Specifications

13
All types of venting of a heating appliance, whether
this is wood or gas red, are governed by a national
or local code.
The standards can be made by an independent
organization, like National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) or by industry-related organizations. These
standards can, by choice, be adopted by a state, a
county, a city or another local jurisdiction.
In the venting area, the applicable code depends
on the fuel used. Pay special attention to the code
version in effect. Local jurisdictions don’t always
follow the latest version of a standard. Some may still
use a 1992 version while others have adopted the
most recent version.
For solid-fuel red applications the following
standards and codes usually apply:
• NFPA211, Standard for Chimneys, Fire
places, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appli-
ances
• IMC, International Mechanical Code
For gas-red applications these apply:
• NFPA54 / ANSI Z223.1 National Fuel Gas
Code
• IFGC, International Fuel Gas Code
In very general terms, there are no major differences
in the way the different codes govern gravity venting.
This is not the case when it comes to mechanical
venting, so this section will concentrate on the codes
and standards surrounding mechanical venting of
heating appliances.
The concerns surrounding mechanical venting are
about how to handle the “ow of fuel” in case the
mechanical draft system experiences an electrical or
mechanical failure.
3.1 Solid-fuel standards and codes
The most important part of the venting code deals
with the minimum performance. It says:
It’s worth mentioning that according to the code,
a smoking replace is in fact a code violation that
requires a correction.
The NFPA 211 standard allows the use of mechanical
venting under certain conditions depending on the
version adopted.
According to the 2006 edition, a mechanical draft
system must meet these requirements:
3. Venting Standards and Codes
4.1.1 Minimum Performance. A chimney or vent shall be
so designed and constructed to develop a ow sufcient
to remove completely all ue or vent gases to the outside
atmosphere.
4.1.1.1 Chimneys or vents shall be evaluated to
ensure proper performance with respect to draft, creosote
buildup, and condensation.
4.1.1.2 The venting system shall satisfy the draft
requirements of the connected appliance(s) in
accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions or
approved methods.
(NFPA 211, 2006 Edition, pg. 211-13)
4.1.2 Mechanical Draft Systems. A listed mechanical
draft system of either forced or induced draft design shall
be permitted to be used to increase draft or capacity.
4.1.2.1 Where a mechanical draft system is installed,
provision shall be made to prevent the ow of fuel to an
automatically red appliance(s) when that system is not
operating.
4.1.2.2 The operation of a mechanical draft system shall
not adversely affect the performance or safety of, or
cause spillage of combustion products from, other com-
bustion equipment operating within the same building.
4.1.2.3 Proper performance and safety of other combus-
tion equipment shall be veried by testing prior to the
mechanical draft system being put into service.
4.1.2.4 Such testing shall include operation of the me-
chanical draft system together with other exhaust equip-
ment likely to operate simultaneously.
4.1.2.5 Mechanical draft systems of either forced or
induced draft serving manually red appliances shall be
one of the following:
(1) A mechanical draft system that is an integral part of a
listed appliance.
(2) A solid fuel cooking appliances as addressed in
NFPA 96, Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Pro-
tection of Commercial Cooking Operations.
(3) *An engineered mechanical draft system that
includes the following provisions:
(a) The following detection and warning
devices shall be installed and line voltage
devices, when installed, shall be provided
with a battery backup system:
i. A device that produces an audible and
visible warning upon failure of the
mechanical draft system.
The device shall be activated by loss
of electrical power supply or by operational
failure of the mechanical draft system,
at any time while the mechanical
draft system is switched on.
ii. A smoke detector and alarm installed
and maintained in accordance with
NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code®. The
detector shall be installed in the
same room as the appliance served by the
mechanical draft system.
iii. A listed carbon monoxide warning device
installed in accordance with the
manufacturers’ instructions.