8
FIGURE 3.
A gas water heater cannot operate properly without the correct amount
of air for combustion. Do not install in a confined area such as a closet,
unless you provide air as shown in the “Locating The New Water
Heater” section. Never obstruct the flow of ventilation air. If you have
any doubts or questions at all, call your gas supplier. Failure to provide
the proper amount of combustion air can result in a fire or explosion
and cause death, serious bodily injury, or property damage.
FIGURE 4.
If this water heater will be used in beauty shops, barber shops, cleaning
establishments, or self-service laundries with dry cleaning equipment,
it is imperative that the water heater or water heaters be installed so
that combustion and ventilation air be taken from outside these areas.
Propellants of aerosol sprays and volatile compounds, (cleaners,
chlorine based chemicals, refrigerants, etc.) in addition to being highly
flammable in many cases, will also change to corrosive hydrochloric
acid when exposed to the combustion products of the water heater.
The results can be hazardous, and also cause product failure.
INSULATION BLANKETS
Insulation blankets are available to the general public for external use
on gas water heaters but are not necessary with these products. The
purpose of an insulation blanket is to reduce the standby heat loss
encountered with storage tank heaters. Your water heater meets or
exceeds the National Appliance Energy Conversation Act standards
with respect to insulation and standby loss requirements, making an
insulation blanket unnecessary.
Should you choose to apply an insulation blanket to this heater, you
should follow these instructions (For identification of components
mentioned below, see Figure 1). Failure to follow these instructions
can restrict the air flow required for proper combustion, potentially
resulting in fire, asphyxiation, serious personal injury or death.
• Do not apply insulation to the top of the water heater, as this will
interfere with safe operation of the draft hood.
• Do not cover the outer door, thermostat or temperature & pressure
relief valve.
• Do not allow insulation to come within 2" (50.8 mm) of the floor to
prevent blockage of combustion air flow to the burner.
• Do not cover the instruction manual. Keep it on the side of the
water heater or nearby for future reference.
• Do obtain new warning and instruction labels from the manufacturer
for placement on the blanket directly over the existing labels.
• Do inspect the insulation blanket frequently to make certain it
does not sag, thereby obstructing combustion air flow.
COMBUSTION AIR AND VENTILATION FOR
APPLIANCES LOCATED IN UNCONFINED SPACES
UNCONFINED SPACE
is space whose volume is not less than
50 cubic feet per 1,000 Btu per hour (4.8 cm per 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 furnished with doors, are considered a
part of the unconfined space.
In unconfined spaces in buildings, infiltration may be adequate to provide
air for combustion, ventilation and dilution of flue gases. However, in
buildings of tight construction (for example, weather stripping, heavily
insulated, caulked, vapor barrier, etc.), additional air may need to be
provided using the methods described in “Combustion Air and Ventilation
for Appliances Located in Confined Spaces.”
COMBUSTION AIR AND VENTILATION FOR
APPLIANCES LOCATED IN CONFINED SPACES
CONFINED SPACE
is a space whose volume is less than 50 cubic feet
per 1,000 Btu per hour (4.8 cm per kW) of the aggregate input rating of
all appliances installed in that space.
A. ALL AIR FROM INSIDE BUILDINGS:
(See Figure 4 and 5)
The confined space shall be provided with two permanent openings
communicating directly with an additional room(s) of sufficient volume
so that the combined volume of all spaces meets the criteria for an
