7
Figure 4. Combustion Air Drawn from Outside
Through Horizontal Ducts
Total Input Rating
(Btuh)
Minimum Free Area
(Each Opening)
Round Duct
Diameter
40,000
20 sq. In
5 inches
60,000
30 sq. In
6 inches
80,000
40 sq. In
7 inches
100,000
50 sq. In
8 inches
120,000
60 sq. In
9 inches
140,000
70 sq. In
10 inches
160,000
80 sq. In
10 inches
Furnace
Water
Heater
Air Ducts must be
at least 1 sq. in.
per 2,000 Btuh of
total input rating.
Vent or
Chimney
Air Duct
Air Duct
Total Input Rating
(Btuh)
Minimum Free Area
(Each Opening)
Round Duct
Diameter
40,000
10 sq. In
4 inches
60,000
15 sq. In
5 inches
80,000
20 sq. In
5 inches
100,000
25 sq. In
6 inches
120,000
30 sq. In
6 inches
140,000
35 sq. In
7 inches
160,000
40 sq. In
8 inches
Figure 3. Combustion Air Drawn from Outside
Through Vertical Ducts
Air Duct must be
at least 1 sq. in.
per 4,000 Btuh of
total input rating.
Ducts must
extend above
attic insulation.
Air Duct must be
at least 1 sq. in.
per 4,000 Btuh of
total input rating.
Ventilation Louvers
at each end of attic
Attic
Insulation
12" Max
Furnace
Water
Heater
Vent or
Chimney
Outdoor Air Using Horizontal Ducts
If combustion air is taken from outdoors through horizontal
ducts, the openings and ducts must have a minimum free
area of one square inch per 2,000 Btuh of total appliance
input (Figure 4).
Example
:
A space with a water heater rated at 45,000 Btuh
input and a furnace rated at 75,000 Btuh requires a
volume of 6,000 cubic feet [50 x (45 + 75) = 6,000] to
be considered unconfi ned. If the space has an 8 foot
ceiling, the fl oor area of the space must be 750 square
feet (6,000 / 8 = 750).
Figure 5. Combustion Air Drawn from Outside
Through an Exterior Wall
Total Input Rating
(Btuh)
Minimum Free Area
(Each Opening)
Round Duct
Diameter
40,000
10 sq. In
4 inches
60,000
15 sq. In
5 inches
80,000
20 sq. In
5 inches
100,000
25 sq. In
6 inches
120,000
30 sq. In
6 inches
140,000
35 sq. In
7 inches
160,000
40 sq. In
8 inches
NOTE:
Each opening to outside
must be at least 1 sq. in. per
4,000 Btuh of total input rating.
12" Max.
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--
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--
Furnace
Water
Heater
Vent or
Chimney
12"
Max
See
Note
See
Note
Air Directly Through An Exterior Wall
If combustion air is provided directly through an exterior
wall, the two openings must each have free area of at
least one square inch per 4,000 Btuh of total appliance
input (Figure 5).
Conventional Furnaces - Unconfi ned Spaces
An unconfi ned space is an area including all rooms not
separated by doors with a volume greater than 50 cubic
feet per 1,000 Btuh of the combined input rates of all
appliances which draw combustion air from that space.
In general, a furnace installed in an unconfi ned space will
not require outside air for combustion. However, in homes
built for energy effi ciency (low air change rates), it may
be necessary to provide outside air to ensure adequate
combustion and venting, even though the furnace is located
in an unconfi ned space. See example.
