AIR FOR COMBUSTION
AND VENTILATION
Continued
Confined and Unconfined Space
The National Fuel Gas Code ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54 defines a confined space as a space whose vol- ume is less than 50 cubic feet per 1,000 Btu per hour (4.8 m3 per kw) of the aggregate input rating of all appliances installed in that space and an un- confined space as a space whose volume is not less than 50 cubic feet per 1,000 Btu per hour (4.8 m3 per kw) of the aggregate input rating of all appli- ances installed in that space. Rooms communicat- ing directly with the space in which the appliances are installed*, through openings not furnished with doors, are considered a part of the unconfined space.
*Adjoining rooms are communicating only if there are doorless passageways or ventilation grills be- tween them.
DETERMINING FRESH-AIR FLOW FOR HEATER LOCATION
Determining if You Have a Confined or Unconfined Space
Use this work sheet to determine if you have a confined or unconfined space.
Space: Includes the room in which you will install fireplace plus any adjoining rooms with doorless pas- sageways or ventilation grills between the rooms.
1.Determine the volume of the space (length x width x height).
Length x Width x Height =__________cu. ft. (volume of space)
Example: Space size 22 ft. (length) x 18 ft. (width) x 8 ft. (ceiling height) = 3168 cu. ft. (vol- ume of space)
If additional ventilation to adjoining room is sup- plied with grills or openings, add the volume of these rooms to the total volume of the space.
2.Multiply the space volume by 20 to determine the maximum Btu/Hr the space can support.
__________ (volume of space) x 20 = (Maxi- mum Btu/Hr the space can support)
Example: 3168 cu. ft. (volume of space) x 20 = 63,360 (maximum Btu/Hr the space can support)
3.Add the Btu/Hr of all fuel burning appliances in the space.
| __________ Btu/Hr | |
Gas water heater* |
| __________ Btu/Hr |
Gas furnace |
| __________ Btu/Hr |
Vented gas heater |
| __________ Btu/Hr |
Gas fireplace logs |
| __________ Btu/Hr |
Other gas appliances* + | __________ Btu/Hr | |
Total | = | __________ Btu/Hr |
*Do not include
Example: | 40,000 | |
Gas water heater | ||
_________ Btu/Hr | ||
33,000 | ||
+ _________ Btu/Hr | ||
Total | 73,000 | |
= _________ Btu/Hr |
4.Compare the maximum Btu/Hr the space can support with the actual amount of Btu/Hr used.
________ | Btu/Hr (maximum the space can support) |
________ | Btu/Hr (actual amount of Btu/Hr used) |
Example: 63,360 Btu/Hr (maximum the space can support)
73,000 Btu/Hr (actual amount of Btu/Hr used)
The space in the above example is a confined space because the actual Btu/Hr used is more than the maxi- mum Btu/Hr the space can support. You must pro- vide additional fresh air. Your options are as follows:
A.Rework worksheet, adding the space of an adjoin- ing room. If the extra space provides an uncon- fined space, remove door to adjoining room or add ventilation grills between rooms. See Ventilation Air From Inside Building, page 8.
B.Vent room directly to the outdoors. See Ventila- tion Air From Outdoors, page 8.
C.Install a lower Btu/Hr fireplace, if lower Btu/Hr size makes room unconfined.
If the actual Btu/Hr used is less than the maximum Btu/Hr the space can support, the space is an uncon- fined space. You will need no additional fresh air ven- tilation.
WARNING: If the area in which the fireplace may be op- erated is smaller than that de- fined as an unconfined space or if the building is of unusually tight construction, provide ad- equate combustion and ventila- tion air by one of the methods described in the National Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54 Section 5.3 or applicable lo- cal codes.
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