Page 21
Air from Inside
If the confined space that houses the furnace adjoins a
space categorized as unconfined, air can be brought in by
providing two permanent openings between the two
spaces. Each opening must have a minimum free area of 1
square inch (645 mm
2
) per 1,000 Btu (.29 kW) per hour of
total input rating of all gas-fired equipment in the confined
space. Each opening must be at least 100 square inches
(64516 mm
2
). One opening shall be within 12 inches (305
mm) of the top of the enclosure and one opening within 12
inches (305 mm) of the bottom. See figure 19.
FIGURE 19
EQUIPMENT IN CONFINED SPACE - ALL AIR FROM INSIDE
OPENINGS
(To Adjacent
Unconfined
Space)
NOTE
- Each opening shall have a free area of at least one square inch
per 1,000 Btu (645mm
2
per .29kW) per hour of the total input rating of
all equipment in the enclosure, but not less than 100 square inches
(64516mm.
2).
ROOF TERMINATED
EXHAUST PIPE
SIDE WALL
TERMINATED
EXHAUST PIPE
(ALTERNATE
LOCATION)
ML195UH
Air from Outside
If air from outside is brought in for combustion and ventila
tion, the confined space shall be provided with two perma
nent openings. One opening shall be within 12” (305mm) of
the top of the enclosure and one within 12” (305mm) of the
bottom. These openings must communicate directly or by
ducts with the outdoors or spaces (crawl or attic) that freely
communicate with the outdoors or indirectly through verti
cal ducts. Each opening shall have a minimum free area of
1 square inch per 4,000 Btu (645mm
2
per 1.17kW) per hour
of total input rating of all equipment in the enclosure. When
communicating with the outdoors through horizontal ducts,
each opening shall have a minimum free area of 1 square
inch per 2,000 Btu (645mm
2
per .59kW) per total input rat
ing of all equipment in the enclosure (See figure 20).
FIGURE 20
EQUIPMENT IN CONFINED SPACE - ALL AIR FROM OUTSIDE
(Inlet Air from Crawl Space and Outlet Air to Ventilated Attic)
NOTE
-The inlet and outlet air openings shall each have a free area
of at least one square inch per 4,000 Btu (645mm
2
per 1.17kW) per
hour of the total input rating of all equipment in the enclosure.
OUTLET
AIR
INLET
AIR
VENTILATION
LOUVERS
(For unheated
crawl space)
FURNACE
ROOF TERMINATED
EXHAUST PIPE
VENTILATION LOUVERS
(Each end of attic)
SIDE WALL
TERMINATED
EXHAUST PIPE
(ALTERNATE
LOCATION)
If air from outside is brought in for combustion and ventila
tion, the confined space must have two permanent open
ings. One opening shall be within 12 inches (305 mm) of the
top of the enclosure and one opening within 12 inches (305
mm) of the bottom. These openings must communicate di
rectly or by ducts with the outdoors or spaces (crawl or at
tic) that freely communicate with the outdoors or indirectly
through vertical ducts. Each opening shall have a minimum
free area of 1 square inch (645 mm
2
) per 4,000 Btu (1.17
kW) per hour of total input rating of all equipment in the en
closure. See figures 20 and 21. When communicating with
the outdoors through horizontal ducts, each opening shall
have a minimum free area of 1 square inch (645 mm
2
) per
2,000 Btu (.56 kW) per total input rating of all equipment in
the enclosure. See
figure 22.
When ducts are used, they shall be of the same cross-sec
tional area as the free area of the openings to which they
connect. The minimum dimension of rectangular air ducts
shall be no less than 3 inches (75 mm). In calculating free
area, the blocking effect of louvers, grilles, or screens must
be considered. If the design and free area of protective cov
ering is not known for calculating the size opening required,
it may be assumed that wood louvers will have 20 to 25 per
cent free area and metal louvers and grilles will have 60 to
75 percent free area. Louvers and grilles must be fixed in
the open position or interlocked with the equipment so that
they are opened automatically during equipment opera
tion.