 | Plumbing Vents In The Way: Reading the UPC |
|
|
Question: I have some of those despicable plumbing vents sticking through the roof which I'd like to cover with modules. They are within a foot of the edge of the array. My preferred solution is to mount the array up off the roof by 6-12 inches, and install elbows so that the vents zigzag under the modules, like this: http://dearjerry.home.mindspring.com/PV/VentA.jpg I asked this to one of the boys at the City of San Jose Building Department and was told "No, no you can't do that," with no explanation. This sounded to me like a typical bureaucrat's reaction which, from prior experience, I know may or may not be true. Indeed, according to my reading of the Uniform Plumbing Code http://dearjerry.home.mindspring.com/PV/UPCExcerpts.html I see nothing wrong with my design, unless you consider the edge of the PV module to be a "vertical surface" a la sec. 906.1, in which case they'd have to be a foot horizontally away from the modules. Furthermore, I see nothing in the UPC that would prevent me just cutting the damned things off like this: http://dearjerry.home.mindspring.com/PV/VentB.jpg However, the ringer is sec. 906.3 from which I conclude that, since PV is a use "other than weather protection", any vent within 10 feet of a PV module must extend 7 feet above the roof, a ridiculous requirement. I'm not sure I want to try Vent Design B, because a critical-thinking inspector might say that "obviously" methane might build up under the array on a windless day and cause an explosion. Then he might start reading 906.3 and make me extend it up 7 feet. So, I offer this information and ask anyone who has had experiences with city building inspectors in dealing with these plumbing vents to please reply and let us know what happened.
Answer: I know this is going to sound like a lot of work. Crawl into the attic cut off the vent pipe, as low to the ceiling and use 45 degree elbows in pairs to move the vent over to an clear area. Cover the old holes and install away. You might have to go 1/2 inch larger for the vent. Here in Phoenix installing vents near anything results in similar issues. My vent for my furnace is 3 feet away from my swamp cooler. The inspector had a cow. I asked quietly what was the problem. He responded you could suck the vent gases into the cooler. I first asked why you would want to run the cooler when the furnace is on. Then showed him that they were interlocked and you could not run both at the same time.
|
 |
|
| |
Submit Your Question
Home