Important Information For People Working on Heating Systems Answers to Frequently Asked Questions and Fees Established by the Legislature that are effective July 1, 2010 Manufacturing Standards for Boilers: • The current rules regarding the manufacture and assembly of boilers and pressure vessels are contained in Section 3 of the Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code, adopted effective June 15, 2009. • The standards for the design, manufacture and assembly for boilers and pressure vessel have been changed by the legislature and now include the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and the European Committee for Standardization (EN 303-5), for boilers with a maximum water jacket size of 60 gallons, a maximum input of 250,000 btu/hr and a maximum relief valve setting of 30 psig. • All boilers and pressure vessels are still required to be installed, repaired or altered in accordance with the National Board Inspection Code, with Vermont amendments, including control, safety and pressure relief devices that meet ASME standards. • The manufacturer’s design information, instructions, data plates and warning labels for all boilers and pressure vessels are required to be in English. • These manufacturing standards do not apply to boilers and pressure vessels installed in owner occupied single-family dwellings, accessory dwellings or certain buildings on working farms. The standards do apply to boilers and pressure vessels located in multi-family dwellings that are individually owned such as condominiums. Inspection of Heating Appliances: • The current rules regarding inspection of fuel fired heating appliances are contained in Section 3(e) and Section 2(a) 1:11.5.1.10, of the 2006 Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code. There has not been a change in these rules since June 15, 2009. These standards do not apply to boilers and pressure vessels installed in owner occupied single-family dwellings, accessory dwellings or certain buildings on working farms. • There are two types of inspections required: ◦ Inspections to identify risks related to operating pressure: Boilers and pressure vessels are required to be inspected when first installed and periodically after that by a Vermont commissioned boiler inspector. The inspection report must be submitted to the division of fire safety within 30 days of the inspection. ■ Water heaters and potable water storage tanks with a heat input of 200,000 btu/hr, water temperature less than 210 degrees (F) and less than 120 gallons aggregate water capacity, are exempt from this requirement, but are still required to have pressure/temperature safety relief devices in accordance with NBIC I 3837. ■ An inspection by a Vermont Commissioned boiler inspector is not required for a boiler designed to heat individual dwelling units in buildings containing less than 6 dwelling units. ■ When: Boilers and pressure vessels are required to be inspected by a Vermont Commissioned boiler inspector when installed and periodically after that as indicated: ■ High pressure power boiler… annual basis ■ Low-pressure hot water heating boiler… every two years ■ Pressure vessel greater than 5 cubic feet and operating with a relieving pressure greater than 125 psi… every three years ■ Who: A person is required to have a National Board Commission to obtain a Vermont commission, but will no longer need to be employed by an insurance company. ■ Standard: National Board Inspection Code (NBIC), ANSI/NB-23, 2004 edition ◦ Inspections to identify risks related to fuel combustion, appliance venting and fuel storage: Fuel fired heating appliances are required to be inspected every 2 years by a person with a certificate of fitness for the type of fuel being used. The inspections cover NFPA standards and require the measurement of carbon monoxide in the flue gas. The appliance must be marked with the date of inspection and the name of the person who conducted the inspection. When the inspection determines the existing situation involves a distinct hazard to life or property, the owner must be immediately notified and the violation(s) must be immediately corrected. If the violation(s) cannot be immediately corrected the person conducting the inspection must contact the authority having jurisdiction for code enforcement and disconnect the heating appliance from operation. ■ When: All fuel fired heating appliances are required to be inspected every 2 years by a person with a certificate of fitness for the type of fuel being used. ■ Who: The installation, inspection and service of natural fuel gas and LP gas appliances are required to be accomplished by a person with a certificate of fitness in either natural fuel gas, LP gas, or both, which permits the certificate holder to work on both natural fuel gas and LP gas appliances. The installation, inspection and service of oil burning equipment must be accomplished by a person with a certificate of fitness for oil burning equipment. The cleaning, maintenance and evaluation of chimneys and solid fuel burning appliances must be accomplished by a person with a certificate of fitness for chimneys and solid fuel burning appliances. ■ Standard: The standards and recommended procedures are included in NFPA 31, 54, 58 and/or 211, and the manufacturer’s instructions. Plumbing Connection to Potable Water Supply: • The current rules regarding plumbing connections for hydronic heating systems are contained in the 2004 Vermont Plumbing Rules that adopts the 2003 edition of the International Plumbing Code. The Plumber’s Examining Board is working to adopt the 2009 edition of the International Plumbing Code with an anticipated effective date later in 2010. • A person must be licensed as a master plumber or a heating system specialist to connect any hydronic heating system to the potable water supply for testing or system operation. Electrical Connection: • A person must be licensed as a master electrician or a type-s journeyman electrician for automatic gas or oil heating to connect any hydronic heating system to the building electrical system or to install branch circuits needed for that connection. Fees: • The fees set by the legislature, effective July 1, 2010, include: • Boiler: A Vermont Commission to inspect boilers and pressure vessels will now be issued for a 3-year period and there will be a fee of $150. A current National Board Commission is still required for a person to obtain and keep a Vermont Commission during that 3-year period. The proof of inspection fee for issuance of an operating certificate will now be $30. • Chimneys and solid fuel burning appliances: The fee for a 3-year certificate of fitness for chimneys and solid fuel burning appliances will now be $30. • Construction Permit: The fee for a construction permit for new heating systems remains at $5.50 per $1,000 of valuation, but there now will be a $50 minimum fee. • Electrical: The fee for a 3-year license for type-s journeyman electrician will now be $115, (the fee for the 3-year master license will be $150). The fee for each panel and feeder after the main disconnect will be $35. The base fee will be $40, except for electrical work done in one and two family dwellings. • Gas: The fee for a 3-year certificate of fitness for gas will now be $60. • Heating Appliance Inspection: There is no fee to the division of fire safety for the periodic inspection of heating appliances. • Oil: The fee for a 3-year certificate of fitness for oil burning equipment, including the limited oil burning equipment certificate, will now be $60. • Plumbing: The fee for a work notice is established by use of a minimum fee and a fee schedule for the amount of plumbing work. The fees are further broken down by priority and non-priority plumbing work. For plumbing fixtures described as a water heater, hydronic heating unit, domestic hot water coil or water treatment device for plumbing fixtures identified as a priority will now be $15 each. The minimum fee for a priority work notice fee will be $50. For all plumbing work not identified as a priority for inspection the fee will be $50. The 2-year plumbing license fees will now be $120 for master and $90 for journeyman and $50 for a specialist license.

Important Information For People Working on Heating Systems

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions and
Fees Established by the Legislature that are effective July 1, 2010

Manufacturing Standards for Boilers:

•The current rules regarding the manufacture and assembly of boilers and pressure vessels are contained in Section 3 of the Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code, adopted effective June 15, 2009.

•The standards for the design, manufacture and assembly for boilers and pressure vessel have been changed by the legislature and now include the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and the European Committee for Standardization (EN 303-5), for boilers with a maximum water jacket size of 60 gallons, a maximum input of 250,000 btu/hr and a maximum relief valve setting of 30 psig.

•All boilers and pressure vessels are still required to be installed, repaired or altered in accordance with the National Board Inspection Code, with Vermont amendments, including control, safety and pressure relief devices that meet ASME standards.

•The manufacturer’s design information, instructions, data plates and warning labels for all boilers and pressure vessels are required to be in English.

•These manufacturing standards do not apply to boilers and pressure vessels installed in owner occupied single-family dwellings, accessory dwellings or certain buildings on working farms. The standards do apply to boilers and pressure vessels located in multi-family dwellings that are individually owned such as condominiums.

Inspection of Heating Appliances:

•The current rules regarding inspection of fuel fired heating appliances are contained in Section 3(e) and Section 2(a) 1:11.5.1.10, of the 2006 Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code. There has not been a change in these rules since June 15, 2009. These standards do not apply to boilers and pressure vessels installed in owner occupied single-family dwellings, accessory dwellings or certain buildings on working farms.

•There are two types of inspections required:

◦Inspections to identify risks related to operating pressure: Boilers and pressure vessels are required to be inspected when first installed and periodically after that by a Vermont commissioned boiler inspector. The inspection report must be submitted to the division of fire safety within 30 days of the inspection.

■Water heaters and potable water storage tanks with a heat input of 200,000 btu/hr, water temperature less than 210 degrees (F) and less than 120 gallons aggregate water capacity, are exempt from this requirement, but are still required to have pressure/temperature safety relief devices in accordance with NBIC I 3837.

■An inspection by a Vermont Commissioned boiler inspector is not required for a boiler designed to heat individual dwelling units in buildings containing less than 6 dwelling units.

■When: Boilers and pressure vessels are required to be inspected by a Vermont Commissioned boiler inspector when installed and periodically after that as indicated:

■High pressure power boiler… annual basis

■Low-pressure hot water heating boiler… every two years

■Pressure vessel greater than 5 cubic feet and operating with a relieving pressure greater than 125 psi… every three years

■Who: A person is required to have a National Board Commission to obtain a Vermont commission, but will no longer need to be employed by an insurance company.

■Standard: National Board Inspection Code (NBIC), ANSI/NB-23, 2004 edition

◦Inspections to identify risks related to fuel combustion, appliance venting and fuel storage: Fuel fired heating appliances are required to be inspected every 2 years by a person with a certificate of fitness for the type of fuel being used. The inspections cover NFPA standards and require the measurement of carbon monoxide in the flue gas. The appliance must be marked with the date of inspection and the name of the person who conducted the inspection. When the inspection determines the existing situation involves a distinct hazard to life or property, the owner must be immediately notified and the violation(s) must be immediately corrected. If the violation(s) cannot be immediately corrected the person conducting the inspection must contact the authority having jurisdiction for code enforcement and disconnect the heating appliance from operation.

■When: All fuel fired heating appliances are required to be inspected every 2 years by a person with a certificate of fitness for the type of fuel being used.

■Who: The installation, inspection and service of natural fuel gas and LP gas appliances are required to be accomplished by a person with a certificate of fitness in either natural fuel gas, LP gas, or both, which permits the certificate holder to work on both natural fuel gas and LP gas appliances. The installation, inspection and service of oil burning equipment must be accomplished by a person with a certificate of fitness for oil burning equipment. The cleaning, maintenance and evaluation of chimneys and solid fuel burning appliances must be accomplished by a person with a certificate of fitness for chimneys and solid fuel burning appliances.

■Standard: The standards and recommended procedures are included in NFPA 31, 54, 58 and/or 211, and the manufacturer’s instructions.

Plumbing Connection to Potable Water Supply:

•The current rules regarding plumbing connections for hydronic heating systems are contained in the 2004 Vermont Plumbing Rules that adopts the 2003 edition of the International Plumbing Code. The Plumber’s Examining Board is working to adopt the 2009 edition of the International Plumbing Code with an anticipated effective date later in 2010.

•A person must be licensed as a master plumber or a heating system specialist to connect any hydronic heating system to the potable water supply for testing or system operation.

Electrical Connection:

•A person must be licensed as a master electrician or a type-s journeyman electrician for automatic gas or oil heating to connect any hydronic heating system to the building electrical system or to install branch circuits needed for that connection.

Fees:

•The fees set by the legislature, effective July 1, 2010, include:

•Boiler: A Vermont Commission to inspect boilers and pressure vessels will now be issued for a 3-year period and there will be a fee of $150. A current National Board Commission is still required for a person to obtain and keep a Vermont Commission during that 3-year period. The proof of inspection fee for issuance of an operating certificate will now be $30.

•Chimneys and solid fuel burning appliances: The fee for a 3-year certificate of fitness for chimneys and solid fuel burning appliances will now be $30.

•Construction Permit: The fee for a construction permit for new heating systems remains at $5.50 per $1,000 of valuation, but there now will be a $50 minimum fee.

•Electrical: The fee for a 3-year license for type-s journeyman electrician will now be $115, (the fee for the 3-year master license will be $150). The fee for each panel and feeder after the main disconnect will be $35. The base fee will be $40, except for electrical work done in one and two family dwellings.

•Gas: The fee for a 3-year certificate of fitness for gas will now be $60.

•Heating Appliance Inspection: There is no fee to the division of fire safety for the periodic inspection of heating appliances.

•Oil: The fee for a 3-year certificate of fitness for oil burning equipment, including the limited oil burning equipment certificate, will now be $60.

•Plumbing: The fee for a work notice is established by use of a minimum fee and a fee schedule for the amount of plumbing work. The fees are further broken down by priority and non-priority plumbing work. For plumbing fixtures described as a water heater, hydronic heating unit, domestic hot water coil or water treatment device for plumbing fixtures identified as a priority will now be $15 each. The minimum fee for a priority work notice fee will be $50. For all plumbing work not identified as a priority for inspection the fee will be $50. The 2-year plumbing license fees will now be $120 for master and $90 for journeyman and $50 for a specialist license.