IBC SFT Series Guide

USER’S INFORMATION MANUAL
www.ibcboiler.com
WARNING: If the information in this manual is not followed exactly, a re or
explosion may result causing property damage, personal injury, or loss of life.
Do not store or use gasoline or other ammable vapours and liquids or other
combustible materials in the vicinity of this or any other appliance.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SMELL GAS:
•Do not try to light any appliance.
• Do not touch any electrical switch; do not use any phone in your building.
• Immediately call your gas supplier from a nearby phone. Follow the gas
supplier’s instructions.
• If you cannot reach your gas supplier, call the re department.
Installation and service must be performed by a qualied installer, service
agency or the gas supplier.
Ce manuel est également disponible en anglais - entrer en communication avec IBC ou visiter notre
site Web www.ibcboiler.com
SFT Series Water Heaters
(Natural Gas or Propane)

USER’S INFORMATION MANUAL
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SFT SERIES WATER HEATERS
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
Installation, start-up and servicing of IBC units must be done with due
care and attention, and should only be performed by competent, qualied,
licensed and trained heating technicians. Failure to read and comply with
all instructions and applicable national and local codes may result in
hazardous conditions that could result in property damage and injury to
occupants which in extreme cases might result in death.
HAZARDS & PRECAUTIONS
WARNING
If the information in this
manual is not followed
exactly, a re or explosion
may result causing property
damage, personal injury, or
loss of life.
WARNING
Points out a potentially
hazardous situation which
must be avoided to prevent
serious injury or death.
CAUTION
Points out a potentially
hazardous situation which
must be avoided to prevent
possible moderate injury and/
or property damage
NOTE
Points out installation,
maintenance and operation
details that will result in
enhanced efciency, longevity
and proper operation of your
unit.
DANGER
Points out an immediately
hazardous situation which
must be avoided in order to
prevent serious injury or
death.
BEST PRACTICES
Points out recommendations
for better installation.

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SFT SERIES WATER HEATERS
Contents
UNIT’S CONTROLLER .........................................7
Turning Appliance ON/OFF ..............................................7
Tankless Domestic Hot Water Modes ........................................9
Tankless Domestic Hot Water - Standard, Comfort, and ECO Comfort Modes ......9
Adding Domestic Hot Water Storage .......................................10
Tankless Domestic Hot Water with a Storage Tank...........................10
SEQUENCE OF OPERATION ....................................10
LIGHTING & SHUTTING DOWN THE UNIT ........................13
MAINTENANCE..............................................14
General Care .......................................................14
Daily Maintenance ...................................................14
Annual Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Relief Valve - Maintenance and Testing ...................................15
Domestic Hot Water System ............................................15
SERVICE RECORD ...........................................16

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SFT SERIES WATER HEATERS
WARNING
Close ll valve after any
addition of water to the
system, to reduce risk of
water escapement.
WARNING
HOT WATER CAN SCALD!
Water Temperatures over
125°F / 52°C can cause severe
burns instantly or death from
scalds.
Children, disabled, and
elderly are at highest risk of
being scalded.
• Never leave then
unattended in or near the
shower, bathtub or sink.
• Never allow small children
to use a hot water faucet or
draw their own bath.
To avoid any potential scald
hazard or if codes require
specic water temperatures
at the hot water faucet, the
installer must:
•Install a thermostatic mixing
valve at this appliance
and ensure it is working
properly.
AND
•Set the thermostatic
mixing valve to the lowest
temperature which satises
your hot water needs.
TO AVOID INJURY:
•Feel and adjust water
temperature before bathing
or showering.
•Water drained from the
system drain valve may be
extremely hot.
•Make sure all connections
are tight.
•Direct water ow away from
any person.
WARNING
Do not use this unit if any
part has been under water.
Immediately call a qualied
service technician to inspect
the unit and to replace any
part of the control system and
any gas control that has been
under water.
DANGER
Should overheating occur
or the gas supply fails to
shut off, do not turn off or
disconnect the electrical
supply to the pump. Instead
shut off the gas supply at
a location external to the
appliance
WARNING
Keep unit area free and clear
of combustible materials,
gasoline, and other ammable
vapours and liquids.
WARNING
Combustion air must not be
drawn from areas containing
corrosive air from swimming
pools or spas, including air
directly next to outdoor pools
and spas.
WARNING
The unit must not be exposed
to water leaks from piping
or components located
overhead. This includes
condensation dropping from
un-insulated cold water lines
overhead.
WARNING
In areas of high snow fall,
users must check side wall
exhaust vent and air intake
terminations on a regular
basis to ensure blockages do
not occur.
WARNING
Bacteria growth can develop
in domestic hot water tanks
and indirect units if the
minimum water temperature
is not set high enough to
prevent its growth.

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USER’S INFORMATION MANUAL
SFT SERIES WATER HEATERS
WARNING
CAUTION
WATER HEATER INSTALLATION GUIDELINES
ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE SETTING
°Hotter water increases the risk of scald injury. Before changing the temperature setting, see
instruction manual.
°This boiler must be installed in accordance with local codes, if any; if not follow the National
Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54, or the Natural Gas and Propane Installation Code,
CAN/CSA B149.1, as applicable.
°Failure to correctly install and operate this appliance can result in severe personal injury
or death.
°The water heater shall have a pressure relief valve installed within 6” [152mm] of the DHW HOT
outlet connection.
Refer to the Boiler User’s Manual before operating relief valve.
°The water heater requires a pressure relief valve identified with the ASME V or HV symbol and
set to relieve at or below 150psi of domestic water pressure and a minimum relieving capacity
of 199,000 Btu/hr with 3/4” NPT threads. For safe operation of the water heater, the relief valve
must not be removed from its designated point of installation or plugged.
°For complete information refer to installation manual.
°Read and follow warnings and instructions.
°Touch the panel above the White Dot twice, then touch the Tap. Adjust the water temperature
with the Plus + and Minus – then touch the Return button to save the changes.
BURN
HOT
DANGER
° Water temperture over 125°F (52°C) can cause severe burns instantly
or death from scalds.
° Children, disabled, and elderly are at highest risk of being scalded.
° See instruction manual before setting temperature at water heater.
° Feel water before bathing or showering.
° Temperature limiting valves are available, see manual.

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SFT SERIES WATER HEATERS
PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT EMPTY

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USER’S INFORMATION MANUAL
SFT SERIES WATER HEATERS
UNIT’S CONTROLLER
ICON FUNCTION
ANumerical Display Main Display
BPlus & Minus Temperature Adjustment
CFlame Burner ON Indicator
DWhite Dot Power ON Indicator
EFaucet DHW Indicator
FWrench Service / Reset
GReturn Arrow Enter / Save
HNumerical Display Service Display
Table 1: Controller Indicators and Buttons
INSTALLER INTERFACE
Turning Appliance ON/OFF
To turn on the unit, touch the area above the small dot for 2 seconds. Now only the
dot is illuminated.
To turn off the unit, touch the area above the small dot for 2 seconds.
A dash appears on the right and the text “OFF” is displayed on the left.

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SFT SERIES WATER HEATERS
Programming Mode
There are two parameters available in the User Setup Menu.
Adjusting the domestic hot water Temperature
To adjust the DHW:
1. Touch the area above the dot.
2. Touch the Faucet button.
The tankless domestic hot water temperature target appears on the main display.
3. To change the DHW temperature target, touch the Plus or Minus buttons.
4. To:
• Save the changes, touch the Return button.
• Exit without saving the changes, touch the area above the dot.
NOTE
The domestic hot water
thermostat is adjusted to its
lowest temperature position
when shipped from the
factory. It’s recommended to
set the domestic hot water
thermostat to 120°F/49°C as
an initial setting and further
adjust as required. For
energy efcient operation,
this setting should be set
as low as practical for the
consumer’s needs.

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TANKLESS DOMESTIC HOT WATER MODES
Tankless Domestic Hot Water - Standard, Comfort,
and ECO Comfort Modes
Standard Mode (OFF): The unit’s heat exchanger will not maintain its domestic
hot water temperature between demands for hot water.
Comfort Mode (ON): The unit’s heat exchanger is maintained at the DHW
temperature.
ECO Comfort Mode (ECO): This mode operates like the comfort mode but has
the added advantage of learning when the domestic hot water is used. During
the low use periods, the heat exchanger is allowed to cool.
To switch between the 3 modes:
1. Touch the area above the dot.
2. Touch the Faucet button twice.
3. Touch the Plus or Minus buttons.

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SFT SERIES WATER HEATERS
4. To:
• Save the changes, touch the Return button.
• Exit without saving the changes, touch the area above the dot.
ADDING DOMESTIC HOT WATER STORAGE
Tankless Domestic Hot Water with a Storage Tank
The SFT series unit has the ability to connect a domestic hot water storage tank
to the unit to provide larger volumes of domestic hot water during peak demands.
The storage tank is piped to the unit’s domestic hot and cold water piping
connections.You must install a bronze or stainless steel pump to circulate water
from the storage tank through the unit’s domestic hot water coil.
Alternatively, you can wire the pump and aquastat together without connecting
to the unit. When the line-voltage aquastat energizes the pump, the ow sensor
detects the ow of domestic water and activates the water heater to heat to its
programmed temperature.
SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
When the unit is powered up the controller enters a self-diagnostic mode, and
displays “2” in the Service Display.
The sequence of operation is as follows:
1. The unit receives a call from domestic hot water heating from the internal
ow sensor.
2. The unit does a safety check and energizes the fan for a pre-purge (Service
Display = 3).
3. Once the 5-second pre-purge is compete, the unit enters a 5-second trial for
ignition (Service Display = 4). If the unit fails to ignite, the unit will complete a
5-second inter-purge then another 5-second trial for ignition. This is repeated
4 times before a hard lock-out occurs. The Return button must be pressed to
reset the controller and to allow for another attempt.
4. Once the burner is lit and ame has been proven the unit operates as it is
programmed (Service Display = + for domestic hot water).
5. If the unit reaches its target temperature and there is still a call for hot water
the burner will turn off. (Service Display = 1).
NOTE
The unit is equipped with
a Frost Protection feature.
This feature will operate the
unit’s burner to help protect
the unit from freezing. IBC is
not responsible for damages
to the unit, and/or related
components, nor property
damages that may result from
freezing conditions.

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USER’S INFORMATION MANUAL
SFT SERIES WATER HEATERS
6. If the burner is on to maintain the heat exchanger temperature for DHW
Comfort mode (Service Display = 7).
7. If the burner is on for frost protection (Service Display = 9).
MAIN
DISPLAY
LIT
DISPLAY
DESCRIPTION
OFF - The unit is OFF. Press the space above the white button
to turn on the unit.
(blank) (blank) No Call for Hot Water - Standby
XXX 2 Self-test – When power is applied to the unit the
controller enters a self diagnostic mode for 5 seconds
XXX 3 Fan Pre-purge , Inter-purge and Post-purge
XXX 4 Trial for Ignition and Flame Proving
XXX
+
Heating – DHW
XXX 7 Burner on for Comfort mode
XXX 9Freeze Protection mode
Table 2: Operating Display and Service Display Codes.

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SFT SERIES WATER HEATERS
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SFT SERIES WATER HEATERS
LIGHTING & SHUTTING DOWN
THE UNIT

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SFT SERIES WATER HEATERS
MAINTENANCE
General Care
•
Keep combustible materials and ammable liquids and vapours away from the unit.
•Keep vent terminals clear of obstructions (snow, dirt, etc.).
Daily Maintenance
•Check all the daily maintenance items.
•Check the domestic hot water temperature at the faucet to ensure the
temperature is not too hot. If the temperature is too hot, you can adjust the
water temperature with the unit’s controller. If these adjustments are not
correcting the issue, call your qualied service technician for service.
•Check the pressure relief valve and discharge piping for signs of leakage
or moisture. If water or moisture is found, contact your qualied service
technician as soon as possible for service.
•Regularly check the condensate trap and outlet pipe. The condensate trap
must be full of water. The outlet hose may be connected to a condensate
neutralizer, and if so, check that the pH of the water coming out of the
neutralizer is above 6.0pH. If the pH is below 6.0 then the neutralizer will need
to be re-charged or replaced. Contact your qualied service technician for
service.
Annual Maintenance
The unit must be inspected by your qualied service technician for the following:
• Inspect the ue gas exhaust and air intake connections. All connections
should be tight and leak free.
• Inspect ue gas exhaust piping, combustion air piping and terminations.
•Inspect the unit’s interior and vacuum if required.
•Check for water, gas and condensate leaks in the unit and around the unit.
• Check the condensate trap and clean if required. Re-ll the trap and re-install.
•Check the water pressure.
•Check the electrical connections.
•Check the ignition electrode and remove oxidation from the electrode.
Replace if necessary.
•Check the gas valve and ignition cable.
•Check the controller settings.
• Check the burner’s ame. Should be a quick and quiet ignition across the full
burner.
•If required, clean the heat exchanger and the burner.
WARNING
Annual Maintenance must
only be done by a qualied
service technician.

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USER’S INFORMATION MANUAL
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Relief Valve - Maintenance and Testing
The eld-supplied relief valve manufacturer requires that under normal operating
conditions a “try lever test” must be performed every two months. Under severe
service conditions, or if corrosion and/or deposits are noticed within the valve
body, you must test more often. Also perform a “try lever test” at the end of any
non-service period.
Test at or near maximum operating pressure by holding the test lever fully open
for at least 5 seconds to ush the valve seat free of sediment and debris. Then
release the lever and permit the valve to snap shut.
If the lever does not activate, or there is no evidence of discharge, discontinue
use of equipment immediately, and contact a licensed contractor or qualied
service personnel.
If the relief valve does not completely seal, and uid continues to leak from
the discharge pipe, perform the test again to try and ush any debris that may
be lodged in the valve. If repeated attempts fail to stop the leakage, contact a
licensed contractor or qualied service personnel to replace the valve.
Domestic Hot Water System
Quality of the domestic cold water is very important to the longevity of the unit.
The recommended pH of the domestic water is between 6.5 and 8.5. The internal
domestic water heat exchanger tubing and the ow sensor is subject to fouling if
exposed to hard water (over 7 grains of hardness) or has a TDS of 500mg/L or
higher. See Table 3.
DESCRIPTION MAX MIN
Water Pressure 150 psi 40 psi
Programmable water temperature 149°F (65°C) 104°F (40°C)
Minimum Flow Rate to Activate DHW Sensor N/A 0.5 GPM
Acceptable pH range 8.5 pH 6.5 pH
Chloride 250 mg/L
Iron 0.3mg/L
Total Dissolved Solids 500mg/L
Total Hardness 7 grains
Table 3: Domestic Water Quality Guidelines
CAUTION
Before testing the relief valve,
make certain the discharge
pipe is properly connected to
the valve outlet and arranged
to contain and safely dispose
of equipment discharge.

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SFT SERIES WATER HEATERS
SERVICE RECORD
DATE LICENSED CONTRACTOR DESCRIPTION OF WORK DONE

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SFT SERIES WATER HEATERS
Revision History
R0 DECEMBER 2018 Initial release
R1 Updated SFT Controller Turn On image, removed text in Tankless Domestic Hot Water
procedure.

IBC Technologies Inc.
8015 North Fraser Way
Burnaby, BC
Canada V5J 5M8
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Toll Free: 1.844.HEAT.IBC (1.844.432.8422)
www.ibcboiler.com
120-230-R1
88998401
JUNE 2019
© IBC Technologies Inc. 2019