
107070-01F
For more information, visit www.desatech.com
For more information, visit www.desatech.com
6
40,000
33,000
73,000
Unusually tight construction is defined as construction
where:
a. walls and ceilings exposed to the outside atmosphere
have a continuous water vapor retarder with a rating
of one perm (6 x 10-11 kg per pa-sec-m2) or less with
openings gasketed or sealed
and
b. weather stripping has been added on openable win-
dows and doors
and
c. caulking or sealants are applied to areas such as
joints around window and door frames,between sole
platesandfloors,betweenwall-ceiling joints,between
wall panels, at penetrations for plumbing, electrical,
and gas lines, and at other openings.
If your home meets all of the three criteria above,
you must provide additional fresh air.See
Ventilation
Air From Outdoors
, page 7
.
Ifyourhomedoesnot meet all of the three criteria above,
proceed to
Determining Fresh-Air Flow For Heater Loca-
tion,
below.
Confined and Unconfined Space
The National Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54 defines a
confined space as a space whose volume is less than 50 cubic feet
per 1,000 Btu per hour (4.8 m3per kw) of the aggregate input rating
of all appliances installed in that space and an unconfined space as
aspacewhosevolumeisnotlessthan50cubicfeetper1,000Btuper
hour (4.8 m3per kw) of the aggregate input rating of all appliances
installed in that space. Rooms communicating directly with the
space in which the appliances are installed*, through openings not
furnishedwithdoors,areconsideredapartoftheunconfinedspace.
* Adjoining rooms are communicating only if there are doorless
passageways or ventilation grills between them.
DETERMINING FRESH-AIR FLOW FOR
HEATER LOCATION
Determining if You Have a Confined or
Unconfined Space
Usethis worksheet todetermine ifyouhaveaconfined orunconfined space.
Space:Includestheroominwhichyouwillinstallheaterplusanyadjoining
rooms with doorless passageways or ventilation grills between the rooms.
1. Determine the volume of the space (length x width x height).
Length x Width x Height = ___________ cu. ft. (volume of space)
Example:
Space size 20 ft. (length) x 16 ft. (width) x 8 ft. (ceiling
height) = 2560 cu. ft. (volume of space)
Ifadditional ventilationto adjoiningroom issupplied withgrills oropen-
ings, add the volume of these rooms to the total volume of the space.
AIR FOR COMBUSTION AND
VENTILATION
Continued
WARNING: If the area in which the heater may be
operated is smaller than that defined as an uncon-
fined space or if the building is of unusually tight
construction,provideadequatecombustionandven-
tilation air by one of the methods described in the
National Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54 Sec-
tion 5.3
or applicable local codes
.
2. Multiply the space volume by 20 to determine the maximum Btu/Hr
the space can support.
__________ (volume of space) x 20 = (Maximum Btu/Hr the space
can support)
Example:
2560 cu. ft. (volume of space) x 20 = 51,200 (maximum
Btu/Hr the space can support)
3. Add the Btu/Hr of all fuel burning appliances in the space.
Vent-free heater _____________ Btu/Hr
Gas water heater* _____________ Btu/Hr
Gas furnace _____________ Btu/Hr
Vented gas heater _____________ Btu/Hr
Gas fireplace logs _____________ Btu/Hr
Other gas appliances* + _____________ Btu/Hr
Total = _____________ Btu/Hr
* Do not include direct-vent gas appliances. Direct-vent draws com-
bustion air from the outdoors and vents to the outdoors.
Example:
Gas water heater _____________ Btu/Hr
Vent-free heater + _____________ Btu/Hr
Total = _____________ Btu/Hr
4. Compare the maximum Btu/Hr the space can support with the actual
amount of Btu/Hr used.
__________________ Btu/Hr (maximum the space can support)
__________________ Btu/Hr (actual amount of Btu/Hr used)
Example:
51,200 Btu/Hr (maximum the space can support)
73,000 Btu/Hr (actual amount of Btu/Hr used)
Thespacein the above example isaconfined space because the actualBtu/
Hrusedismorethanthemaximum Btu/Hrthespacecansupport.Youmust
provide additional fresh air. Your options are as follows:
A. Rework worksheet, adding the space of an adjoining room. If the ex-
tra space provides an unconfined space, remove door to adjoining
roomoradd ventilation grills betweenrooms.See VentilationAirFrom
Inside Building, page 7.
B. Vent room directly to the outdoors. See Ventilation Air From Out-
doors, page 7.
C. Installa lowerBtu/Hrheater,if lowerBtu/Hrsize makesroom unconfined.
Ifthe actualBtu/Hr usedislessthanthe maximumBtu/Hr thespace cansupport,
thespaceisanunconfinedspace.Youwillneednoadditionalfreshairventilation.
AIR FOR COMBUSTION AND VENTILATION
Providing Adequate Ventilation (Cont.)
Determining Fresh-Air Flow for Heater Location