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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  equip-
ment 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, in-
cluding 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  gastter 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 back-up 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, 
gasfueled 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 man-
ufacturer 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 side wall, 
horizontally  vented,  gas-fueled  equipment  does not pro-
vide  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 in-
structions shall remain with the appliance