On A Cold Night Are Your Windows Open?
Whilst this may sound like a stupid question! You're need ventilation if you're operating a flueless / unflued gas heater and want to remain healthy, even according to the manufacturer's documentation.
YES! Manufacturers and the Building Code of Australia state you need adequate ventilation, when operating these devices.
We are often asked whether flueless / unflued gas heaters are healthy or unhealthy by householders in Australia.
If These Heaters Are Healthy, Why Is It They Are Banned In So Many Places?
If they are banned in schools, is it really a wise choice to go and install them in our homes? At Aussie Home Energy we do not think this kind of heating is a healthy choice. There are too many pollutants, with unanswered questions as to the future effect on health.
Are You Aware You Need Adequate Cold Air Ventilation When Operating These Heaters?
We say 'cold air' as that is what it is, when you need a heating source. In most manufacturer’s documentation it states, adequate ventilation is a requirement! How much ventilation though and what type on a cold night, results in most homes we have visited, having no ventilation!
In this report on Flueless Gas Heaters hosted on the Federal Government's health website, the Building Code of Australia states a requirement of openable windows or the installation of mechanical ventilation system, conforming to the appropriate Australian standards (AS1668.2 1991 & AS3666).
The code requires all occupied rooms to have ‘adequate flow-through or cross-ventilation and air quality’. This must be provided by natural ventilation from permanent, openable windows, doors or other devices with a combined openable size of NOT LESS THAN 5% OF THE FLOOR AREA of the room to be ventilated, or a mechanical ventilation system conforming to the appropriate Australian standards (AS1668.2 1991 and AS3666).
To put that in layman's terms, for every 10 metres of floor area you need at least a window of 0.6 x 0.9 OPEN. Now on a cold night, non of our clients when asked had nor were going to do that! So we know the requirement is not being applied in most Aussie homes!
Further information on the health effects of unflued gas heaters, is available on the Federal Government's Department of Health & Ageing's website, where they state:
The Building Code of Australia requires the provision of openable windows or the installation of a mechanical ventilation system conforming to the appropriate Australian standards (AS1668.2 1991 and AS3666). The code requires all occupied rooms to have ‘adequate flow-through or cross-ventilation and air quality’. This must be provided by natural ventilation from permanent openable windows, doors or other devices with a combined openable size of not less than 5% of the floor area of the room to be ventilated, or a mechanical ventilation system conforming to the appropriate Australian standards (AS1668.2 1991 and AS3666).
To read 'The Health Effects Of Unflued Gas Heater Use In Australia' report visit their website.
To help you work out what 5% equates to in window sizes, we have a table on our website on the Home Energy Gas page.
So Are You Increasing The Risk Of Health Issues With Your Current Flueless Gas Heaters Operation?
We hope not. But if your like some of the homes we visit, we hope you are going to make healthy changes!
ONE CLICK POLL : We would like to know how much ventilation, you are operating your unflued gas heater with. We are asking for your vote. Firstly you will need to know the size of your room. Secondly to assist you in working out the 5% of floor space, thus resulting in the required window size we have a table on our Home Gas Energy page.
Thank You for your vote.....
