Confirming Flue Integrity And Effectiveness - BONAIRE WFBL26 Installation Instructions Manual

D W F
ELUXE ALL URNACE
Unit Commissioning
C F
ONFIRMING LUE
Open flued gas appliances and natural draught flue systems
This information provides Gasfitters with a
procedure for confirming the integrity and the
effectiveness of flues.
Application
• This procedure is applicable to gas
appliances incorporating flue systems of
the open flue type, operating under natural
draught conditions.
• This procedure is approved for the use of
gasfitters when attending appliances of the
above type for
-
New unit installation commissioning
-
Appliance or flue system repair
-
Modification, or
-
Safety inspection.
• The procedure includes both inspection
and testing.
Confirming the integrity of the flue system
Detailed inspection of the flue system will
confirm its integrity. If faults are found these
should be rectified before testing the flue for
effectiveness.
Method of inspection
•
Primary flue and down draught diverter
-
Examine the assembly for damage and
the accumulation of debris from the
secondary flue (see Note 1).
-
Where practicable, and without
dismantling any flue element, examine
the internal space of the secondary flue
(torch required)
•
Secondary flue
-
Examine the flue for cracks, damage
and continuity where visible
-
Confirm flue joints are sealed
-
Gain access to the flue terminal (cowl)
and confirm it is firmly fixed (see Note
2).
Information supplied by the Office of Gas Safety – Victoria
Information Sheet 28
I
NTEGRITY AND EFFECTIVENESS
.
Testing the effectiveness of the flue
Testing the flue system will confirm the safe
discharge of combustion products from the
flue terminal (cowl).
Where the discharge of combustion products
cannot be confirmed by testing additional
investigation shall be undertaken to establish
the cause and, where faults are found, these
must be rectified.
Before testing the flue
•
Confirm fixed air vents are unobstructed
and check for the presence of exhaust
fans e.g. kitchen or bathroom exhaust
fans.
•
Check the appliance gas pressure or gas
rate
Method of testing
•
If an exhaust fan is present switch it on
•
Turn on the gas appliance and leave for
at least 5 minutes (See Note 3).
•
Position a smoke pellet or hold smoke
match(s) inside the draught diverter
-
Confirm that smoke does not 'flow
back' into the room
-
Observe the smoke 'plume' from the
terminal (see Note 4).
Notes:
1. The accumulation of debris at the draught
diverter and heat exchanger is an indicator of
faults within the secondary flue and flue
terminal.
2. Damaged or loose cowls should be replaced
only after an internal examination of the
secondary flue.
3. Flue spillage is a characteristic of appliance
'start-up' and may be during the first 5
minutes of operation.
4.
Sufficient smoke is required to 'Flood' the flue
enabling a plume to be observed. Absence of
smoke at the terminal and appliance may
indicate a break in the flue within a roof space
or other void.
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