Lenox Lennox Merit Series Gas Furnace Upflow/Horizontal air discharge, ML180UHE

Unconfined Space

An unconfined space is an area such as a basement or large equipment room with a volume greater than 50 cubic feet (1.42 m3) per 1,000 Btu (.29 kW) per hour of the com- bined input rating of all appliances installed in that space. This space also includes adjacent rooms which are not separated by a door. Though an area may appear to be un- confined, it might be necessary to bring in outdoor air for combustion if the structure does not provide enough air by infiltration. If the furnace is located in a building of tight construction with weather stripping and caulking around the windows and doors, follow the procedures in the air from outside section.

Confined Space

A confined space is an area with a volume less than 50 cu- bic feet (1.42 m3) per 1,000 Btu (.29 kW) per hour of the combined input rating of all appliances installed in that space. This definition includes furnace closets or small equipment rooms.

When the furnace is installed so that supply ducts carry air circulated by the furnace to areas outside the space contain- ing the furnace, the return air must be handled by ducts which are sealed to the furnace casing and which terminate outside the space containing the furnace. This is especially important when the furnace is mounted on a platform in a confined space such as a closet or small equipment room. Even a small leak around the base of the unit at the platform or at the return air duct connection can cause a potentially dangerous negative pressure condition. Air for combustion and ventilation can be brought into the confined space either from inside the building or from outside.

EQUIPMENT IN CONFINED

SPACE ALL AIR FROM INSIDE

CHIMNEY

OR GAS

VENT

	WATER
FURNACE	HEATER
	OPENINGS
	(To Adjacent
	Room)

NOTE − Each opening shall have a free area of at least one square inch (645 mm2) per 1,000 Btu (.29 kW) per hour of the total input rat- ing of all equipment in the enclosure, but not less than 100 square inches (64516 mm2).

FIGURE 3

Air from Inside

If the confined space that houses the furnace adjoins a space categorized as unconfined, air can be brought in by providing two permanent openings between the two spaces. Each opening must have a minimum free area of 1 square inch (645 mm2) per 1,000 Btu (.29 kW) per hour of total input rating of all gas−fired equipment in the confined space. Each opening must be at least 100 square inches (64516 mm2). One opening shall be within 12 inches (305

mm)of the top of the enclosure and one opening within 12 inches (305 mm) of the bottom. See figure 3.

Air from Outside

If air from outside is brought in for combustion and ventila- tion, the confined space must have two permanent open- ings. One opening shall be within 12 inches (305 mm) of the top of the enclosure and one opening within 12 inches (305

mm)of the bottom. These openings must communicate di- rectly or by ducts with the outdoors or spaces (crawl or at- tic) that freely communicate with the outdoors or indirectly through vertical ducts. Each opening shall have a minimum free area of 1 square inch (645 mm2) per 4,000 Btu (1.17 kW) per hour of total input rating of all equipment in the en- closure. See figures 4 and 5. When communicating with the outdoors through horizontal ducts, each opening shall have a minimum free area of 1 square inch (645 mm2) per 2,000 Btu (.56 kW) per total input rating of all equipment in the enclosure. See figure 6.

When ducts are used, they shall be of the same cross−sec- tional area as the free area of the openings to which they connect. The minimum dimension of rectangular air ducts shall be no less than 3 inches (75 mm). In calculating free area, the blocking effect of louvers, grilles, or screens must be considered. If the design and free area of protective cov- ering is not known for calculating the size opening required, it may be assumed that wood louvers will have 20 to 25 per- cent free area and metal louvers and grilles will have 60 to 75 percent free area. Louvers and grilles must be fixed in the open position or interlocked with the equipment so that they are opened automatically during equipment operation.

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