Vortice 46497 Installation Instructions

Condensation Traps

Instructions

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VORTICE LIMITED

Beeches House
Eastern Avenue
Burton on Trent

DE13 0BB

Tel. [phone]

Fax. [phone]

[e-mail]

www.vortice.ltd.uk

Round Pipe Condensation Traps

Vortice Round Pipe Condensation Traps are available to suit 100mm and 125mm round rigid
ducting. Product Codes and details as follows:-

46497 is a 100mm Condensation Trap with overflow connection, suitable for use with our
System 100 Round Ducting. The overflow connection is designed to suit 22mm OD standard
plastic plumbing pipe, which should be a push-fit into the flexible grommet supplied. The
46497 is also large enough in diameter to accommodate 110mm OD Plastic Soil Pipe if this
type of pipe is preferred.

46441 is a 125mm Condensation Trap with overflow connection, suitable for use with our
System 125 Round Ducting. The overflow connection is designed to suit 22mm OD standard
plastic plumbing pipe, which should be a push-fit into the compression fitting, which should
then have the nut tightened to form a seal.

Installation Guide

This guide should be read in conjunction with the appropriate drawing for the item being
installed. The Condensation Trap should be assembled in the correct orientation at the
bottom of any vertical pipe run installed in any unheated area, such as a cold loft space. The
Trap should be positioned with the arrow pointing upwards, such that any condensation
forming inside the pipe above the Trap, will drain down through the pipe and be collected in
the bowl inside the trap. As condensate builds up in the bowl, it will reach the level of the
overflow outlet which should be fitted with a drain pipe run to discharge the condensate into
a safe location to drain away. This could be to an outlet in the soffit, an outlet through the
brickwork to the outside or to a saddle coupling into the stack pipe. The overflow pipe run
should be installed with a fall, so that any condensate is encouraged to flow away on a
downhill run.

When and where should Condensation Traps be Used?

This is a very confused area and we are unlikely to be able to provide a definitive answer.

The latest Building Regulations in their installation clauses say,

“Ducting should be insulated where it passes through unheated areas and voids (e.g. Loft
spaces) with the equivalent of at least 25mm of a material having a thermal conductivity of

0.04 W/mK or lower, to reduce the possibility of condensation forming. Where a duct extends
above roof level the section above the roof should be insulated or a condensate trap should
be fitted just below roof level”

In addition, the latest NHBC Recommendations for Mechanical Ventilation with Heat
Recovery state,

“Where insulation is required to prevent condensation formation, it should be continuous and
vapour resistant. This can be achieved by using either suitable pre-insulated ductwork or a
proprietary insulation system with a thermal resistance equivalent to a minimum of 25mm of
insulating material with a thermal conductivity of 0.04 W/mK. Design should ensure that any
condensate that forms within the duct can drain to a suitable outfall. Fan units should be
located to enable connection of the condensate drain to the soil and waste system via a dry
trap. Condensate drains located outside the insulated part of the home should be insulated
to prevent freezing”
These Regulations and Recommendations are subject to interpretation and it is our
understanding at Vortice that these two sources of information combined means the
following:
Ductwork located outside of the insulated part of the home should be insulated and this
includes intake and exhaust ducting to and from an MVHR Unit and any service ducting
(supply and extract) in the cold space.

Also, any intake and exhaust ducting to and from an MVHR Unit should still be insulated,
even if it is installed inside the insulated part of the home.

Ductwork that is insulated to the required level should not require a Condensation Trap, but
if it is deemed desirable to fit one as a belt and braces solution, then the trap and the
condensate drain pipe will need to be insulated as well, if it is located in the cold space.

Disclaimer

Opinions expressed in this document are made in good faith but customers should always
ratify their proposed design solutions with their local Building Control Officer and their client
before proceeding with any installation. The onus is on the Customer to ensure that their
design solution is agreeable to all the parties involved.