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BRANCH OPINION

NEWS RELEASE: January 15, 1996

The Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations has been advised that there are now approved alternate venting systems available to correct the majority of furnaces with defective high-temperature plastic vents. "I am pleased that industry has responded to our public safety concerns by providing consumers with a safe and more economical option to correct their heating systems," said Minister Norm Sterling.

On September 12, 1995, the ministry issued a Safety Order requiring all Ontario owners of heating systems with high-temperature plastic vents ta have these systems corrected by August 31, 1996. Accumulated evidence has confirmed that vents bearing the brand names Utravent, Sel-vent and Plexvent are defective, that premature failure will take place, and that the risk of failure increases with the length of use. The premature failures represent a long-term safety hazard in that poisonous carbon monoxide may leak into living spaces.

Consumers looking for additional information regarding the availability and compatibility of alternate vents for their appliance should contact their appliance manufacturer, their utility and/or a licensed heating contractor. They can also verify that a given vent has been properly certified by contacting the national certification agencies directly (Underwriters Laboratories of Canada, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. and the Canadian Gas Association).

The Ontario New Home Warranty Program (ONHWP) will cover the correction of defective heating systems in new homes which are eligible under the program. There homeowners are advised to call 1-800-387-7861 for further details.

In the interim, affected homeowners can keep their systems safe by ensuring that their vent system has been fully inspected and repaired if necessary, maintaining their furnace, and installing a carbon monoxide detector (available at most hardware stores or other retail outlets).

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Ministry of Consumer MinistŠre de la Consommation and Commercial Relations et du Commerce

BACKGROUND

• High-temperature plastic venting systems are used to exhaust the products of combustion from heating appliances such as furnaces, boilers and water heaters, to the outdoors. These high-temperature plastic vents were installed primarily in conjunction with mid-efficiency heating appliances.

• Over time, the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations (MCCR) accumulated evidence of a significant number of failures of plastic vents. The Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada (ULC) accumulated enough evidence of failure to suspend certification of the material and in June 1994, MCCR announced the ban of further installation of this type of venting systems.

• In late 1994, MCCR and the then-Ministry of Housing held meetings with gas utilities, vent and furnace manufacturers, the Ontario Home Builders Association, the Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Institute, certification agencies and the Ontario New Home Warranty Program (ONHWP) to encourage a unified approach to solving the problem. As a result in March 1995 MCCR issued another announcement encouraging homeowners to have their furnace vents repaired or replaced

• Subsequent evidence confirmed that heating systems using high-temperature plastic vents bearing the brand names Ultravent, Sel-vent and Plexvent, are defective in that premature failure will take place and that the risk of failure increases with the length of service.

• On September 12, 1995 the ministry issued a Safety Order to all affected homeowners requiring them to correct their systems by August 31, 1996, and notified them that natural gas utilities and propane distributors will discontinue the supply of gas to any heating system which has not been corrected by that date.

• The Ontario New Home Warranty Program will cover the correction of defective systems in new homes which are eligible under the program

• The major gas utilities agreed to provide preferred pricing and financing for any new equipment to homeowners not covered by ONHWP.

• Affected homeowners whose furnaces were replacements for older heating systems have been invited to join a potential lawsuit being launched by ONHWP for recovery of replacement costs.

• At this time, stainless-steel venting and power venters are the two alternate vents that manufactures of furnaces are recommending for use with their particular appliances. Power venters use a motorized blower to vent combustion gases produced by the heating system.

• There are now certified alternate vent systems available for approximately 80 per cent of the affected appliances. Not all of these solutions are ideal--power venters may have to be carefully located to avoid noise and vibration. However they are substantially less expensive than a complete furnace and vent replacement. Three major manufacturers Carrier, York and Rheem, are currently considering options for their respective customers. There is still ongoing development and certification activity regarding alternate vents, and industry may announce the availability of additional alternate vents in the future.

• Homeowners should contact the manufacturer of their furnace or appliance for current information on the availability of alternate vents for their product.

  If the manufacturer confirms that an alternate vent is available, the homeowner may choose to get quotes from heating contractors for installations in older homes. Owners of new homes should contact ONHWP at 1-800-387-7861

• Homeowners may also choose to contact the appropriate certification agency to confirm that the vent system in question has the necessary approvals-Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada (ULC) or Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (ULI) for vents and the Canadian GAS Association (CGA) for furnaces and for heating appliance and vent compatibility. These agencies are accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to certified heating appliances and vent systems.

• Ontario, the first jurisdiction in North America to take action to resolve this problem, is continuing to work with the industry and the certification agencies to ensure continued public safety.