Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) and Plumbing (Part 6 of the NBC and the NPC)
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) and Plumbing (Part 6 of the NBC and the NPC) - Transcription
Slide 1
My name is Diane Greene. I'm a Technical Advisor at Codes Canada.
This presentation will cover changes to both the National Building Code (NBC) Part 6 - Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC), and the National Plumbing Code (NPC).
This presentation is part of a series of 13 presentations on the 2015 editions of Codes Canada.
Before I begin with the technical content of this presentation, I will speak briefly about the code development system.
Slide 2
It is important to note that the model Codes, which are developed by the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes, must be adopted by provincial/territorial authorities to become law.
This may mean that Code requirements enacted by legislation within your province or territory might differ from what is presented here. Please check with your local authority.
Slide 3
It is also important to point out that the National Codes are not a federal regulation.
This means it is not NRC or Codes Canada that decides what goes into the Codes but you!
Codes Canada facilitates an open, transparent, consensus-based process to come up with improvements.
Over 400 committee members volunteer their time to decide on changes to the next Codes.
All committees are balanced between regulators, industry and public interest so that no single category can outvote the other two.
This process is shown on the slide:
- It typically starts with someone requesting a Code change.
- It continues with technical committees developing proposed changes.
- It involves a public review and the final approval by the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes.
It's a simple process and it depends on your input.
Please go to the Codes Canada website and find out how you can:
- submit code change requests,
- participate in committees, or
- comment on proposed changes during our public reviews.
Slide 4
Before we start, here are some clarifications on the presentations themselves:
The presentations cover only the changes from 2010/2011 to 2015 Codes and not how to use or interpret the Codes in general.
The presentations contain only the significant changes - the details are in the handbook. Each presentation contains a reference to the relevant pages in the handbook.
The presentations stay strictly within the scope of the National Codes and do not cover provincial or territorial variations.
Slide 5
We will begin with changes made to the NBC Part 6, Heating, Ventilating and Air-conditioning (HVAC).
Two subjects of interest:
- the reorganization of Part 6, and
- Indoor air quality issues.
Most changes address indoor air quality within buildings. These include:
- identifying indoor air contaminants,
- dealing with outdoor design conditions,
- detailed requirements for HVAC equipment, and
- other changes.
During the second half, I'll speak about changes to the NPC.
Handbook pages 41-44
Slide 6
Part 6 was completely reorganized, as you can see from the Table of Contents on the right on the screen.
It is now easier to use because:
- general provisions are grouped at the front end, followed by system-specific solutions,
- it has a logical sequence,
- it is in smaller pieces, and
- it is separated according to major mechanical elements.
Part 6 is now more intuitive for users.
Slide 7
The picture shows Legionella. It is a pathogenic bacteria capable of producing diseases in humans, sometimes fatally. It is one of many contaminants of concerns that may be unintentionally released into the indoor environments.
You may have heard the incident that occurred in 2012 when the Complexe Jacques-Cartier in Quebec City was found to be the source of the legionnaires' disease outbreak that killed 13 people and made nearly 170 others sick. When inhaled, this bacteria can cause respiratory illnesses and death.
Clarity was needed as to what was meant by “air contaminants”. Code users are now directed to the authority having jurisdiction responsible for determining the target contaminants of concern, their acceptable concentrations and exposure, and the methodology used to determine these values.
Additional information is provided regarding the health concerns with the growth and spread of bio-contaminants. The potential adverse health effects include respiratory allergic reactions, asthma and infectious diseases ranging from influenza to Legionnaires' disease.
Slide 8
Unlike TV shows such as “Under the Dome” as shown on the picture on the right, we don't live in a bubble, therefore the quality of the outdoor air used for the building's ventilation needs to be considered.
Do you think the outdoor air we use for ventilation is “clean”? Actually, we no longer talk about “fresh air” for ventilation because outdoor air is not always contaminant free.
The NBC now provides:
- updated maximum acceptable levels for ground level ozone and particulate matter for large geographic areas (large dome)
- new requirements to assess the outdoor air quality conditions of the local area (small dome) of the building site and immediate surroundings. These new requirements are based on common sense.
- new requirements to include devices that reduce the concentration of contaminants before their entry into the building.
Slide 9
What is wrong with this picture?
Sources of local outdoor air contaminants could include:
- dumpsters (see photo)
- incinerators,
- emissions at loading docks,
- manufacturing plants (auto repair), etc.
The local area of the building site, including its immediate surroundings, should be investigated to identify contaminants that may be of concern if allowed to enter the building.
Should there be contaminants of concern, devices that reduce their concentration should be installed prior to their entry into the building.
Result:
Better indoor air quality and healthier occupants.
Slide 10
The NBC goes even further by identifying typical site-specific sources of outdoor air contaminants and provides explicit requirements to address them.
For instance, minimum distances of outdoor air intakes from sources of contaminants are specified to prevent their entry into indoor occupied spaces.
Sources of contaminants could include thoroughfares, sanitary vents and discharge from cooling towers.
Furthermore, vented products of combustion are to be discharged away from the building at specified minimum distances from certain outdoor occupied spaces and building components such as doors and operable windows.
This is to prevent the re-entry of contaminants of concern, which should help reduce the potential of release of contaminants within the building that could result in adverse health effects on the occupants.
Slide 11
We are all aware of the recent Legionnaires' disease outbreaks in both the U.S. and Canada that resulted in numerous deaths, as explained earlier.
The cause of the illnesses was exposure to airborne transmission of Legionella containing aerosols generated by building systems. To prevent the growth and spread of biological contaminants such as Legionella, design applications for evaporative equipment were clarified and expanded to address the health risks.
For instance, the distance between the air intakes of cooling towers in relation to sources of organic matter, which may serve as a nutrient source for bacterial growth, are specified. Also, products of cooling tower blow-downs are to be connected to the building's drainage system.
Slide 12
The key to minimizing the growth of biological contaminants is regular maintenance and testing.
In order to ensure that these important activities are safely performed, requirements for the installation of access ports, service platforms, fixed ladders and restraint connections are required.
Slide 13
This picture shows a drain pan under a heat exchanger. You can see the drain connection on the left.
Problem:
Condensate from equipment can produce mold, which could get into the airstream and contaminate indoor air.
To reduce the potential release of contaminants within the building that could adversely affect the health of the occupants, the NBC requires the proper installation of adequate drain pans where condensate may be present.
Slide 14
This change clarifies the application of ventilation requirements for “storage garages.”
Car dealership showrooms are not considered “storage garages.” They don't require ventilation for exhaust from running engines.
Slide 15
Problem: The referenced NFPA standard exceeded the related requirements of the NBC for the fire-resistance rating of enclosures of vertical service spaces.
Action: New Code harmonizes fire-resistance rating of fire separations enclosing grease ducts for commercial cooking operations with other North American standards.
Result: Eliminates conflicting requirements and improves market access.
Slide 16
Problem: The 2010 NBC did not address the design and installation of thermal insulation on ductwork.
Action: Until an approved standard is published, an appendix note in Part 6 now references a best practice guide from the Thermal Insulation Association of Canada to address this.
Slide 17
To summarize:
- As you can see, Part 6 of the NBC does not simply describe “how to” design and install HVAC systems.
- It addresses occupant health issues with the intent that we all breathe quality air when we are indoors.
Slide 18
We will now look at some changes introduced in the National Plumbing Code (NPC).
Changes made to the NPC cover the following areas:
- low lead fittings
- stainless steel piping and tubing
- water-use efficiency.
Slide 19
We will begin with low lead fittings.
You may have heard of Flynt Michigan's in the media. The proportion of infants and children with above-average levels of lead in their blood has nearly doubled since the city switched from the Detroit water system to using the Flint River as its water source, in 2014. Picture here is of a corroded pipe that could be a cause of lead leaching into a water stream, if the pipe contained lead.
Lead is a concern because the effects of exposure to lead on human health may include:
- cardiovascular problems,
- reduced kidney functions, and
- other issues for developing brains in children.
If you are familiar with the 2010 NPC, you may have already seen this interim change.
It addresses low lead plumbing fittings, and has a significant impact on the Canadian plumbing industry.
Slide 20
Shown is the periodic table properties of lead. Why? The NPC is interested in more than its properties as it also limits the lead content for plumbing fittings with the intent of reducing the probability of lead leaching into the drinking water and thus, reducing the health risks for Canadians.
In doing so, the NPC references the 2012 editions of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standards. These standards were updated with requirements focusing on the element (shown) for low-lead content pipes and fittings.
These standards limit allowable lead content of supply fittings to 0.25% or less (meaning no more than a weighted average lead content of 0.25% on surface that come in contact with water). In addition, this change harmonizes the permissible lead content of supply fittings in the NPC with similar lead regulations in American jurisdictions.
Slide 21
Stainless steel piping is commonly used in the industry, often in plumbing systems.
Problem:
There were no NPC requirements for stainless steel plumbing material, although other commonly used materials were addressed. Is this a problem in itself? No, because the NPC allows the use of alternative solutions that are considered to meet the performance level of acceptable solutions found in Division B of the Code.
However, always relying on alternative solutions could lead to enforcement issues and, in some jurisdictions, prevent stainless steel from being installed in buildings altogether.
It also becomes costly for manufacturers, contractors and designers to always look up for alternative solutions as the approval of such solutions is not harmonized throughout the country.
Action:
The NPC introduces stainless steel material as an acceptable solution for plumbing in Division B. It also includes specific requirements for using it in plumbing systems.
Slide 22
The NPC references the American Society for Testing of Materials (ASTM) and ASME standards for the performance of:
- stainless steel pipes,
- butt weld pipe fittings,
- pipe flanges, and
- threaded fittings and tubes.
This helps ensure that elements of the stainless steel plumbing systems, including tubing, piping and mechanical joints, can withstand operating pressures.
To help ensure adequate corrosion resistance, the NPC now specifies the grade of stainless steel used for the plumbing components.
Additionally, the NPC permits stainless steel piping in drainage, venting and potable water systems, and limits the use of stainless steel tubing only in potable water systems.
Stainless steel tubing is only permitted for use in potable water systems due to the limited market availability of large diameter tubing required for typical drainage applications.
Slide 23
Stainless steel welded joints must conform to an ASME standard.
The picture on the left shows a butt joint connection that is welded to two pipes. The standard requires that the welds be performed by a qualified tradesperson.
Slide 24
Focusing on piping, this slide addresses two topics.
The first (not shown) is that the NPC added requirements for maximum horizontal spacing for the support of stainless steel piping and tubing. Too large a spacing could result in piping bending and affect flow through the pipe.
The second topic deals with galvanic corrosion.
The first picture to the left shows a fitting that electrically insulates the pipe from the hanger.
Hangers or supports made of a metal other than stainless steel must be separated and electrically insulated from stainless steel pipe or tube to reduce the risk of galvanic corrosion.
The picture on the right shows a pipe that isn't insulated.
No separation is needed for stainless steel supports or hangers supporting stainless steel piping.
Slide 25
Did you know?
All Code requirements must relate to an objective and have a stated purpose or goal i.e. an intent statement?
Problem:
Before, there was no objective in the NPC for water usage.
Action:
A new objective was developed to support new water-use efficiency requirements so that water-use efficiency is now an acknowledged goal in the NPC.
The NPC added new requirements for water-use efficiency. Note the $ sign in the water drop... with old shower fixtures, a 15-minute shower would be enough to fill a typical tub! That's a lot of water.
With the new requirements for water-use efficiency, which set limits on the maximum flow rate of supply fittings such as shower heads, the amount of water used for a typical shower could be significantly reduced. This could have a direct impact on the municipal infrastructure for water treatment plants.
In most cases, the cost of low-consumption fixtures or supply fittings is not significantly higher than the cost of comparable high consumption units. The result is the potential for reduced water consumption and operating cost without a significant incremental cost increase for supply fittings or fixtures.
Slide 26
Water-use efficiency performance levels were chosen after a careful review of standards, codes, product labeling programs, stakeholder and provincial/territorial requirements.
Why?
The new performance levels reflect market direction.
They were incorporated explicitly in the NPC to ensure harmonization between national regulations.
Outcome:
Improve the water-use efficiency performance of compliant fixtures and fittings without increasing cost significantly. Fixtures use less water.
Slide 27
The NPC added mandatory water-use efficiency requirements for plumbing fixtures.
They limit maximum water usage per flush cycle, in litres per flush, for water closets and urinals.
Flush tank urinals must be capable of preventing flush cycles when they're not in use.
However, when not in use for an extended period of time (such as those in seasonal buildings), flush tank urinals may be set up to flush automatically at predetermined intervals as automatic flushing prevents the depletion of the water seal due to evaporation.
Installing flush tank urinals capable of preventing flush cycles when not in use, as required by the new Code provisions, could significantly reduce the water consumption.
The NPC permits less-stringent water usage for retrofits in residential buildings where more stringent new building water closet requirements would be impractical.
Slide 28
Have you ever been frustrated by your kid's 45-minute shower? Wish you could shut off the hot water? Here's a step in the right direction… their long showers will use less water.
The NPC added mandatory water-use efficiency requirements for supply fittings and shower heads regulating maximum water usage for lavatory supply fittings, kitchen supply fittings and shower heads.
Exception:
This doesn't apply to lavatories in health care facilities, emergency eye washes and emergency showers, because they are often required to have higher flow rates to service their intended use.
Slide 29
Another change affects multiple shower heads.
Where one temperature control for multiple shower heads is installed in a public shower, every shower head should have a control device, such as an occupant sensor or a self-closing valve, that automatically shuts off the flow of water when the shower head is not in use (think of a school change room).
The NPC also requires an automatic shut-off for every lavatory in public washrooms. Since I am often asked, a tip here is that the automatic shut off can be a mechanical type. You do not need to use a battery-operated sensor technology.
Slide 30
What are the key messages of the NPC presentation?
The NPC is now harmonized with North American jurisdictions to prevent the supply of high lead content plumbing fittings,
Stainless steel material is now supported with acceptable code solutions (i.e. less alternative solutions and enforcement concerns), and
Water-use efficiency is a new Objective, supported by new mandatory requirements for fixtures and fittings.
Slide 31
I have covered a lot of information in today's presentation. The handbook is a useful resource if you want to review the topics from this presentation in more detail.
It covers the majority of technical changes that were implemented in the 2015 National Building Code, National Fire Code, National Plumbing Code and National Energy Code for Buildings.
The handbook can be purchased on NRC's virtual store as a downloadable PDF or as a hard copy.
Slide 32
Contact Information
In closing I have appreciated this opportunity to update you on plumbing and heating, ventilating and air conditioning Codes Canada changes.
| Autre titre | Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) and Plumbing (Part 6 of the National Building Code of Canada: 2015 and the National Plumbing Code of Canada: 2015) |
|---|---|
| Téléchargement | |
| DOI | Trouver le DOI : https://doi.org/10.4224/40002095 |
| Auteur | Rechercher : 1; Rechercher : 1 |
| Orateur | Rechercher : Green, Diane1 |
| Affiliation |
|
| Format | Vidéo, Object d'apprentissage |
| Sujet | Codes et guides; construction; bâtiment; NRCCode |
| Date de publication | 2015 |
| Maison d’édition | National Research Council of Canada |
| Publication connexe | Voir les objets (3) |
| Langue | anglais |
| Exporter la notice | Exporter en format RIS |
| Signaler une correction | Signaler une correction (s'ouvre dans un nouvel onglet) |
| Identificateur de l’enregistrement | 65410503-9d53-4009-8a58-cacf528d4f0f |
| Enregistrement créé | 2021-05-04 |
| Enregistrement modifié | 2022-06-21 |
- Date de modification :