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Section 503 Venting of Equipment
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This section recognizes that the choice of venting materials and the methods of installation of venting systems are dependent on the operating characteristics of the equipment being vented. The operating characteristics of vented equipment can be categorized with respect to (1) positive or negative pressure within the venting system; and (2) whether or not the equipment generates flue or vent gases that might condense in the venting system. See Section 202 for the definition of these vented appliance categories.
Except as permitted in Sections 503.2.1 through 503.2.3 and 501.8, all equipment shall be connected to venting systems.
Ventilating hoods and exhaust systems shall be permitted to be used to vent equipment installed in commercial applications (see Section 503.3.4) and to vent industrial equipment, such as where the process itself requires fume disposal.
Listed direct-vent equipment shall be considered properly vented where installed in accordance with the terms of its listing, the manufacturer's instructions, and Section 503.8.
Equipment incorporating integral venting means shall be considered properly vented when installed in accordance with its listing, the manufacturer's instructions, and Section 503.8.
A venting system shall be designed and constructed so as to develop a positive flow adequate to convey flue or vent gases to the outdoor atmosphere.
A venting system shall satisfy the draft requirements of the equipment in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Gas utilization equipment required to be vented shall be connected to a venting system designed and installed in accordance with the provisions of Sections 503.4 through 503.15.
Mechanical draft systems shall comply with the following:
1. Mechanical draft systems shall be listed and shall be installed in accordance with the terms of their listing and both the appliance and the mechanical draft system manufacturer's instructions.
2. Equipment, except incinerators, requiring venting shall be permitted to be vented by means of mechanical draft systems of either forced or induced draft design.
3. Forced draft systems and all portions of induced draft systems under positive pressure during operation shall be designed and installed so as to prevent leakage of flue or vent gases into a building.
4. Vent connectors serving equipment vented by natural draft shall not be connected into any portion of mechanical draft systems operating under positive pressure.
5. When a mechanical draft system is employed, provision shall be made to prevent the flow of gas to the main burners when the draft system is not performing so as to satisfy the operating requirements of the equipment for safe performance.
6. The exit terminals of mechanical draft systems shall be in compliance with Section 503.8.
Ventilating hoods and exhaust systems shall be permitted to be used to vent gas utilization equipment installed in commercial applications. Where automatically operated equipment is vented through a ventilating hood or exhaust system equipped with a damper or with a power means of exhaust, provisions shall be made to allow the flow of gas to the main burners only when the damper is open to a position to properly vent the equipment and when the power means of exhaust is in operation.
No portion of a venting system shall extend into or pass through any circulating air duct or furnace plenum.
The type of venting system to be used shall be in accordance with Table 503.4.
Plastic piping used for venting equipment listed for use with such venting materials shall be permitted when approved by the commissioner.
Special gas vent shall be listed and installed in accordance with the terms of the special gas vent listing and the manufacturers' instructions.
Factory-built chimneys shall be installed in accordance with their listing and the manufacturers' instructions. Factory-built chimneys used to vent appliances that operate at positive vent pressure shall be listed for such application.
Metal chimneys shall be built and installed in accordance with NFPA 211.
Masonry chimneys shall be built and installed in accordance with Chapter 21 of the New York City Building Code and NFPA 211, and shall be lined with approved clay flue lining, a listed chimney lining system, or other approved material that will resist corrosion, erosion, softening, or cracking from vent gases at temperatures up to 1800°F (982°C).
Exception: Masonry chimney flues serving listed gas appliances with draft hoods, Category I appliances and other gas appliances listed for use with Type B vent shall be permitted to be lined with a chimney lining system specifically listed for use only with such appliances. The liner shall be installed in accordance with the liner manufacturer's instructions and the terms of the listing. A permanent identifying label shall be attached at the point where the connection is to be made to the liner. The label shall read: "This chimney liner is for appliances that burn gas only. Do not connect to solid or liquid fuel-burning appliances or incinerators."
Chimneys serving gas fired equipment shall comply with the appliance listing, the manufacturer's instructions and the following requirements:
1. Chimneys serving appliances less than 600°F (316°C) shall extend at least 3 feet (914 mm) above the highest construction, such as a roof ridge, parapet wall, or penthouse, within 10 feet (3048 mm) of the chimney outlet, whether the construction is on the same building as the chimney or on another building. However, such constructions do not include other chimneys, vents, or open structural framing. Any chimney located beyond 10 feet (3048 mm) from such construction, but not more than the distance determined by Equation 5-1 shall be at least as high as the construction.
2. Chimneys serving appliances between 600°F (316°C) and 1000°F (538°C) shall extend at least 10 feet (3048 mm) above the highest construction, such as a roof ridge, or parapet wall or penthouse within 20 feet (6096 mm) of the chimney outlet, whether the construction is on the same building as the chimney or on another building. However, such constructions do not include other chimneys, and vents or open structural framing. Any chimney located beyond 20 feet (6096 mm) from such construction, but not more than the distance determined by Equation 5-1 shall be at least as high as the construction.
3. Chimneys serving appliances greater than 1000°F shall extend at least 20 feet (6096 mm) above the highest construction, such as roof ridge, parapet wall, penthouse, or other obstruction within 50 feet (15 240 mm) of the chimney outlet, whether the construction is on the same building as the chimney or in another building. However, such constructions do not include other chimneys, vents, or open structural framing. Any chimney located beyond 50 feet (15 240 mm) from such construction but not more than the distance determined by Equation 5-1 shall be at least as high as the construction.
4. Termination caps shall not be permitted and a 3 inch (76 mm) minimum drain installed to receive collected water shall be required. A positive means shall be provided to prevent water from entering the appliance.
Exception: Termination caps shall be permitted on listed factory built chimneys,
5. Decorative shrouds shall not be installed at the termination of factory-built chimneys except where such shrouds are listed and labeled for use with the specific factory-built chimney system and are installed in accordance with the manufacturers' installation instructions.
6. The following equation shall be used for determining the distances referred to in Items 1, 2 and 3 of this section.
D = F X √A
(Equation 5-1)
where:
| D | = | Distance, in feet, measured from the center of the chimney outlet to the nearest edge of the construction. |
| F | = | Value determined from table below. |
| A | = | Free area, in square inches, of chimney flue space |
| "F" FACTOR FOR DETERMINING CHIMNEY DISTANCES | |||
| Type of Fuel | "F" Factor | ||
| 600°F (316°C ) and less |
600°F (°C ) to 1000°F (538°C) |
Greater than 1000°F (538°C) |
|
| Gas | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The effective area of a chimney venting system serving listed appliances with draft hoods, Category I appliances, and other appliances listed for use with Type B vents shall be determined in accordance with one of the following methods:
1. The provisions of Section 504.
2. For sizing an individual chimney venting system for a single appliance with a draft hood, the effective areas of the vent connector and chimney flue shall be not less than the area of the appliance flue collar or draft hood outlet, nor greater than seven times the draft hood outlet area.
3. For sizing a chimney venting system connected to two appliances with draft hoods, the effective area of the chimney flue shall be not less than the area of the larger draft hood outlet plus 50 percent of the area of the smaller draft hood outlet, nor greater than seven times the smallest draft hood outlet area.
4. Chimney venting systems using mechanical draft shall be sized in accordance with approved engineering methods.
5. Other approved engineering methods.
Where an incinerator is vented by a chimney serving other gas utilization equipment, the gas input to the incinerator shall not be included in calculating chimney size, provided the chimney flue diameter is not less than 1 inch (25 mm) larger in equivalent diameter than the diameter of the incinerator flue outlet.
Before replacing an existing appliance or connecting a vent connector to a chimney, the chimney passageway shall be examined to ascertain that it is clear and free of obstructions and it shall be cleaned if previously used for venting solid or liquid fuel-burning appliances or fireplaces.
Cleanouts shall be examined to determine if they will remain tightly closed when not in use.
All new chimneys shall be test run by the design professional engineer responsible for the testing under operating conditions to demonstrate fire safety and the complete exhausting of smoke and the products of combustion to the outer air. The results of such test run shall be certified as correct by the design professional engineer responsible for the test and shall be submitted in writing to the department.
A smoke test shall be made as outlined below. Any faults or leaks found shall be corrected. Such smoke test shall be witnessed by a representative of the commissioner. In lieu thereof, the commissioner may accept the test report of the design professional engineer responsible for the test which shall be submitted in writing to the department.
To determine the tightness of chimney construction, a smoke test shall be made in accordance with the following conditions and requirements:
1. The equipment, materials, power and labor necessary for such test shall be furnished by, and at the expense of, the owner or holder of the work permit.
2. If the test shows any evidence of leakage or other defects, such defects shall be corrected in accordance with the requirement of this chapter and the test shall be repeated until the results are satisfactory.
3. Method of test. The chimney shall be filled with a thick penetrating smoke produced by one or more smoke machines, or smoke bombs, or other equivalent method. As the smoke appears at the stack opening on the roof, such opening shall be tightly closed and a pressure equivalent to one-half inch (12.7 mm) column of water measured at the base of the stack, shall be applied. The test shall be applied for a length of time sufficient to permit the inspection of the chimney.
Gas utilization equipment shall not be connected to a chimney flue serving a separate appliance designed to burn solid fuel.
Where one chimney flue serves gas utilization equipment and equipment burning liquid fuel, the equipment shall be connected through separate openings or shall be connected through a single opening where joined by a suitable fitting located as close as practical to the chimney. Where two or more openings are provided into one chimney flue, they shall be at different levels. Where the gas utilization equipment is automatically controlled, it shall be equipped with a safety shutoff device.
A combination gas- and solid fuel-burning appliance shall be permitted to be connected to a single chimney flue where equipped with a manual reset device to shut off gas to the main burner in the event of sustained back draft or flue gas spillage. The chimney flue shall be sized to properly vent the appliance.
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