1010.0 Clearance for Access

Where boilers are installed or replaced, clearance shall be provided to allow access for inspection, maintenance, and repair. Passageways around all sides of boilers shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 18 inches (457 mm). Clearance for repair and cleaning shall be permitted to be provided through a door or access panel into another area, provided the opening is of sufficient size.

Exception: Subject to the approval of the Authority Having Jurisdiction, boilers shall be permitted to be installed with a side clearance of less than 18 inches (457 mm), provided that the lesser clearance does not inhibit inspection, maintenance, or repair.

Power boilers having a steam-generating capacity in excess of 5000 pounds per hour (lb/h) (0.6299 kg/s) or having a heating surface in excess of 1000 square feet (92.9 m²) or input in excess of 5 000 000 Btu/h (1464 kW) shall have a clearance of not less than 7 feet (2134 mm) from the top of the boiler to the ceiling.

Steam-heating boilers and hot-water-heating boilers that exceed one of the following limits:

1. 5 000 000 Btu/h input (1464 kW)
2. 5000 pounds steam per hour (0.6299 kg/s) capacity
3. 1000 square foot (92.9 m²) heating surface

Power boilers that do not exceed one of the following limits:

1. 5 000 000 Btu/h input (1464 kW)
2. 5000 pounds steam per hour (0.6299 kg/s) capacity
3. 1000 square foot (92.9 m²) heating surface

Boilers with manholes on top of the boiler, except those described in Section 1010.2 and Section 1010.4, shall have a clearance of not less than 3 feet (914 mm) from the top of the boiler to the ceiling.

Package boilers, steam-heating boilers, and hot-water-heating boilers with no manhole on top of the shell and not exceeding one of the above limits shall have a clearance of not less than 2 feet (610 mm) from the ceiling.