507581-04Page 60  of  60 Issue 2128
Requirements for Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Modications to NFPA-54, Chapter 10
Revise  NFPA-54  section  10.8.3  to  add  the  following 
requirements:
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  above  the  nished  grade  in  the  area  of  the  venting, 
including but not limited to decks and porches, the following 
requirements shall be satised:
1.  INSTALLATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE 
DETECTORS. At  the  time  of  installation  of  the  side 
wall,  horizontally  vented,  gas-fueled  equipment,  the 
installing  plumber  or  gas  tter  shall  observe  that  a 
hard-wired  carbon  monoxide  detector  with  an  alarm 
and battery backup is installed on the oor level where 
the gas equipment is to be installed.  In  addition,  the 
installing  plumber  or  gas  tter  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,  horizontally  vented, gas-fueled  equipment. 
It shall be the responsibility  of  the property owner to 
secure the services of qualied 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  backup  may  be 
installed on the next adjacent oor 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 
certied.
3.  SIGNAGE. A metal or plastic identication plate shall 
be permanently mounted to the exterior of the building 
at  a  minimum  height  of  eight  (8)  feet  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.
EXEMPTIONS: The following equipment is exempt 
from 24 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
2.  Product Approved side wall, horizontally vented, gas-
fueled  equipment  installed  in  a  room  or  structure 
separate from the dwelling, building or structure used 
in whole or in part for residential purposes.
MANUFACTURER REQUIREMENTS - GAS EQUIPMENT 
VENTING SYSTEM PROVIDED. 
When  the  manufacturer  of  Product  Approved  side  wall, 
horizontally  vented,  gas-fueled  equipment  provides  a 
venting  system  design  or  venting  system  components 
with  the  equipment,  the  instructions  provided  by  the 
manufacturer  for  installation  of  the  equipment  and  the 
venting system shall include:
1.  Detailed instructions for the installation of the venting 
system design or the venting system components: and 
2.  A complete parts list for the venting system design or 
venting system.
MANUFACTURER REQUIREMENTS - GAS EQUIPMENT 
VENTING SYSTEM NOT PROVIDED. 
When  the  manufacturer  of  Product  Approved  sidewall, 
horizontally  vented,  gas-fueled  equipment  does  not 
provide the parts for venting the ue gases, but identies 
“special venting systems,” the following requirements shall 
be satised by the manufacturer:
1.  The  referenced  “special  venting  system”  instructions 
shall  be  included  with  the  appliance  or  equipment 
installation instructions; and
2.  The  “special  venting  systems”  shall  be  Product 
Approved by  the  Board, and  the  instructions  for that 
system shall include a parts list and detailed installation 
instructions.
A copy of all installation instructions for all Product 
Approved  side  wall,  horizontally  vented,  gas-fueled 
equipment, all venting instructions, all parts lists 
for  venting  instructions,  and/or  all  venting  design 
instructions shall remain with the appliance or 
equipment at the completion of the installation.