Vent clearance to service

[mridgeelk]

I have checked through the NEC and the IRC and can not determine if the distance between the service and vent pipe is incorrect. (my gut feeling is that it is too close) Is the vent pipe considered to be part of the roof structure and should have three feet clearance? Ed

Click to Enlarge

43.56 KB

[Mike Lamb]

You can check out Amerivent, Duravent termination requirements and you won't find that this is a problem.

[Jim Katen]

I have checked through the NEC and the IRC and can not determine if the distance between the service and vent pipe is incorrect. (my gut feeling is that it is too close) Is the vent pipe considered to be part of the roof structure and should have three feet clearance? Ed

I'm not aware of any restriction on the distance between the service drop and the b-vent. How far is the white metal roof from the drop wires?

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[mridgeelk]

The service cable is about four feet at minimum distance from the white roof. My concern wasn't hot metal and gases but the service cable coming in contact with the metal flue. It is interesting that there is no clearance requirement. Ed

I have checked through the NEC and the IRC and can not determine if the distance between the service and vent pipe is incorrect. (my gut feeling is that it is too close) Is the vent pipe considered to be part of the roof structure and should have three feet clearance? Ed

I'm not aware of any restriction on the distance between the service drop and the b-vent. How far is the white metal roof from the drop wires?

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[inspector57]

The nearest reference I can find is E3501.1 in the 2003 IRC that restricts clearance to not less than 3 feet from such things as porches, decks, stairs, ladders and fire escapes and the associated diagram points out a balcony railing.

Common sense must rule here since the specific code seems mute.

[hausdok]

What common sense? Just what is it that folks think is going to occur here anyway? The vent is a double-walled metal vent in free air and isn't going to get that hot anyway. I've put my hands on these things dozens of times and they're never much more than moderatively warm. I can't imagine that cable being damaged by the vent.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[hmiller]

I know this was not the question, but; I would be concerned about leaks at the flashing for the roof penetration of the B vent. There is good old Henrys' Tar plastered all the way around. Not exactly my idea of a long term flashing solution.