WETT Award of Excellence
John Gulland, WETT 2023 Award of Excellence Recipient
The WETT Award of Excellence recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to advancing the objectives of WETT Inc.
Our 2023 recipient is John Gulland.
John Gulland's involvement with wood burning began in 1974 when he moved to a rural area and built a wood stove for his own home. During the late seventies he worked for a major manufacturer of wood furnaces, responsible for product development, quality control and customer service. He became a consultant in the field in 1981 and served for one year as residential wood energy policy advisor to Energy, Mines and Resources Canada.
While continuing to offer consulting services, he established a highly successful wood stove and fireplace retail store in 1985, which he sold to its manager in 1992. Working under contract to the Canadian Wood Energy Institute (CWEI), he served as principal researcher, writer and project leader in the development of the reference materials and course documents for the acclaimed Wood Energy Technical Training program (WETT).
John has delivered dozens of training seminars and workshops for wood-heat professionals all over North America. He is acknowledged to be one of North America’s foremost experts on chimney installation design and function, especially in tightly constructed houses. He has also led teams of researchers conducting two major combustion venting research projects for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
From 1990 to 1994, his company provided association management and technical services to Wood Energy Technology Transfer Inc. (WETT Inc.), the national registrar for the WETT program, and to the Association of Registered Wood Energy Technicians of Ontario (ARWETO), its affiliate in Ontario.
In the mid-1990s, he developed a new manual and workshop called Reliable Chimney Venting, which was adopted and published by the U.S. HEARTH Education Foundation. His book, The Hearth in the House as a System is now online. John is deeply involved in initiatives to reduce indoor and outdoor smoke emissions from wood-burning equipment.
WETT is pleased to award John Gulland with our 2023 Award of Excellence.
John accepted his award in person during our AGM on Friday, June 9, 2023.
Wood-burning Inserts Installed Into Manufactured Fireplaces
By Martin Aubé
Today, in our industry, there is a great debate on the installation of wood-burning inserts into manufactured fireplaces. To clear the air a little: a manufactured fireplace is also known as a prefabricated fireplace (prefab) and/or a zero-clearance fireplace (ZC).
Instead of giving a quick yes or no answer to start, let’s look at several factors in play for this type of installation and what questions we should ask to get to the required information.
What is the insert certified for? What is the fireplace certified for? What chimney is connected to the fireplace? What is the chimney/venting requirement for the insert? What needs to be inspected prior to installation?
Inserts must be certified to ULC S628, which is for installation into masonry fireplaces. There is no current certification standard for wood-burning inserts to be installed into a manufactured fireplace. Manufactured fireplaces are certified to ULC S610. For a ULC S628-certified insert to be installed into a ULC S610-certified manufactured fireplace, the fireplace itself should have been tested for the installation of an insert. What does the manufactured fireplace installation manual state? Many state that the use of uncertified components will void the certification or warranty of the manufactured fireplace.
So, is this ULC S610-certified fireplace certified for use with a ULC S628 insert? The ULC S610 certification allows for either a ULC S604 or ULC S629 chimney system to be used for venting a manufactured fireplace. The wood-burning insert requires a ULC S629 certified chimney system or equivalent, as per the building code. More specifically, the ULC S628-certified insert usually requires a stainless-steel liner as the main exhaust channel inside an appropriate shell/housing. This shell/housing is more commonly a masonry chimney. In some cases, for sizing purposes, a manufactured chimney is acceptable.
Depending on the manufactured chimney used on the fireplace, the chimney could then become a concern for the insert installation. A fireplace with a ULC S629 certified chimney would be able to handle the heat generated by the insert travelling through the stainless-steel liner, whereas a ULC S604 certified chimney does not hold the temperature rating to allow its use to contain a stainless-steel liner connected to a ULC S628 certified insert.
Is the existing chimney a packed insulation or air-cooled system? If air cooled, is the air channel compromised? If an air-cooled chimney is compromised, it would no longer be considered to be “air-cooled” and its certified clearances would no longer apply. Would the chimney have its clearances?” The clearances for the air-cooled chimney are based on having the air channel open.
If an insert were to be installed into a manufactured fireplace — or if there were a code for us to follow for it — what level of inspection would need be done to the original fireplace system? A Basic Visual Inspection would be severely lacking in this regard, as most of the installation is hidden. A Technical or Invasive inspection would not only be necessary to see all the hidden areas, but you would also need to know the following:
Was the manufactured fireplace originally installed correctly?
How old is the original installation? Age by itself is not a hazard. However, years of overheating and/or moisture penetration could create a hazard.
Has the original installation been modified?
Many questions and concerns can arise. The same as any manufactured fireplace inspection, the biggest difference is the “WHY.”
Why would someone want to install an insert into a manufactured fireplace? The most likely cause is to increase efficiency while burning and increase heat output. The worst-case scenario here is the end user may be wanting far more heat than the original manufactured fireplace installation can handle. Also, the grills of a fireplace, if present, may never be blocked or covered. Especially by the insert faceplate/surround. This would also potentially cause an overheat of the original firebox.
Due to the forementioned requirements, in my opinion ULC S628-certified inserts should not be installed into a ULC S610-manufactured fireplace.
History of WETT, Part Two
By: George LeBlanc and John Gulland
In our last History article we recorded as much information as we could find to get us to the beginning of WETT, and now we would like to review the years moving forward with our affiliates and past Presidents.
All of these amazing volunteers worked with Boards and committees to lead the program to where it is today.
In the beginning, the regional Affiliates did most of the field work of promoting and delivering the program.
Here is some background:
WETT Affiliates
ARWETO - Association of Registered Wood Energy Technicians of Ontario
Formed in 1988 by volunteer Board of Governors in association with the government of Ontario. The term ‘Registered’ is significant because it was granted by the government to confer a degree of authority and status as an alternative to the government taking on the training and certification functions itself. ARWETO also hosted a trade show and conference known as the WOOD/GAS Forum for several years in the early 1990s. The ‘Forum’ in 1995 had indoor and outdoor booths for the display and demonstration of products also offered a program of education sessions. Technicians from across the country attended.
The Forum became the gathering for all industry members to meet yearly, to plan the events and training requirements for the following year. ARWETO had some advantages over the other affiliates (perhaps unfairly) because it was in the most populous province and was headquartered in the densely populated ‘Golden Horseshoe’ of Ontario. The Association also had support from the Ontario government, which had been a major funder (along with the Federal government) of the WETT training system.
AWETA - Atlantic Wood Energy Technicians Association (Nova Scotia)
Reported by Mike Kempton in 1995 WETT Ink.
“Formed on September 15th, 1988 by the Wood Heat Steering Committee in Nova Scotia that had been in existence for several years. The first official meeting of AWETA was October 19th, 1988. In 1989 they ran their first WETT course and 10 courses later they had 248 members.
A “Train the trainer” course was held in May 1990, and the pilot for the Volunteer Firefighters course was held with a great response.
Which Course Should I Take?
The new SITE Inspection course is the one all WETT-certified members must complete for their next CE credit.
This course is designed to create more uniformity in inspection activities and reporting. Included in this course are five case studies. Guided by expert instructors, you will be asked to work through scenarios, mimicking an inspection, the process of documenting the inspection through the WETT inspection forms and addressing common challenges. Through actively doing these inspections, you will both gain new knowledge and learn how to apply it.
This course is different from our other courses because it has two parts:
1. the pre-course module
2. the in-class modules
The Pre-course
Once you register for the SITE Inspection course, you will be assigned access to the pre-course.
The pre-course is a one-hour presentation that you watch, followed by a short quiz. You must complete the pre-course before you can attend the in-class course.
You will be sent an email with your course information, which will include the date by which you need to complete the pre-course. It must be completed at the latest one week before your course start date. You will also receive a separate email with the link to access the pre-course.
The In-Class Modules
The in-class portion part of the course is offered both in person and virtually. It takes place over two full days. As with all WETT courses, there will be an exam on the final day of the course. For virtual courses, you will be given access to an online exam.
To view course dates and locations, please check https://members.wettinc.ca/courses/national_calendar.cfm
WETT names winners of the 2022 DuraVent / Security Chimneys Training Bursaries
Wood Energy Technology Transfer is pleased to announce three (3) recipients of the DuraVent / Security Chimneys training bursaries for 2022.
Dustin Block is a woodworker by trade and a bonified wood hound. During the COVID shutdown of 2020/2021, he re-located to Pigeon Lake, Alberta (West of Wetaskiwin); a close-knit community which prides itself on hiring local. Wanting to stay connected with the wood-heat industry and wanting to fulfill a need within the community, he took the WETT core training program and graduated to candidate status in December 2021. His passion for all things wood and wood energy are only growing as more and more people are returning to the principles of local, hand-made products and independent living. Dustin is looking to continue his education towards obtaining full WETT certification as a sweep.
Greg Dumka hails from Dawson City, Yukon. This region is steeply rooted in history as the home of the Klondike Gold Rush back in the late 1800’s; memorialized in the writings of Robert Service, Jack London, Pierre Berton, and many others. Greg started on his path towards WETT certification in 2018. He is a Journeyman carpenter, wood-stove installer, and home inspector. Greg is looking to continue his solid-fuel education with the goal of obtaining full status as a certified sweep.
Fraser Joyes resides in Alberta’s Athabasca region well North of Edmonton. He has been working in construction for over 15 years and achieved full journeyman carpenter status in 2012. Fraser wants to use his skills & experience to benefit residents in his region who heat with wood. Aside from installation & maintenance, he plans to pursue inspection as well. Getting his WETT certification will enable him to help his neighbours in Northern Alberta to ensure their homes are safer and warmer during those long, cold winter days experienced in the North.
We welcome Dustin, Greg, and Fraser to the WETT family!
Congratulations to our 2022 Elizabeth Mason Academic Achievement Award Winner
In memory of Elizabeth Mason, who passed away in 2008, WETT created the Elizabeth Mason Academic Achievement Award.
Elizabeth was a long-standing WETT member committed to advancing the goals of the organization.
WETT is pleased to announce that Terrence McNally — from McBride, BC — is the 2022 award winner.
WETT AGM 2023
This year, WETT's Annual General Meeting will be a hybrid meeting, held in person and virtually via Zoom.
Activity-highlight reports for 2022 will be presented by our provincial affiliates. We will also be presenting our Award of Excellence to our 2023 recipient, John Gulland.
We encourage you to attend, have your voice matter, get informed and ask questions!! Student and Candidate members are welcome to attend, but only current certificate holders may vote.
Date: Friday, June 9, 2023
Location: Horseshoe Resort, 1101 Horseshoe Valley Road, Barrie, ON L4M 4Y8
Time: 4 to 6 p.m. EDT
Zoom meeting details will be provided to those who RSVP to attend virtually.
Click here to RSVP to Attend the AGM Virtually or In Person.
Selkirk and WETT would like to congratulate Cody Gorman, the 2022 winner of the Selkirk Training Bursary.
Cody works for Good Fellas Stoves and Chimneys, a small business in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Cody sells, installs, services and maintains wood-burning appliances and is eager to become WETT certified.
As someone helping to build a ground up company, Cody appreciates the opportunity to develop his education and become certified in this craft. Doing so will be a huge asset to the company he currently works with and will expand on his passion for wood-burning energy. He grew up in a household with a wood stove and would ultimately like to provide that experience to others.
SBI and WETT would like to congratulate Hannah Thompson, the 2022 winner of the SBI Training Bursary.
Hannah works for Western Wood Heat, her father's company, that has been in business for over 20 years. Hannah assists with the installations and inspections of wood-burning appliances and is eager to become WETT certified.
She has grown very knowledgeable of the heating industry and WETT. The company does multiple installations and WETT inspections per week and Hannah is a part of each one. She and her father go over every WETT inspection and installation together before and after it is completed.
Call for Board Nominations
Call for Board Nominations
Key Dates
March 24, 2023: Nomination Deadline
April 3, 2023: Voting Opens (make sure you have renewed for 2023)
May 5, 2023: Ballot Voting Deadline
June 9, 2023: Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Nominations for candidates for the 2023-2025 WETT Board of Directors are now welcome. The Board is composed of a minimum of eight (8) and not more than twelve (12) directors, consisting of at least two each of WETT-certified advisors, inspectors, technicians and sweeps, with no more than five from any one category. The term is for two years.
A slate of nominees will be sent electronically on April 3, 2023 for voting. The new Board will be confirmed at the Annual General Meeting scheduled for June 9, 2023.This year we have openings for four (4) directors.
Nominations are open for all certification categories.
Elections will be done electronically.
For those members who do not have an email on file with the office, ballots will be mailed.
For complete details please read the Call for Nominations information.
Nomination Instructions
Your input is invited. If you would like to recommend a candidate to stand for election, please submit a nomination.
The procedure is:
Complete and send in a nomination using the nomination form.
Have the nominee compose a letter accepting the nomination. His/her/their letter of acceptance must accompany your nomination form.
Have the nominee compose and submit a bio to include: general introduction and interests, experience in the industry, why she/he/they feel she/he/they should be on the Board. His/her/their letter of acceptance must accompany your nomination form.
Nominations can be sent by mail or email.
Only nominations received using the nomination form will be accepted.
Only WETT-certified members in good standing may submit nominations.
If you do not receive a confirmation of receipt of your nomination by March 24, 2023 at 5 p.m. ET, you can assume it was not received and, therefore, will not be on the ballot/slate.
History of WETT, Part One
By: George LeBlanc and John Gulland
For the last few months I have been talking with members who were around in the formative years of WETT and we discussed some of the history and how it all began. One of the names that kept bending my ear was that of John Gulland.
For those of you who don’t know John, he was one of the most influential builders of what eventually became the WETT training program we still use today.
I called John on a few occasions and went down memory lane, which was difficult for both us because it was some time ago.
John agreed to write from his memories and, with the information he recalled, this article started to take form.
With such a long history, I have broken this into a series of articles that will hopefully allow all of our members to see where we first started and who and what was going on during those early years.
Here is one of those recent discussions with John Gulland:
George: Do you still burn wood and what type of wood stove are you heating your home with?
John: Yes, I do. I am happy to have a Jotul Oslo F500 V3, the hybrid non cat/cat. I like it, even though I’ve never been fussy on regular catalytic stoves.
George: Where does your passion for wood burning come from?
John: The short answer is moving to the bush in 1973. My first career was as a motorcycle mechanic and I was in the first community college class on the subject and earned my certificate in the 70s. I served my apprenticeship with a couple of Brits, one from Birmingham and one from Wales. In that shop you had to do everything: diagnostics, fabrication, welding, forging and so on. I welded up a stove at the bike shop and moved it to a hand-built cabin in the bush, 20 km south of Killaloe in eastern Ontario.
George: What are your fondest memories in the creation of the WETT training program?
John: There are too many to count. I can tell you, though, that watching course participants walk into the classroom carrying their WETT manuals and taking a course that I had developed was a very satisfying experience. That and the great people I worked with, of course.
George: Can you describe from the best of your collection how the organization came about?
Click here to read the full article.
Holiday Office Hours
We at WETT would like to extend our best wishes to you all for a safe and peaceful holiday season. We hope you enjoy the festivities with families and friends. We are all looking forward to what the new year will bring.
The WETT Board and national office will be unavailable from 5 p.m. ET on Friday, December 23, 2022 to January 2, 2023 inclusive. We will be back at 9 a.m. ET on January 3 and will make every effort to respond to all inquiries within the first 48 hours upon our return.
See you all in the new year!
Four Easy Steps to Writing an Article for WETT
Do you consider yourself well versed in a subject, potentially on the road to becoming — or already are — a Subject Matter Expert, or SME for short? Have you ever wanted to impart some of that knowledge to a wider audience, but don’t really know how or where to start? The simple answer is at the beginning. Keep reading to get yourself on the way to satisfying that inner journalistic spirit!
Step 1: Pick a topic. It’s key to narrow the scope of what you’re going to write about, otherwise you may ramble and go off on a tangent. People don’t dedicate a lot of time to fully reading an article, so keep it simple!
Step 2: Figure out who your audience is. An article written for industry professionals tends to use more technical lingo that other professionals understand. However, a homeowner will be bamboozled by reading the same content, because their level of comprehension doesn’t have years of training and experience behind it.
Step 3: Get the facts. Seriously, it’s not hard to find resources that can support your perspective nowadays using the almighty internet. It’s like the Encyclopedia Britannica on steroids. There are free online citation generators that you can use to cite your sources. We’re not picky about MLA or APA.
Step 4: Start writing. Even if it’s a crappy first draft, it’s a start and can only get better. You may realize what you originally thought was one topic, can be turned into two. That’s ok. Now there’s MORE content than you thought you had, which makes doing it again easier 😊
Step 4b: Figure out a title – optional. Do this whenever you want, but I like doing it at the end. My high school geography teacher taught me that. I was procrastinating on an assignment and when he asked me why, the conversation went something like this:
Cindy: I can’t figure out the title.
Mr. Menzo: Why do you need to have a title first?
Cindy: I was taught to start at the beginning, which was a title according to {English teacher whose name I forget).
Mr. Menzo: How’s that was working out for you?
Cindy: (Surly teenage glare.)
Mr. Menzo (Chuckling): When you turn in your work, will it have a title?
Cindy: (Surly teenage glare continues, but interest is piqued.)
Mr. Menzo: Just get writing. You know what you want to write about and 9 times out of 10, you’ll figure out the title during the writing process. Titles don’t “have” be the first step, so long as it gets in there by the time you hand your work in.
Step 5: Read your article out loud. You’d be surprised how many times this helps you catch and fix errors that you wouldn’t have picked up on otherwise.
Lastly, don’t forget to submit your work. No point in going through all the above steps if you’re not going to put it out there! I hope this inspires you to put proverbial pen to paper and get that knowledge out of your head and into a format that others can benefit from. Submit any articles for review and consideration by the Communications Committee via email to: bucklecindy@gmail.com and copy to info@wettinc.ca
*Mr. Menzo currently lives in BC and, yes, I’m still in touch with him. No, I still don’t remember the English teacher’s name.
Scope and Application of ULC Standards
WETT INC. is in the process of developing a new chapter for inclusion to the WETT Reference Manual. Our mission is to address what seems to be ever increasing “grey areas” arising from differences in interpretation of product installation manuals and how they relate to published safety standards.
Part of the process going forward will be WETT’s greater, and more direct involvement, in the development of standards and codes that affect our industry. Even more importantly, we must provide means for our members to communicate code and standard requirements with clarity and consistency when dealing with the public.
The following standards excerpts are intended to provide reference material for those of you who choose to challenge the December 2022 FireWire Quiz.
CAN/ULC-S610
STANDARD FOR FACTORY-BUILT FIREPLACE SYSTEMS
1. SCOPE
1.1 These requirements cover factory-built fireplace systems capable of utilizing solid fuels, as specified by the manufacturer, and intended for provision of supplementary heating in buildings. These fireplace systems include a fire chamber assembly, chimney sections, a roof assembly, and other associated parts.
1.2 These factory-built fireplace systems are not for use with masonry chimneys.
1.3 Factory-built fireplace systems, as covered by this Standard, are intended for installation in accordance with the National Building Code of Canada, the Installation Code for Solid-Fuel-Burning Appliances and Equipment, CSA B365, or the acts or regulations of the authority having jurisdiction.
3.0 GLOSSARY
3.3 CHIMNEY ASSEMBLY — Includes the chimney and other components such as firestops, radiation shield, supports, cap, etc.
3.5 FACTORY-BUILT FIREPLACE SYSTEM — A fire chamber and its chimney, consisting entirely of factory-made parts designed for unit assembly without requiring field fabrication. A factory-built fireplace system may also include combustion air and warm air ducts, grilles and accessories.
3.15 WARM AIR CIRCULATING TYPE FIREPLACE — A fireplace incorporating a gravity system or forced air heating duct system attached to the air circulating chamber surrounding the fire chamber directing heated air to areas or locations other than directly in front of and directly above the fire chamber opening.
6.2 ASSEMBLY
6.2.1 A factory-built fireplace system shall consist of all the essential parts necessary for the proper installation of a complete fireplace system, including its chimney assembly. Each part or assembly shall be designed for ready attachment of one to the other without requiring alteration, cutting, threading, drilling, welding, or similar task by the installer; except that a special assembly or part designed to be cut to length or to fit by the installer may be provided if means are furnished for joining, such as by bolts or sheet-metal screws, any altered part to a companion part or assembly.
6.2.2 Two or more parts or subassemblies, which must bear a definite relationship to each other for proper and safe use, shall be arranged and constructed to permit them to be incorporated into the complete assembly, without need for alteration or alignment, only in the correct relationship with each other; or such parts or subassemblies shall be assembled and shipped from the factory as one unit.
CAN/ULC-S629:2016
STANDARD FOR 650°C FACTORY- BUILT CHIMNEYS
1. SCOPE
1.1 These requirements apply to factory-built chimney assemblies which do not require field fabrication. They are for use with gas, liquid and solid fuel-fired residential appliances and building heating equipment, where the flue-gas temperatures normally do not exceed 650 ºC. They are intended for use in accordance with the National Building Code of Canada, CSA B139.2, Installation Code for Oil-Burning Equipment for Residential and Small Commercial Buildings, CSA B149.1, Natural Gas and Propane Installation Code, and CSA B365, Installation Code for Solid-Fuel Burning Appliances and Equipment. They are intended for installation inside or outside of buildings to provide an essentially vertical conduit or passageway for conveying flue gases to the outer air from the above-described class of appliances.
3.2 ASSEMBLY
3.2.8 Chimneys shall not be offset at an angle of greater than 45° to the vertical and shall not include more than two offsets.
CAN/ULC-S604:2016
Standard for Factory-Built Type A Chimneys
1 SCOPE
1.1 These requirements apply to Factory-Built Type A Chimneys, which do not require field fabrication. They are for use with gas and liquid fuel-fired residential appliances and building heating equipment, where the appliance or equipment flue-gas temperatures do not exceed 540 °C. They are intended for use in accordance with the National Building Code of Canada, CSA-B139.2, Installation Code for Oil Burning Equipment for Residential and Small Commercial Buildings, and CSA-B149.1, Natural Gas and Propane Installation Code. They are intended for installation inside or outside of buildings to provide an essentially vertical conduit or passageway for conveying flue gases to the outer air from the above-described class of appliances.
3.2 ASSEMBLY
3.2.8 Chimneys shall not be offset at an angle of greater than 45° to the vertical and shall not include more than two offsets.
CAN/ULC-S609:2016
STANDARD FOR LOW TEMPERATURE VENTS TYPE L AND PL
1. SCOPE
1.1 These requirements cover the design and construction of Type L vents intended for the venting of flue gases having temperatures not exceeding 300 °C, from fuel-burning appliances certified for use with Type L vents. They may also be used where Type B gas vents are used. They are intended for installation in buildings to provide a passageway for conveying flue gases to the outer air from the above-described class of appliances.
1.2 These requirements also cover the design and construction of Type PL vents for use in residential dwellings for the venting to the outdoors of the products of combustion from certified automatic particulate-fuelled space heaters.
1.3 Vents covered by this Standard are intended for installation in accordance with the National Building Code of Canada, CSA B365 – Installation Code for Solid-Fuel Burning Appliances and Equipment, CSA B139.2 – Installation Code for Oil-Burning Equipment for Residential and Small Commercial Buildings, and CSA B149.1 – Natural Gas and Propane Installation Code, as applicable, or the acts or regulations of the authority having jurisdiction.
Mark's Work Wearhouse Discount Voucher
In place of discount cards, Mark's Work Wearhouse has provided us with a discount voucher. It entitles WETT-certified members to a 10% discount on all items in the store. If an item is sale priced, you would receive the lower price. As long as you have the voucher, it will let the store know you can get anything and receive the discount.
To get a copy of the discount voucher, please log in to the members only section of our website. Under DOCUMENTS, search for Mark's Work Wearhouse and download the voucher. Print it, add your name and take it with you to the store when you are ready to purchase your merchandise. Discounts can only be applied to in-person purchases; they cannot be applied to online purchases.
Is Your Contact Information Up to Date?
WETT is planning an exciting initiative this fall and it is imperative that we have your most current contact information on file.
We frequently send reminders to members regarding their certification renewal, continuing education status and requirements, course schedules and changes to WETT policy.
In order to ensure your certification remains current, it is important that you receive these notifications from us. Therefore, we need your current contact information at all times.
Student and Candidate members, you may send an email to support@wettinc.ca with your new information. Please be sure to indicate if the address changes apply to your home information, business information or both.
Certified members, if you change your address, email or phone number, remember that you can log in to the members only section of our website at any time and update your information yourself. Here’s how.
Log in to www.wettinc.ca
Click the menu in the top right-hand corner of your screen to expand the menu (see below).
To update your contact information, click on Manage Profile. You will be able to update your company and home address, phone numbers and email addresses. Make sure you specify which is your preferred mailing address: work or home.
To update the information that appears on our website under “Find a WETT-certified Professional,” click on Manage Directory. This is where you can add/revise your referral cities.
Remember also to notify your regional WETT affiliate of any changes to your information. For information on how to contact your local affiliate, please go to https://www.wettinc.ca/affiliates
Ordering Your Consumer Inspection Brochure
WETT has created a brochure to aid you in explaining WETT inspections to your clients. You provide us with your company information and we will create a custom PDF of the brochure that you can have printed.
Click on the links below to see a sample of the brochure and details on how to order your personalized brochure.
If you would like a custom PDF of the WETT brochure created for you to be able to print, please read these instructions carefully.
Logo Format
Preferred
Vector EPS file (such as an Adobe Illustrator EPS) with all fonts converted to outlines. This file format is preferred because vector-based art can be resized without degrading shape or colour.
The logo must be a minimum of 2" x 2" at a minimum 300 DPI. The image file may be delivered in any of the following formats: psd, tiff, png or jpeg (jpg).
Colour and Black & White
Four-colour (CMYK) logo. (Please note: colours may not reproduce accurately in print if logos are RGB.) or
One-colour (black & white) logo with no tints or screens (i.e., 100% black, no grey)
Company Details
Please provide any or all of the following items that you would like included on your brochure:
Company Name
Business address (street name, street number, city/town, province, postal code)
Telephone number
Cell number
Fax number
Email address
Twitter account
Website address
The artwork for your personalized brochure will be emailed to you within five business days.
Click here to fill out our online application form and request your custom brochure https://funnelcom.typeform.com/to/uRTzCGcb
Multiple Fuel Venting
CSA B139 clause 4.2.5.10(a) for the oil-fired appliance and B365-17 clause 6.2.11 for the solid-fuel-fired appliance are supposed to prevent the installation of a solid-fuel-burning appliance that is not certified for use in conjunction with oil-fired equipment in a chimney flue serving an oil-fired appliance. It does not matter if one was there first — they cannot be on the same chimney flue. The vent systems must be separate, as for example, with two chimney flues: one for each appliance.
The British Columbia Building Code clause 9.21.2.2 allows for common venting of multiple fuels: Connections of More Than One Appliance
Except as required in Article 9.21.2.1. , two or more fuel-burning appliances are permitted to be connected to the same chimney flue provided adequate draft is maintained for the connected appliances and the connections are made as described in Sentences (2) and (3).
Where 2 or more fuel-burning appliances are connected to the same chimney flue, the appliances shall be located on the same storey.
The connection referred to in Sentence (2) for a solid-fuel burning appliance shall be below connections for appliances burning other fuels.
If you read on in the code, in clause 9.33.1.2. it states that: Solid-Fuel-Burning Stoves, Ranges and Space Heaters
1. The design and installation of solid-fuel burning stoves, ranges and space heaters, including the requirements for combustion air, shall conform to CAN/CSA-B365, "Installation Code for Solid-Fuel-Burning Appliances and Equipment."
If you then go over to the CSA B365, Installation code for solid-fuel-burning appliances and equipment, in Clause 6.2.11 it states:
“Only a solid-fuel-burning appliance certified for use in conjunction with oil-fired equipment shall be connected to a venting system serving an oil-fired appliance.”
If there is a discrepancy between the Building Code and a referenced standard, the Building Code is to be followed.
It seems here that there is a discrepancy between the Code and the Standard, but if you look at it closely you will find that there is not. Part 9.21 allows you to install multiple fuels into a common vent. Part 9.33 states that you must install a stove as per CSA B365. B365 states that you can only share a flue if the appliance is certified for such use. The only wood-burning appliances that are certified for use in conjunction with oil are combination or add-on wood furnaces. In this case, if you take these appliances and hook them up to a common vent, they must be installed as per clause 9.21 of the building code.
Clause 6.2.10 of the CSA B365-17 states:
“A solid-fuel-burning appliance shall not be connected to a chimney flue that serves a natural gas- or propane-fired appliance.”
The CAN/GSA –B149 Gas Code at clause 7.12.3 states: An appliance installed in a dwelling unit shall not be connected to a flue serving (a) a solid-fuelled appliance. Or (b) a solid-fuelled fireplace unless the opening from the fireplace to the flue is permanently closed.
Uncertified Appliances, the WETT Professional and the Hierarchy of Authority of a WETT-certified Professional
By Ian Myers
During the process of becoming WETT certified, you learn that when an appliance has not been certified by the manufacturer to a Canadian-recognized standard — having no label affixed, nor manual — together from point-of-purchase validating it as a “Listed” appliance, then that appliance is “uncertified.”
You also learn that the CSA B365 Installation Code for Solid-Fuel-Burning Appliances and Equipment can be applied to evaluate the installation of such appliances and even guide the new installation or repair of old, uncertified appliances, or can it?
In CSA B365 4.1 Appliances and Equipment, it states:
Appliances, accessories, components and equipment shall meet the requirements of one of the following, as applicable:
(a) through (k) is a comprehensive list of all Canadian-recognized certified appliance-and-related-installation equipment standards,
(l) the authority having jurisdiction
Only, one of these things is not like the others: that would be (l). Although CSA B365 provides minimum, default clearances to combustible requirements, shielding methods, etc., for the installation of uncertified appliances and equipment, there is only one path to take for a new installation of uncertified appliances. Only the authority having jurisdiction (the local Municipal Building Department) has the authority to permit such installations (this would also include major repairs).
There are a couple of issues surrounding this. For one thing, Building Departments do not wish to assume the liability associated with deeming such appliances acceptable, regardless of whether or not the installation appears to be in accordance with the requirements of CSA B365. The trend is towards not having experts on staff to independently evaluate installations. What does seem to occur is that the Building Department staff will accept such installations, conditional upon a WETT member providing a "WETT inspection" as declaration that the installation is “code compliant.”
This is a “slight of hand” that should be avoided.
The issuance of a permit does not, in itself, fulfil what would be construed as acceptance of legal responsibility on the part of Municipal Building Departments as intended in CSA B365. They should be pressed to specifically address the appliance in question — along with the proposed installation plans — and then requested to issue a separate acceptance document that can be attached to the WETT inspection report.
No verbal or written agreement should take place whereby the permit is issued on the condition of a “WETT inspection” or WETT “number” being submitted.
I trust that most WETT members are not uniquely qualified, nor insured, to assume such liability. I would suggest contacting your insurance company for their opinion of your insurability to perform such work.
Likewise, it could be considered negligent to prescribe and perform costly repairs to an uncertified appliance without consideration of the probability that the homeowner’s insurance company may not be willing to cover it.
I might add that this type of activity is not WETT's intended function for its inspection forms. Such use also contributes to the false impression that WETT members have the authority to “certify” appliances or systems.
Whenever the situation arises, it is strongly suggested that you, as a WETT professional, are aware of, and function within, the boundaries of the hierarchy of authority.
October is Fire Prevention Month
As part of fire prevention month, Fire Prevention Week is observed each year in October to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which caused devastating damage and loss of life. It killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.
This year, Fire Prevention Week is October 9-15.
The goal of Fire Prevention Week (and month) is to raise fire safety awareness, and help ensure your home and family are protected.
This year’s campaign theme, “Fire won't wait. Plan your escape,” works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires.