ICC Chimney EXCELDirect User manual

EXCELDirect®
DIRECT VENT VENTING SYSTEM
INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS
EXCELDirect®is a certified venting system designed to be used only with certified
direct vent gas fired appliances.
The direct vent gas appliance must be certified for use with the ICC EXCELDirect®
venting system. Refer to the manufacturer's labeling and instruction manual to confirm
that EXCELDirect®is listed for use with the appliance model you have selected.
ARNING
WARNING
•The installation must conform with local codes or, in the absence of local codes,
with the following code in force:
- National Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1 (USA) or,
- Natural Gas and Propane Installation Code, CAN/CSA B149.1 (Canada).
•A major cause of vent related fires is failure to maintain required clearances (air
space) to combustible materials. The venting configurations and clearances
requirements are indicated in the Direct Vent gas appliance instructions manual.
It is of utmost importance that this venting system be installed only in
accordance with these instructions. Do not fill the air space with insulating
material.
•A direct vent appliance must be connected to a single venting system. Multiple
venting is not allowed.
•Specific requirements for horizontal installation, such as minimum clearances to
balcony, window, door, soffit, etc. are detailed in this manual.
•Contact local building or fireofficials about restrictions and installation inspection
in your area.
S
Do not begin installing the ICC EXCELDirect®venting system until you have carefully
read the appliance and vent system installation instructions.
Use only ICC model EXCELDirect®components. Failure to do so will void the
certification and warranty of the product.
Keep these installation and operating instructions in a safe location for future
reference.
EXCELDirect®has been tested and listed to the following:
. UL 2112 Standard by Underwriters Laboratories inc. (Listing #MH300439)
. Conforms to ANSI Z21 Std for Direct vent gas appliances and UL Std 2112
by INTERTEK. (ETL Listing # 4005717)
. Certified to CSA Std for Direct vent gas appliances by INTERTEK.
(ETL Listing # 4005717)
ICC INDUSTRIAL CHIMNEY COMPANY INC.
400 J.F. Kennedy, St. Jerome
Quebec, Canada, J7Y 4B7
Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone]
www.icc-rsf.com
XLT-II_2019-05

EXCELDirect®2 Owner's Manual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXCELDirect®TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS................................................................2
Operation and Maintenance.........................................................................................3
General Installation Notes............................................................................................3
Planning your installation .............................................................................................4
Assembling Notes........................................................................................................5
Installation Instructions......................................................................................................6
Horizontal Installation...................................................................................................6
Horizontal Installation using a horizontal termination cap........................................6
Horizontal Installation - Snorkel Termination...........................................................8
Vertical Installation.......................................................................................................9
Vertical installation –Straight..................................................................................9
Elbows and Offsets...............................................................................................12
Firestops...............................................................................................................12
Supports................................................................................................................13
Attic.......................................................................................................................15
Masonry Chimney Installation - Co-linear to Co-axial venting ...............................16
Horizontal and vertical termination location...........................................................20
LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY....................................................................................21
EXCELDirect®TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Materials
Exterior Casing:
.019" Galvalume Steel or .022" Satin Coated (painted black)
Interior Flue:
.016" Type 430 Stainless Steel
Gasket:
Fiberglass on the inner pipe
Inner pipe diameter
4"
5"
Outside Diameter
6 5/8"
8"
Weight/Foot (lb/ft.)
1.75
2.10
Rough Opening Required
Supports (CS)
8 3/4" x 8 3/4"
10" x 10"
Supports (SS, RDS)
10" x 10"
11" x 11"
Insulated Wall Thimble (WT)
8 3/4" x 8 3/4"
10" x 10"
Maximum Support capacity
Ceiling Support (CS)
15’
12’
Round Support (RDS) / Square Support (SS)
50’
40’
Offset support (OS) - Installed Horizontally or Inclined
4’
4’
Offset support (OS) - Installed Vertically
38’
30’
Roof support (SR) - Installed on Framing
50’
40’
Roof support (SR) - Installed on 3/4" plywood
23’
18’
Adjustable Wall Support (WS)
13’
10’
Clearances
Clearance to combustibles
*
*
* As determined by the gas appliance specifications in its instruction manual.

EXCELDirect®3 Owner's Manual
Operation and Maintenance
Initially inspect the vent system weekly. From this you will learn if your gas
appliance needs fine tuning. KEEP YOUR VENT CLEAN. When using a Direct
Vent gas appliance, we recommend that your vent system is examined
annually by a qualified service company for the following:
1. Verify the connection between the vent adapter and the appliance first
joint.
2. Ensure that every joint of the venting system is properly fastened and
screwed with 3 screws (outer casing).
3. Remove the termination cap to ensure that no obstruction could block the
air intake and flue exhaust.
4. Verify if there is sign of corrosion.
5. Verify that the supports, flashing and storm collar are properly in place.
General Installation Notes
1. EXCELDirect®is a complete system, extending from the appliance to the
outdoors.
2. Each appliance must have its own separate EXCELDirect®system.
3. Choose a gas appliance that has the label of a recognized Testing
Laboratory (such as WH, UL, ULC, CSA and OMNI).
4. Install the gas appliance as described in the Installation Instructions
accompanying the gas appliance. BE CERTAIN TO MAINTAIN THE
REQUIRED CLEARANCES TO COMBUSTIBLE CONSTRUCTION.
5. The maximum height of un-guyed vent above the roof is 5 feet. If you
have more than 5 feet use the EXCEL Chimney Roof Brace (XM-ERB).
6. Portions of the vent which extend through accessible spaces shall be
enclosed in all cases to avoid personal contact with the vent and damage
to the vent.
7. DO NOT FILL THE AIR SPACE around the vent with insulation or any
other material. Do not fill the factory built supports with insulation.
Insulation placed in this area could cause adjacent combustibles to
overheat.
8. Do not allow sawdust or construction debris to accumulate around the
vent. Clean all areas surrounding the vent before closing up any enclosed
areas.
9. In attics, clean the joist area around the vent before installing any type of
supports.
10. Horizontal venting terminations shall not be recessed into a wall or siding.

EXCELDirect®4 Owner's Manual
Planning your installation
General
Prior to starting your installation, we suggest you take the following into
consideration:
1. There are two possible ways to connect a direct vent venting system to a gas
appliance:
- Horizontal installation (through the wall);
- Vertical installation (through the roof).
Check the appliance manufacturer's installation instructions to see all possible
vent configurations.
2. Review all your options for the appliance location and also venting configuration.
Try to minimize the alteration and reframing of structural components of the
building (wall studs, water pipes, electrical wiring, ceiling joists, roof rafters, etc.).
It may be easier to change the location of your appliance than to modify the
building structure.
3. Carefully read the appliance and the venting system instruction manuals. Good
planning might save you time, work and money.
4. Use only authorized EXCELDirect®listed components unless compatibility with
another brand is specified in the appliance manufacturer’s instructions. Do not use
damaged parts.
5. For a horizontal installation, you will have to take into consideration the distance
between the gas appliance adapter to the wall, as well as the wall thickness and
a vertical rise (if applicable). The horizontal vent termination on the exterior must
be located in accordance with the Installation Codes and Regulations. See
"horizontal and vertical terminal location" section on page 20.
6. For a vertical installation, you must consider the distance between the gas
appliance outlet and the ceiling, the ceiling thickness, the height of the attic or
second floor and allow sufficient vent height above roof line. See Table 1 and
Figure 11.
7. For two-story applications, firestops are required at each floor. If an offset is
needed in the attic, additional lengths and elbows will be required.
8. Contact your local building authority and/or fire officials for permits, restrictions
and installation inspections. You may also wish to contact your house insurance
representative.
Tool checklist
Tools and equipment you may need for your installation.
- Eye protection
- Gloves
- Tape Measure
- Extension cord
- Marking pencil
- Nails
- Stud sensor
- Square
- Circular saw
- Hand saw
- Drill
- Drill bits
- Keyhole saw
- Ladder
- Level
- Pliers
- Caulking gun
- Hi temp. Silicone sealant
- Hammer
- Screwdrivers
- Screws
- Plumb Bob
- Cold chisel

EXCELDirect®5 Owner's Manual
Rules of Safety
1. Wear gloves when handling metal parts with sharp edges.
2. Wear safety glasses.
3. Electrical tools must be grounded.
4. If a ladder is required, it must be in good condition, installed on a firm
surface, and leveled.
5. When cutting a wall, floor or ceiling, be careful not to damage wiring, gas
or water pipes. If these elements need to be relocated, work should be
done by a qualified person.
Assembling Notes
Use of sealant
EXCELDirect®does not require sealant on the flue. The inner liner has a
factory installed high temperature gasket on each length that will make a
sealed connection. It is not required to apply sealant on any inner liner joints,
even if sealant is specified by the appliance manufacturer. The outer casing
has a tapered friction seal which seals tightly, but requires sealant if the
appliance manufacturer requires sealant on the exterior casing.
Joint connection
Figure 1 - Joint connection
The outer casing of EXCELDirect®is
tapered to make connection easy. Simply
slide one length onto another and press
firmly. The inner liner joint will be
automatically sealed. Once the lengths are
firmly joined, fasten the joint with the three
#6 x 3/8" screws provided. All lengths are
assembled this way.
Figure 2 –Two Piece Adjustable
Length (DLA30)
Slip length (DLS1, DLS1B, DLS2, DLS2B)
EXCELDirect®slip lengths add 2’’- 9’’ or
2’’- 21’’ to a straight length.
Two-Piece adjustable length (DLA30,
DLA30B)
EXCELDirect®two piece adjustable lengths
are adjustable from 18” to 30”. Two
sections are included which telescope
together and can be installed anywhere in
a system.

EXCELDirect®6 Owner's Manual
Installation Instructions
Horizontal Installation
Horizontal Installation using a horizontal termination cap
Figure 3 - Typical Horizontal Installations
1. Determine a location for the appliance, venting, and termination that
agrees with both the codes and appliance manufacturer’s requirements.
See "Planning your installation" on page 4.
2. Venting configurations are specific to each gas appliance. Manufacturer’s
installation instructions will provide restrictions regarding maximum and
minimum vent runs, number of elbows, as well as the relationships
between lengths of vent run to vent rise.
3. EXCELDirect®fits most standard appliance outlet collars without an
adapter, but appliance adapters are required for certain brands and
applications. Insert the first length or adapter on the appliance outlet and
fasten it to the appliance using the three #6 x 3/8" sheet metal screws
provided. See appliance manufacturer’s requirements if sealant is
required for the first length.
4. Install and fasten the remaining vent components to achieve the desired
layout.
5. Slide a Trim Plate (TP), or larger Trim Ring (TR) over the last vent section
before penetrating the wall if the vent will remain exposed. The o’ring
provided is intended to be installed between the trim and the wall thimble.

EXCELDirect®7 Owner's Manual
6. Move the gas appliance into its final position and mark the dimensions of
the rough opening on the wall where the vent will pass: 8 3/4" x 8 3/4" for
a 4" diameter vent or 10" x 10" for a 5" diameter vent. See the appliance
manufacturer's installation instructions for exact clearance requirements
to the insulated wall thimble. Cut and frame a hole in the interior and
exterior wall making sure that the center of the hole is aligned with the
center of the horizontal vent. The horizontal vent run must be level or have
1/4" rise per linear foot of run towards the termination. Never allow the
vent to run downward.
Note: The EXCELDirect Insulated Wall Thimble (WT) is certified by OMNI test
laboratory for zero clearance in all applications through a wall. This includes
installations on Direct Vent appliances that specify more than standard
clearance (e.g. 3”) or have special adapters that would otherwise be required.
7. Install the interior and exterior portions of the Insulated Wall Thimble (WT)
and screw (or nail) them to the framed opening. The wall thimble is
insulated and will provide 1" clearance to combustible material as the vent
passes through the wall. The insulated portion goes inside the house (see
Figure 4).
8. Seal the perimeter of the exterior wall thimble using high temperature
silicone sealant to prevent water infiltration.
Note: The wall thimble will fit wall thickness from 5 3/4" to 10 1/2". For wall
thickness less than 5 3/4", cut both sleeves as required. Once installed, an
overlap of 1" minimum is necessary. For wall thickness greater than 10 1/2”,
the Wall Thimble Extension (WTE) can be used, and will accommodate walls
up to 20 3/4” thick.
9. The vent portion of the Horizontal Termination is a slip length which
provides up to 6” of adjustment. If the wall is less than 6” thick you may
Figure 4 -
Insulated Wall Thimble Installation
Figure 5 - Vinyl standoff

EXCELDirect®8 Owner's Manual
HT
RHTS
RHT
HTS
have to paint the slip portion of the termination as it will be visible in the
home.
10. From outside, fasten the Horizontal Termination (HT, DHT or RHT) using
four #8 x 2" wood screws. The horizontal termination can accommodate
siding up to 1 ½” deep. An optional Vinyl Siding Standoff (VSS) is available
for deeper siding (Figure 5). Seal the perimeter of the Horizontal
Termination using silicone sealant to prevent water infiltration.
11. Optional Horizontal Wind/Heat Shield (HTS, RHTS) are available that can
improve cap performance in high winds and provide heat protection which
may be required with some appliances.
Figure 6 - Optional Horizontal Wind/Heat Shields
12. From inside, move the gas appliance into its final position making sure the
vent pipe will fully engage with the termination. If the connection between
the vent and termination is in the wall and not accessible, fastening the
together is not required.
13. Fasten the Trim Plate (TP), or larger Trim Ring (TR) to the wall and to the
vent.
Horizontal Installation - Snorkel Termination
When the horizontal termination is too close to the ground or a vertical rise is
required, 14" and a 36" tall snorkel terminations are available. See Figure 6.
Follow the same instructions as described in the “horizontal termination”
section.

EXCELDirect®9 Owner's Manual
If the base of the snorkel is below grade (i.e. basement installation), proper
drainage is required to prevent water from entering in the snorkel. The portion
of the snorkel that is below grade must be coated with tar to prevent corrosion.
See Figure 7.
Vertical Installation
Vertical installation –Straight
Figure 8 –Typical vertical installations
Figure 6 - Snorkel
Figure 7 - Snorkel below grade

EXCELDirect®10 Owner's Manual
1. Determine a location for the appliance, venting and termination that
agrees with all the codes and appliance manufacturer’s requirements.
See "Planning your installation" on page 4.
2. Venting configurations are specific to each gas appliance. Manufacturer’s
installation instructions will provide restrictions regarding maximum and
minimum vent runs, number of elbows, as well as the relationships
between lengths of vent run to vent rise.
3. Place the gas appliance in its final position. Hold a plumb bob from the
ceiling and align it with the centerline of the appliance flue outlet (or the
first elbow if the appliance has a horizontal outlet). Mark the position on
the ceiling. If there is an obstruction (e.g. framing), an offset will be
required. Refer to the section "Elbows and Offsets" on page 12 to
determine the components required for the offset.
4. Refer to the “Supports” section on page 13 to choose the appropriate
support for your application. The maximum support capacity is indicated
in the table "EXCELDirect®Technical Specifications", on page 2.
Important: A firestop is required at each floor, installed from below.
5. Cut and frame a hole in the ceiling to the dimensions indicated in the
"EXCELDirect®Technical Specifications" table on page 2. Dimensions will
vary depending on the type of support used. See the appliance
manufacturer's installation instructions for exact clearance requirements.
6. EXCELDirect®fits most standard appliance outlet collars without an
adapter, but appliance adapters are required for certain brands and
applications. Insert the first length or adapter on the appliance outlet and
fasten it to the appliance using the three #6 x 3/8" sheet metal screws
provided. See appliance manufacturer’s requirements if sealant is
required for the first length.
7. Continue adding and fastening vent components until the vent passes
through the support at the ceiling.
8. Place a mark on the length that passes through the support at the location
where it meets the support. This is where the Universal Support Collar
will be installed. Remove the length for the support collar to be installed.
9. Pre-assemble the support collar (for either 6 5/8"
or 8" outer casing) as shown in Figure 9. Install
the collar on the length of vent that will pass
through the support and tighten the locking bolt
at your mark. Permanently fasten the collar using
three metal screws. Install the vent length in the
support and connect it to the length below using
the screws provided.
Figure 9
Universal Support Collar
10. Proceed the same way if you have to pass through supports on other
floors.