507768-04P
Page 8 of 56
Issue 1933
Figure 5.
Equipment in Confined Space - All Air From
Inside
Air from Outside
If air from outside is brought in for combustion and
ventilation, the confined space shall be provided with two
permanent openings. One opening shall be within 12” (305
mm) of the top of the enclosure and one within 12” (305
mm) of the bottom. These openings must communicate
directly or by ducts with the outdoors or spaces (crawl
or attic) that freely communicate with the outdoors or
indirectly through vertical ducts. Each opening shall have
a minimum free area of 1 square inch per 4,000 Btu (645
mm² per .59 kW) per hour of the total input rating of all
equipment in the enclosure (see Figure 6 and Figure 7).
It is also permissible to bring in air for combustion from a
ventilated attic (Figure 9) or ventilated crawl space (Figure
Figure 6.
Equipment in Confined Space - All Air from
Outside
(Inlet Air from Crawl Space and Outlet Air to
Ventilated Attic)
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 hour of
the total input rating of all equipment in the enclosure. See
When ducts are used, they shall be of the same cross-
sectional 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 covering is not known for calculating the size
opening required, it may be assumed that wood louvers
will have 20 to 25 percent 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.
Figure 7.
Equipment in Confined Space - All Air from
Outside
(All Air through Ventilated Attic)
Figure 8.
Equipment in Confined Space - All Air from
Outside
OUTLET AIR
INLET AIR
NOTE
−Each air duct opening shall have a free area of at least one
square inch per 2,000 Btu (645mm
2
per .59kW) per hour of the total
input rating of all equipment in the enclosure. If the equipment room
is located against an outside wall and the air openings communi-
cate directly with the outdoors, each opening shall have a free area
of at least 1 square inch per 4,000 Btu (645mm
2
per 1.17kW) per
hour of the total input rating of all other equipment in the enclosure.
ROOF TERMINATED
EXHAUST PIPE
SIDE WALL
TERMINATED
EXHAUST PIPE
(ALTERNATE
LOCATION)
FURNACE
