Boiler and Pressure Vessel Approval

All boilers and pressure vessels shall be manufactured, constructed and assembled in accordance with the appropriate American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standards, or equivalent standard recognized by the National Board of Boiler & Pressure Vessel Inspectors, in place at the time of manufacture. Look for the ASME label on each boiler. Boilers designed to heat individual dwelling units in buildings containing less than 6 dwelling units are exempt from inspection requirements by a national board boiler inspector but are required to meet ASME standards.

Periodic Inspection of Heating Appliances

All fuel fired heating appliances shall be cleaned and maintained in accordance with the manufacturers instructions and shall be inspected at least once every 2 years by a person certified in accordance with section 1.13 of the Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code. Inspections shall be in accordance with the standards and recommended procedures for inspection of existing appliances established under NFPA 31, 54 and 211, including the measurement of carbon monoxide in the flue gas.

At the time of inspection the appliance shall be marked with the date of the inspection and the name and certificate number of the person who performed the inspection. When the inspection determines the existing situation involves a distinct hazard to life or property and requires immediate action, the violation(s) shall be immediately corrected. If the hazard cannot be corrected the certified inspector conducting the inspection shall contact the state or municipal fire marshal and then disconnect (red tag) the heating appliance from operation.

Certification Requirements for the Installation, Inspection and Service of Gas Appliances and Oil Burning Equipment

The installation, inspection and service of gas appliances and oil burning equipment is required to be performed by a person who is certified in accordance with section 1.13 of the Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code. The certification is based on training programs established in the industry including the LP Gas Certified Employee Training Program (CETP), the American Gas Association (AGA) and the National Oil heat Research Alliance (NORA). The certification is for a 3 year period. During that 3 year period a person must receive 8 hours of related instruction approved by the Division of Fire Safety to be able to renew the certificate. The instruction must include 2 hours regarding the prevention of Carbon Monoxide (CO) leaks and safety inspections of existing appliances. A current NORA “silver” or “gold” certificate is accepted as having received equal related instruction.

FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR THROUGH THE WALL VENTS

FOR FUEL FIRED HEATING APPLIANCES

Fire Protection Marking

All through the wall vents for fuel fired heating appliances, located less than 7 feet aboveground level, shall be provided with signage permanently affixed at a height of 7 feet, mounted directly above the through the wall vent.

The sign shall be a “V” shape, not less than 4 ½ inches in height, with the principal stroke of the letter “V” not less than 3/4 inch in width, colored black on a white background. The sign shall contain the wording “Heating Vent” using plainly legible letters.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms

CO alarms are required to be installed in areas adjacent to fuel fired heating appliances that use through

the wall vents that terminate less than 7 feet above the ground. In buildings that have CO alarms in the

areas where people sleep, the additional CO alarms adjacent to fuel fired heating appliances are not required. CO alarms shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Keep Sidewall Vents Clear

Sidewall vents are common in new heating and water heating systems, especially high efficiency units. These vents act as a breathing device for these systems. They take in fresh air and mix it with fuel to produce heat, while discharging exhaust fumes that can include carbon monoxide (CO).

If a vent becomes buried in snow or obstructed by a shrub, this may shut down the heating appliance – or draw exhaust fumes into the building, which can produce high levels of CO inside the building.

To prevent these problems, it’s important to remove snow from around the vent approximately 48 inches in all directions, and trim any shrubs around the vent, so that the vent is not blocked.

Install vents at the highest possible level, per manufacturer’s instructions,

but no less than 12 inches above the ground.