.

[mlarson (Michael Larson, WI Lic. # 1672-106)]

Something else to consider.

The ground doesn’t shake so much in the midwest Jeff Pope.

Do you know of cracks appearing in transite if it has not been subjected to mechanical impact?

It was use around here sub slab heating duct but since it is considered non friable creating air born particles is difficult unless it is crushed.

I make the client aware of the issue but do not recommend replaceent if it does not appear subject to mechnical damage. YMMV

[jpope (Jeffrey Pope, CMI)]

@mlarson

The ground doesn’t shake so much in the midwest Jeff Pope.

That’s true, and based on the damage caused in that Virgina tremor last week, it seems the rest of the country is a “third-world country” with regard to seismic requirements

I couldn’t believe the extent of the damage caused by that little shaker.

[roconnor (Robert J. OConnor)]

@jpope

That’s true, and based on the damage caused in that Virgina tremor last week, it seems the rest of the country is a “third-world country” with regard to seismic requirements

Many people are surprised that there are actually significant fault lines running throughout the US, including one that runs right below NYC not too far from me. But the ones in CA are much more active and severe. You would probably never know it unless you looked at a USGS/FEMA seismic risk map.

@jpope

I couldn’t believe the extent of the damage caused by that little shaker.

I felt it on Long Island, NY … it shook my house a bit … :shock:

[jpope (Jeffrey Pope, CMI)]

@roconnor

I felt it on Long Island, NY … it shook my house a bit … :shock:

They can be quite shocking (pardon the pun ;)), but anything under a 6.0 doesn’t get much attention out here…

[roconnor (Robert J. OConnor)]

@jpope

They can be quite shocking (pardon the pun ;)), but anything under a 6.0 doesn’t get much attention out here…

Yea, you CA guys get shakers hourly … :shock: … http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/Maps/US10/32.42.-125.-115.php. My cousin lives in San Diego and says you just get used to it …

Other areas much less frequently … like every 50-100 years. Just goes to show ya that it’s only a matter of time before a quake hits home. I was just surprised that a quake almost 400 miles away shook my house.
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