Photo courtesy of IPEX USA LLC
IPEX’s Gaetano Altomare details how and why IPEX upholds such high standards
Whether you live in a single-family home or multi-family dwelling, the gas-fired appliances that warm your water and your home are outfitted with piping that vents potentially hazardous flue gas.
Over the decades that piping has been manufactured from a variety of materials, including foam core, ABS, polypropylene, and PVC. But here’s the problem: They’re DWV plumbing products that adhere only to ASTM standards for liquids. Because flue gases are comprised of much smaller molecules, they must be channeled through specially designed systems to prevent carbon monoxide leakage.
IPEX’s System 1738 PVC is one of those systems. Made from a uniquely engineered and certified UL 1738 compound that’s rated for gas temperatures up to 149º Fahrenheit, it’s also certified to strict modern standards for flue gas venting, meaning increased safety, which even carbon monoxide detectors can’t fully provide. At best a secondary line of defense, their warning alarms are triggered only after gas has been released and toxicity levels are high. The safest option is to stop leaks from happening in the first place.
System 1738® is a flue gas venting system fully certified to UL 1738—consisting of pipe, fittings, termination kits, and cement manufactured to strict quality, performance, and dimensional standards. Photo courtesy of IPEX USA LLC
Achieving UL 1738 certification—recognized as an option by both NFPA 54-18 National Fuel Gas Code and IFGC-18—requires the successful completion of more than 50 rigorous tests that confirm structural integrity and assure top performance.
Detailed installation guidelines are clearly outlined as well, so as to maintain high-quality performance from origin to termination. Those are extremely important in preventing something from going wrong. Perhaps most crucial, dealing with one flue gas venting manufacturer ensures installations are single-source, which eliminates complexity and streamlines the process altogether.
That means one source for questions, one source for any issues that may arise, and one source for onsite training and warranty. Whether that source is a trusted company like IPEX, using flue gas venting products that are UL 1738-certified can provide peace of mind.
Gaetano Altomare
Founded more than 50 years ago, IPEX has grown to become a leading manufacturer of thermoplastic piping for industrial, commercial, and residential applications. When it comes to safe flue-gas venting, as Gaetano Altomare says, IPEX’s System 1738® PVC is an eminently reliable choice—and for many reasons, including performance, convenience, and peace of mind. From the unique chemical makeup of the piping itself to the strict certification process it endures prior to installation, quality and convenience are always central.
