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113195-01B
7
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 m
3
per kw) of the aggregate input rating of all
appliances installed in that space and an unconfined
space as a space whose volume is not less than 50
cubic feet per 1,000 Btu per hour (4.8 m
3
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.
* 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
Use this work sheet to determine if you have a
confined or unconfined space.
Space:
Includes the room in which you will install
fireplace plus any adjoining rooms with doorless pas-
sageways 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 22 ft. (length) x 18 ft.
(width) x 8 ft. (ceiling height) = 3168 cu. ft.
(volume of space)
If additional ventilation to adjoining room is
supplied with grills or openings, add the volume
of these rooms to the total volume of the space.
2. Multiply the space volume by 20 to determine
the maximum Btu/Hr the space can support.
__________ (volume of space) x 20 = (Maxi-
mum Btu/Hr the space can support)
Example:
3168 cu. ft. (volume of space) x 20 =
63,360 (maximum Btu/Hr the space can support)
3. Add the Btu/Hr of all fuel burning appliances in
the space.
Vent-free fireplace
___________ 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
AIR FOR COMBUSTION
AND VENTILATION
Continued
* Do not include direct-vent gas appliances. Di-
rect-vent draws combustion air from the outdoors
and vents to the outdoors.
Example:
Gas water heater
__________ Btu/Hr
Vent-free fireplace
+ _________ 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:
63,360 Btu/Hr (maximum the space
can support)
73,000 Btu/Hr (actual amount of
Btu/Hr used)
The space in the above example is a confined space
because the actual Btu/Hr used is more than the maxi-
mum Btu/Hr the space can support. You must provide
additional fresh air. Your options are as follows:
A. Rework worksheet, adding the space of an adjoin-
ing room. If the extra space provides an unconfined
space, remove door to adjoining room or add
ventilation grills between rooms. See
Ventilation
Air From Inside Building,
page 8
.
B. Vent room directly to the outdoors. See
Ventila-
tion Air From Outdoors,
page 8
.
C. Install a lower Btu/Hr fireplace, if lower Btu/Hr
size makes room unconfined.
If the actual Btu/Hr used is less than the maximum
Btu/Hr the space can support,
the space is an un-
confined space. You will need no additional fresh
air ventilation.
WARNING: If the area in
which the fireplace may be oper-
ated is smaller than that defined
as an unconfined space or if the
building is of unusually tight
construction, provide adequate
combustion and ventilation air
by one of the methods described
in the
National Fuel Gas Code,
ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54 Section 5.3
or applicable local codes.
40,000
33,000
73,000
