CPSC White Paper Radiant Versus Catalytic Heaters

TechWriter wrote:
I think this is the study Mex is referring to: CO Emissions fron Portable Propane Radiant Heaters

If so, this 18-year-old study compared 8 heaters -- from 18 years ago.

`I think there are 3 different documents in play now. Must be an incorrect link in the very first post. I don't use a catalytic heater so I don't have to get tied up in too tight a wad over it. I was looking just out of curiosity.

I think this is the study Mex is referring to: CO Emissions fron Portable Propane Radiant Heaters

If so, this 18-year-old study compared 8 heaters -- from 18 years ago.

road-runner I must apologize. It was controlled air exchanges.

I think I got that impression of sealed from this:

"The current standard for portable infrared camp heaters (ANSI Z21.63) does not address the issue of hydrocarbon emissions. However, the standard currently being proposed for portable catalytic camp heaters (ANSI Z21.62-draft) does limit the hydrocarbon emission to 500 ppm when the O2 concentration has been reduced to 19.4 percent in a room with no air changes. For both tests with no air changes, the hydrocarbon concentration was approximately 210 ppm (1 percent LEL) at an O2 concentration of 19.4 percent.

Although Heater 1 would meet the hydrocarbon emission requirement currently being proposed in the new standard for catalytic heaters, the proposed standard does not address hydrocarbon emissions at lower O2 concentrations. During the closed room tests, the hydrocarbon concentration reached 13,440ppm (64 percent LEL) prior to the test being terminated. Therefore, the proposed standard for catalytic camp heaters does not adequately protect the consumer from high emissions of hydrocarbons. The 18unreacted propane further acts to increase the degree of hypoxia experienced by an individual. To address this issue, CPSC staff recommends limiting the hydrocarbon emissions from catalytic camp heaters to 500 ppm throughout the entire test when the catalytic heater is tested in a 100 ft3 room at air exchange rates of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 ACH."

Are we looking at the same document? The one from the link contains the word "sealed" one time, and it's not in relation to a box.

see my apology below.

pianotuna wrote:
pauldub,

The whole article is on unvented propane heaters, with some mentions of blue flame (unvented as well).

Page A-4 says: "In table 1, the heating systems category combined furnaces, boilers, vented floor and wall heaters, unvented space heaters, camping heaters, and other miscellaneous heating systems."

Mex,

This is the only vented catalytic heater that I've seen, other than "through the wall" blue flame units.

http://ventedcatheater.com/6.html

It does use a small amount of electricity and has an honest to goodness thermostat.

pauldub,

The whole article is on unvented propane heaters, with some mentions of blue flame (unvented as well).

I scanned it but couldn't find anything that is specific to propane heaters that are unvented by design. Am I missing something?

So how would one determine the air changes per hour rate? What would be a good estimation for a reasonably tight (sort of) RV?