328767-001 www.
americanwaterheater .com 7
INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
For all side wall terminated, horizontally vented power vent, direct vent and power direct vent gas fueled water heaters
installed in every dwelling, building or structure used in whole or in part for residential purposes, including those owned
or operated by the Commonwealth and where the side wall exhaust vent termination is less than seven (7) feet above
fi
nished grade in the area of the venting, including but not limited to decks and porches, the following requirements shall
be satis
fi
ed:
INSTALLATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS
At the time of installation of the side wall horizontal vented gas fueled equipment, the installing plumber or gas
fi
tter shall
observe that a hard wired carbon monoxide detector with an alarm and battery back-up is installed on the
fl
oor level where
the gas equipment is to be installed. In addition, the installing plumber or gas
fi
tter shall observe that a battery operated
or hard wired carbon monoxide detector with an alarm is installed on each additional level of the dwelling, building or
structure served by the sidewall horizontal vented gas fueled equipment. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner
to secure the services of quali
fi
ed licensed professionals for the installation of hard wired carbon monoxide detectors.
In the event that the side wall horizontally vented gas fueled equipment is installed in a crawl space or an attic, the hard
wired carbon monoxide detector with alarm and battery back-up may be installed on the next adjacent
fl
oor level.
In the event that the requirements of this subdivision can not be met at the time of completion of installation, the owner
shall have a period of thirty (30) days to comply with the above requirements provided that during said thirty (30) day
period, a battery operated carbon monoxide detector with an alarm shall be installed.
APPROVED CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS
Each carbon monoxide detector as required in accordance with the above provisions shall comply with NFPA 720 and
be ANSI/ UL 2034 listed and CSA certi
fi
ed.
SIGNAGE
A metal or plastic identi
fi
cation plate shall be permanently mounted to the exterior of the building at a minimum height
of eight (8) feet above grade directly in line with the exhaust vent terminal for the horizontally vented gas fueled heating
appliance or equipment. The sign shall read, in print size no less than one- half (1/2) inch in size, “GAS VENT DIRECTLY
BELOW. KEEP CLEAR OF ALL OBSTRUCTIONS.”
INSPECTION
The state or local gas inspector of the side wall horizontally vented gas fueled equipment shall not approve the installation
unless, upon inspection, the inspector observes carbon monoxide detectors and signage installed in accordance with
the provisions of 248 CMR 5.08(2)(a) 1 through 4.
EXEMPTIONS
The following equipment is exempt from 248 CMR 5.08(2) (a) 1 through 4:
1. The equipment listed in Chapter 10 entitled “Equipment Not Required To Be Vented” in the most current edition of
NFPA 54 as adopted by the Board; and
2. Product Approved side wall horizontally vented gas fueled equipment installed in a room or structure separate from
the dwelling, building, or structure used in whole or in part for residential purposes.
MANUFACTURER REQUIREMENTS - GAS EQUIPMENT VENTING SYSTEM PROVIDED
When the manufacturer of Product Approved side wall horizontally vented gas equipment provides a venting system
design or venting system components with the equipment, the instructions provided by the manufacturer for installation
of the equipment and the venting system shall include:
1. Detailed instructions for the installation of the venting system design or the venting system components; and
2. A complete parts list for the venting system design or venting system.
MANUFACTURER REQUIREMENTS - GAS EQUIPMENT VENTING SYSTEM NOT PROVIDED
When the manufacturer of Product Approved side wall horizontally vented gas fueled equipment does not provide the
parts for venting the
fl
ue gases, but identi
fi
es “special venting systems,” the following requirements shall be satis
fi
ed by
the manufacturer:
1. The referenced “special venting system” instructions shall be included with the appliance or equipment installation
instructions; and
2. The “special venting systems” shall be Product Approved by the Board, and the instructions for that system shall
include a parts list and detailed installation instructions.
A copy of all installation instructions for all Product Approved side wall horizontally vented gas fueled equipment, all
venting instructions, all parts lists for venting instructions, and/or all venting design instructions shall remain with the
appliance or equipment at the completion of the installation.
