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complete  and  ocial  position  of  the  ANSI  on  the  refer-
enced subject, which is represented only by the standard 
in its entirety.
In Canada, refer to the CSA B149 installation codes.
 CAUTION
Do not install the furnace in a corrosive or contaminated 
atmosphere. Meet all combustion and ventilation air 
requirements, as well as all local codes.
All  gas-red  appliances  require  air  for  the  combustion 
process.  If  sucient combustion air is  not  available,  the 
furnace  or  other  appliance  will  operate  ineciently  and 
unsafely. Enough air must be provided to meet the needs 
of all fuel-burning appliances and appliances such as ex-
haust fans which force air out of the house. When replac-
es, exhaust fans, or clothes dryers are used at the same 
time as the furnace, much more air is required to ensure 
proper combustion and to prevent a downdraft. Insucient 
air causes incomplete combustion which can result in car-
bon monoxide.
In addition to providing combustion air, fresh outdoor air 
dilutes contaminants in the indoor air. These contaminants 
may include bleaches, adhesives, detergents, solvents 
and other contaminants which can corrode furnace com-
ponents.
The requirements for providing air for combustion and 
ventilation depend largely on whether the furnace is in-
stalled in an unconned or a conned space.
Unconned Space
An unconned space  is an area  such as a basement or 
large equipment room with a volume greater than 50 cubic 
feet (1.42 m3) per 1,000 Btu (.29 kW) per hour of the com-
bined input rating of all appliances installed in that space. 
This space also includes adjacent rooms which are not 
separated by a door. Though an area may appear to be 
unconned, it might be necessary to bring in outdoor air 
for combustion if the structure does not provide enough air 
by inltration. If the furnace is located in a building of tight 
construction with weather stripping and caulking around 
the windows and doors, follow the procedures in the Air 
from Outside section.
Conned Space
A conned  space is an area with a volume less than 50 
cubic feet (1.42 m3) per 1,000 Btu (.29 kW) per hour of 
the combined input rating of all appliances installed in that 
space.  This  denition  includes  furnace  closets  or  small 
equipment rooms. When the furnace is installed so that 
supply ducts carry air circulated by the furnace to areas 
outside the space containing the furnace, the return air 
must be handled by ducts which are sealed to the furnace 
casing and which terminate outside the space containing 
the furnace. This is especially important when the furnace 
is mounted on a platform in a conned space such as a 
closet or small equipment room.
Even a small leak around the base of the unit at the plat-
form or at the return air duct connection can cause a po-
tentially dangerous negative pressure condition. Air for 
combustion and ventilation can be brought into the con-
ned space either from inside the building or from outside.
Air from Inside
If  the  conned  space  that  houses  the  furnace  adjoins  a 
space categorized as unconned, air can be brought in by 
providing two permanent openings between the two spac-
es. Each opening must have a minimum free area of 1 
square inch (645 mm2) per 1,000 Btu (.29 kW) per hour of 
total input rating of all gas-red equipment in the conned 
space. Each opening must be at least 100 square inches 
(64516 mm2). One opening shall be within 12 inches (305 
mm) of the top of the enclosure and one opening within 12 
inches (305 mm) of the bottom. See Figure 4.
EQUIPMENT IN CONFINED SPACE - ALL AIR FROM INSIDE
OPENINGS
(To Adjacent
Unconfined
Space)
NOTE - Each opening shall have a free area of at least one square inch
per 1,000 Btu (645mm
2
 
 per .29kW)  per hour of the total input rating of
all equipment in the enclosure, but not less than 100 square inches
2).
ROOF TERMINATED 
EXHAUST PIPE
SIDE WALL
 TERMINATED
EXHAUST PIPE
(ALTERNATE
LOCATION)
Figure 4   
Air from Outside
If air from outside is brought in for combustion and ventila-
tion, the conned space shall be provided with two perma-
nent openings. One opening shall be within 12” (305mm) 
of the top of the enclosure and one within 12” (305mm) of 
the bottom. These openings must communicate directly or 
by ducts with the outdoors or spaces (crawl or attic) that 
freely communicate with the outdoors or indirectly through 
vertical ducts. Each opening shall have a minimum free 
area of 1 square inch per 4,000 Btu (645mm2 per 1.17kW) 
per hour of total input rating of all equipment in the en-
closure. When communicating with the outdoors through 
horizontal ducts, each opening shall have a minimum free 
area of 1 square inch per 2,000 Btu (645mm2 per .59kW) 
per total input rating of all equipment in the enclosure (See 
Figure 5).It is also permissible to bring in air for combus-
tion from a ventilated attic (Figure 6) or ventilated crawl 
space (Figure 7).