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Ventilation Requirements for Gas Boilers

Gas boilers need certain components to work properly to maintain a healthy indoor air quality for the occupants of an interior space. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), carbon monoxide is a highly-poisonous gas that is potentially released from boilers and must be prevented from creating toxic indoor air by proper ventilation and boiler function. Carbon monoxide is difficult to sense because it is odorless.

  1. ASHRAE Standard: 62-1999

    • According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 62-1999, ventilation requirements are listed in Table 2.1, which are provided by the EPA (available in the References link). Listed are the amounts of required ventilation according to the type of space and the number of occupants. The requirement is measured in cubic feet per minute (cfm) per person. The EPA also states that the boiler room should have a constant positive pressure compared with the outside to minimize back-drafting of flue gases into the space. Use a smoke tube to verify if the space has back-drafting issues. It is best to ventilate using direct outdoor air by providing sufficient exhaust stacks, which prevent exhausted air from re-entering the space.

    Lap-seam crack: 12-221-3

    • A lap-seam is a joint created from attaching metal sheets by welding, brazing, soldering or riveting. If there is a lap-seam crack in a longitudinal riveted joint in the boiler's shell, pressure vessel or drum, the boiler must no longer be used. It also must not be repaired.

    Pressure test: 12-221-4

    • The boilers must be at a certain pressure that can be tested with a hydrostatic pressure test. Boilers or pressure vessels should not have more than 1½ times the maximum working pressure, except boilers of automobiles, which should be tested to 1¼ times the maximum allowable working pressure. The pressure should be under appropriate observation in order for it to not exceed the required pressure by more than six percent while testing.

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