Combustion Safety - Step 7 of The Seven Steps of Building a Synergy Home. Failure to follow combustion safety guidelines can lead to Carbon Monoxide poisoning and death.

1. www.WeTestOthersGuess.com
Step 7 - Combustion
Safety
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2. The 7 Steps of Building a Synergy
Home
• Airtight Construction
• Fresh Air Ventilation
• Improved Thermal Systems
• Properly Sized, Designed, Installed, and
Commissioned HVAC System
• Pressure Balanced
• Moisture Managed
• Combustion Safety •2

3. • Tighter homes have made exhaust appliances
compete for available air.
• Every bit of air that is exhausted to the
outside must be replaced.
• Usually it is from the nearest, closest hole.
• Proper planning and understanding is required
when using atmospherically vented fireplaces,
furnaces, water heaters, and commercial
grade cooktops.
• If gas is used, use direct-vent, sealed
combustion units.
• Better yet, use all-electric appliances. •3

4. Exhaust Only Devices in Your Home
• Dryers are exhausting 250 – 400 cubic feet per
minute (250 x 60 minutes = 15000 cubic feet
per hour).
• Microwave exhaust – 300cfm
• Cooktops – up to 1500cfm
• Bathroom fans – 75cfm
• Vented combustion appliances
• Central Vacs - ???
• Attic Fans
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5. Many times the fresh air supply is back down
the exhaust pipe of a combustion appliance or a
vented fireplace. The 2/10 Warranty paid for
the water heater that is located in the closet 3
separate times because the old one was
inexplicably backdrafting!
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6. The 2009 IRC requires fresh air
makeup on all vented fireplaces.
R1006.1. It also requires gasketed
doors.
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7. Commercial grade cooktops can remove 1200 to 1600 cubic feet
per minute of conditioned air from the home. The 2009
International Residential Codes now address the situation in
Section M1503.4 “Exhaust hood systems capable of exhausting
in excess of 400 cfm shall be provided with makeup air at a rate
approximately equal to the exhaust air rate. Such makeup air
systems shall be equipped with a means of closure and shall be
automatically controlled to start and operate simultaneously
with the exhaust system.”
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8. These are fresh air ventilation kits for
kitchen exhausts. A pressure switch wired
to the exhaust fan opens when the
appliance is turned on. Makeup air on
your HVAC system is also required.
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9. This can be a difficult task but it is
mandatory especially with a
masonry fireplace nearby.
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10. Makeup air for a very powerful
exhaust system.
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11. There are some great videos on
Youtube.
• Alpine Fresh Air Ventilation System
• Makeup Air Kit for Commercial Cooktop Exhaust
• Makeup Air Kit for Wolf Cooktop
• Broan Kitchen Makeup Air Kit
• Residential Kitchen Makeup Air Webinar
• Carrier ERV Video
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12. Many building
departments require an
outside air source for
factory built fireplaces.
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13. Do not install fresh air ventilation on a house-vented
fireplace/vent-free fireplace. This short-circuits
the oxygen depletion sensor and will kill
the homeowners in a tight home.
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14. Who is Liable For a Short-Circuited House-
Vented Fireplace That Was Required by Code?
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15. Passive air vents do not work.
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16. • Low airflow through a furnace is bad because
it allows the heat exchanger to get very hot.
• High temperatures can cause the “thinner”
more efficient heat exchangers to crack.
• Cracked heat exchangers put off Carbon
Monoxide.
• Why not use an all electric heat pump?
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17. Carbon monoxide monitors
should be used in place of
carbon monoxide detectors.
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18. • Carbon monoxide monitors and
smoke alarms should be installed
and maintained properly.
• Make sure they are properly
covered during construction
because dust can ruin them.
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19. •19