3. ONE OUTDOOR OPENING requires:
a. 1 square inch of free area per 3,000 Btuh (734 mm
2
/kW)
for combined input of all gas appliances in the space per
Table 1 and
b. Not less than the sum of the areas of all vent connectors in
the space.
The opening shall commence within 12
″
(300 mm) of the
ceiling. Appliances in the space shall have clearances of at
least 1
″
(25 mm) from the sides and back and 6
″
(150 mm)
from the front. The opening shall directly communicate
with the outdoors or shall communicate through a vertical
or horizontal duct to the outdoors or spaces (crawl or attic)
that freely communicate with the outdoors.
Indoor Combustion Air© NFPA & AGA
Standard and Known-Air-Infiltration Rate Methods
Indoor combustion air is permitted for combustion, ventilation,
and dilution, if the Standard or Known-Air-Infiltration Rate
Method is used.
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING HAZARD
Failure to supply outdoor air via grilles or ducts could result
in death and/or personal injury.
Many homes require air to be supplied from outdoors for
furnace combustion, ventilation, and dilution of flue gases.
The furnace combustion air supply must be provided in
accordance with this instruction manual.
The Standard Method:
1. The space has no less volume than 50 cubic feet per 1,000
Btuh of the maximum input ratings for all gas appliances
installed in the space and
2. The air infiltration rate is not known to be less than 0.40 air
changes per hour (ACH).
The Known Air Infiltration Rate Method shall be used, if the
infiltration rate is known to be:
1. Less than 0.40 ACH and
2. Equal to or greater than 0.10 ACH
Infiltration rates greater than 0.60 ACH shall not be used. The
minimum required volume of the space varies with the number of
ACH and shall be determined per Table 2 or Equations 1 and 2.
Determine the minimum required volume for each appliance in the
space and add the volumes together to get the total minimum
required volume for the space.
Table 2-Minimum Space Volumes were determined by using the
following equations from the National Fuel Gas Code ANSI
Z223.1-2002/NFPA 54-2002,8.3.2.2:
1. For other than fan-assisted appliances, such as a draft
hood-equipped water heater:
2. For fan-assisted appliances such as this furnace:
If:
I
other
= combined input of all other than fan-assisted appli-
ances in Btu/hr
I
fan
= combined input of all fan-assisted appliances in Btu/hr
ACH = air changes per hour (ACH shall not exceed 0.60.)
The following requirements apply to the Standard Method and to
the Known Air Infiltration Rate Method.
1. Adjoining rooms can be considered part of a space if:
a. There are no closable doors between rooms.
b. Combining spaces on same floor level. Each opening shall
have free area of at least 1 in.
2
/1,000 Btuh (2,000 mm
2
/kW)
of the total input rating of all gas appliances in the space,
but not less than 100 in.
2
(0.06 m
2
). One opening shall
commence within 12
″
(300 mm) of the ceiling and the
second opening shall commence within 12
″
(300 mm) of
the floor. The minimum dimension of air openings shall be
at least 3 in. (80 mm). (See Fig. 19.)
c. Combining space on different floor levels. The volumes of
spaces on different floor levels shall be considered as
communicating spaces if connected by one or more perma-
nent openings in doors or floors having free area of at least
2 in.
2
/1,000 Btuh (4,400 mm
2
/kW) of total input rating of
all gas appliances.
2. An attic or crawlspace may be considered a space that freely
communicates with the outdoors provided there are adequate
permanent ventilation openings directly to outdoors having
free area of at least 1-in.
2
/4,000 Btuh of total input rating for
all gas appliances in the space.
3. In spaces that use the Indoor Combustion Air Method,
infiltration should be adequate to provide air for combustion,
permanent ventilation and dilution of flue gases. However, in
buildings with unusually tight construction, additional air
MUST be provided using the methods described in the
Outdoor Combustion Air Method section.
Unusually tight construction is defined as
Construction with:
a. Walls and ceilings exposed to the outdoors have a continu-
ous, sealed vapor barrier. Openings are gasketed or sealed
and
b. Doors and openable windows are weatherstripped and
c. Other openings are caulked or sealed. These include joints
around window and door frames, between sole plates and
floors, between wall-ceiling joints, between wall panels, at
penetrations for plumbing, electrical and gas lines, etc.
NOTE:
In determining the free area of an opening, the blocking
effect of the louvers, grilles, and screens must be considered. If the
free area of a louver or grille design is unknown, it may be
assumed that wood louvers have a 20 percent free area, and metal
louvers or grilles have a 60 percent free area. Screens, when used,
must not be smaller than 1/4-in. mesh. Louvers and grilles must be
constructed so they cannot be closed.
A04002
Volume
Other
= 21ft
3
ACH
I
other
1000 Btu/hr
A04003
Volume
Fan
= 15ft
3
ACH
I
fan
1000 Btu/hr
18