Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine June 2018

HVACR NewsMagazine June 2018 State National Chapter News

chimney effect in case of a fire and exacerbate the fire and risk to the family. 10. Vent all kitchen and bathrooms to the outside. They should not terminate in the attic. (This is already code / energy code.) Historically, the HVAC contractor did not furnish or install those fans; however, since the heating and air conditioning contractor has “V” in his trade name—HVAC, the HVAC contractor has at least implied responsibility to assure that those items meet code. If the builder or homeowner refuses to authorize and pay for proper ventilation, the HVAC contractor should demand that the builder and or homeowner has signed a disclaimer and release of liability. 11. Communication is key to making sure that the HVAC system in all homes, especially the super tight home, performs to the comfort, health, and safety of the consumer. Our industry has much more responsibility than we previously realized. Since this is “not your Daddy’s system” anymore, we must take the lead in making sure that we design and install our systems with the understanding that the home is a system. We must take the time to ask questions and to follow up to be sure that what we were told is, in fact, the way the house was build. The homeowner or their lawyer will not accept excuses for the mistakes. Ignorance; i.e., “I didn’t know they were encapsulating the attic”, “I didn’t know the crawl space was being encapsulated”, “I didn’t know they were using foam insulation”, “I didn’t know they were installing a chef’s kitchen with a 400+ vent fan”, I didn’t know they were going to have all those aquariums, plants, and candles” will not work as an excuse when we testify as the expert that designed and installed the system. We are at a fast changing time in the HVACR industry and home construction.

pipe and the issue of confined space is not applicable. 6. Ductwork must be installed to prevent sweating. (This is already code.) Since the duct is located in indirect conditioned space, code does not require sealing or insulating the duct; however, it is the responsibility of the HVAC contractor to ensure that the duct does not sweat. This supersedes the opportunity to save money by not sealing or insulating. It is much easier and less expensive to seal and insulate as a matter of practice rather than hoping that the duct will not reach dew point. It is therefore my opinion that industry practice should be sealing and insulating the duct regardless of the encapsulated attic. 7. A supply and return should be installed in the encapsulated attic with the supply being located a distance from the return so as to create air flow across the attic. This is not code and some say there is no data to confirm the need for this; however, it is insurance for the contractor just in case the moisture in the conditioned space wicks its way into the attic to the extent that the attic humidity is above 60%. 8.A smoke detector with a kill switch to the air handler / furnace should be installed in the return near the equipment. Should a fire begin in the attic, a system would distribute the smoke throughout the house and death by smoke inhalation is common and a serious issue. The cost to benefit ratio compels a HVAC contractor to take the action of erring on the side of safety and consumer protection. 9.Do NOT install transfer grills between the conditioned space and the encapsulated attic. Some fire marshals believe that transfer grills could create a