Element
Section 1: Safety Precautions
L-OMM-0003_A
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1.4 For Massachusetts Installations
Water heater Installations within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts must conform to the
following requirements:
•
Heater must be installed by a plumber or a gas fitter who is licensed within the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
•
Prior to unit operation, the complete gas train and all connections must be leak
tested using a non-corrosive soap.
•
The vent termination must be located a minimum of 4 feet (1.2m) above grade
level. If side-wall venting is used, the installation must conform to the following
requirements
extracted from 248 CMR 5.08 (2):
(a) For all side wall horizontally vented gas fueled equipment 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
(2.1m) above finished grade in the area of the venting, including but not limited to decks and
porches, the following requirements shall be satisfied:
1. INSTALLATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS. At the time of installation of the
side wall horizontal vented gas fueled equipment, the installing plumber or gasfitter shall
observe that a hard-wired carbon monoxide detector with an alarm and battery back-up is
installed on the floor level where the gas equipment is to be installed. In addition, the installing
plumber or gasfitter 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 side wall horizontal vented gas fueled equipment. It shall be the responsibility of
the property owner to secure the services of qualified licensed professionals for the installation
of hard-wired carbon monoxide detectors.
a. 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 floor level.
b. In the event that the requirements of this subdivision cannot 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, however, that during said thirty (30) day period, a battery-
operated carbon monoxide detector with an alarm shall be installed.
2. 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 IAS certified.
3. SIGNAGE. A metal or plastic identification plate shall be permanently mounted to the exterior
of the building at a minimum height of eight (8) feet (2.4m) 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".
4. 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.
(b) 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
