ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion Building Codes for Electricians Residential Venting

Guy's,
It's been a requirement of the Building Code here, for the last 10 years, to vent all steam(from showers, dryers and cooking appliances) to the outside atmosphere, usually through in-line fans and ducting (circular).
One duct for each, normally taken either through the soffits, or (ugh ), the roofing iron.

Builder I sub elec. from asked me to leave enough hose to reach up to roof (opposed to soffit, the usual) in one house because the $$ was FHA or FANNIE MAY , or something like that; in another house I ran 3'' from 1st fl. powder rm. out over/into soffited porch, which 3rd. party insp. passed but I'm waiting to see what township insp. has to say.Can't imagine any real moisture fr. powder rm.,but again we'll see.

One County in this area won't even allow flexible duct for bath fans (which must be vented outside).
Their contention is that the convolutions create a "trap" which will catch and keep moisture and bacteria.

Scott35,
I once printed the entire '95 Title 24 Non-resi. All 600 and some odd pages.
I to this day have not had time to read it, only the 80 or so electrical pages. (and that's 2 Code cycles old) ...S

The U.K. building regs. have a clause relating to a bathroom needing an openable window, the area of which I believe is either some minimum size or related proportionally to the volume of the room. If such a window is not feasible, or the bathroom has no window at all, then mechanical venting is required.

I've seen bathroom fans vented into the attic here, but I don't much care for the idea. Who wants all that water vapor deposited up there?

Range hoods are a mixed bag here: Some are vented outside, others are fitted with a charcoal filter and just recycle the air back into the room. Many of the latest models come with two sets of adapters and fittings to allow either installation method.

...Who wants all that water vapor deposited up there?

Yup. Here in New York, most times I've seen this it resulted in the roof sheathing rotting out. The moisture condenses on the underside during our cold winters. A couple of times there was not much more left than the shingles!

This thread is "off topic".

The moderator has been informed and it will be moved to "HVAC Contractor Network" forthwit!

LOL


Coastal,

I see you're from Kill Devil Hills. I vacation down near the Village Beach Club in Nags Head, just a Brew Thru away!


Bill

Small world, Bill!

Maybe we can get together, time permitting for the both of us, the next time you are in the area!

Yes, the world is getting smaller every day!

I may go down again this Summer, I don't know yet. We've been down there a number of times over the last 10 years. I notice changes everytime we go down. A lot of new Building. I remember when the Dunes at Jockey Ridge were twice as high!


Bill

Around these parts, a half-bath with a window may not need a fan, but all others do; the presence of a tub or shower requires the fan, window or not.

As mentioned above, the fan must be ducted to the outside due to moisture. "Fenestration" probably stems from the French "la fenetre", the window.