MODU-FIRE® Forced Draft Gas-Fired Boiler
14
These chemicals, when burned, form acids which quickly attack the boiler and the boiler stack. The result is im-
proper combustion and premature boiler failure.
Under no circumstances shall the boiler room ever be under a negative
pressure. Particular care should be taken when exhaust fans, compressors, air-handling units or oth-
er equipment may rob air from the boiler. Note that this equipment might be in rooms other than the
boiler room.
3.5.2.1 Air Inlet Requirements – United States (NFPA 54/ANSI Z223.1 & NFPA/ANSI 211)
When air is supplied from inside the building, the total required volume shall be the sum of the required volume for
all the appliances located in the mechanical room. Adjacent rooms furnished with fixed openings communicating
directly with the mechanical room are considered part of the required volume. The minimum volume is 50 ft
3
per
1000 Btu/hr (4.8 m
3
/kW) of installed appliance input capacity.
Openings used to connect indoor spaces to obtain the required minimum volume shall be sized as follows:
•
When rooms are on the same floor, each opening shall have an area equal to 1 square inch for each
1000 Btu/hr (2200 mm
2
/ kW) of installed appliance input capacity, but not less than 100 square inches.
One opening should commence less than 12 inches above the floor and the other less than 12 inches be-
low the ceiling. The minimum dimension of air openings shall be 3 inches.
•
When rooms are on different floors, each opening shall have an area equal to 2 square inches for each
1000 Btu/hr (4400 mm
2
/ kW) of installed appliance input capacity.
When combustion air is supplied from outside the building, the boiler room shall be provided with one or two open-
ings to ensure adequate combustion air and proper ventilation.
When using one permanent opening, the opening shall commence within 12 inches of the ceiling and shall com-
municate directly with the outdoors or through a vertical or horizontal duct that communicates to the outdoors.
•
Minimum free area of the opening is 1 square inch for each 3000 Btu/hr (700 mm
2
/ kW) of installed ap-
pliance input capacity, and
•
Not less than the sum of the areas of all vent connectors in the room.
When using two permanent openings, one opening shall commence within 12 inches above the floor and the oth-
er within 12 inches below the ceiling, preferably on opposite walls. The openings shall communicate directly, or
by way of ducts, with free outdoor air. The minimum net free area of the openings shall be calculated in accor-
dance with the following:
•
When air is taken directly from outside the building, each opening (minimum of two, as outlined above), 1
square inch for each 4,000 Btu per hour (550 mm
2
/kW) of total boiler input is required.
•
When air is taken from the outdoors through a vertical duct into the mechanical room, 1 square inch per
4,000 Btu per hour (550 mm
2
/kW) of total boiler input is required.
•
When air is taken from the outdoors through a horizontal duct into the mechanical room, 1 square inch per
2,000 Btu per hour (1100 mm
2
/kW) of total boiler input is required.
NOTICE!
1. The required size of openings for combustion and ventilation air shall be based on the net free
area of the opening.
2. Screens shall be not smaller than ¼”
3. Motorized louvers shall be interlocked with the appliance so that they are proven open prior to
main burner ignition and operation.