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Venting for Direct-Vent Water Heater
In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires compliance
with regulation 248 CMR 4.00 and 5.00 for installation of
through-the-wall vented gas appliances as follows:
5.08: Modifications to NFPA–54, Chapter 10
(1) Revise NFPA–54 section 10.5.4.2 by adding a second
exception as follows:
Existing chimneys shall be permitted to have their use
continued when a gas conversion burner is installed, and
shall be equipped with a manual reset device that will
automatically shut off the gas to the burner in the event of a
sustained back-draft.
(2) Revise 10.8.3 by adding the following additional
requirements:
(a) For all side-wall, horizontally vented, gas-fueled
equipment installed in every dwelling, building, or structure
used in whole or 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 finished grade in the area of the venting,
including but not limited to decks and porches, the following
requirements shall be satisfied.
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 fitter shall observe that a hard-wired carbon monoxide
detector with an alarm and battery backup is installed on
the floor level where the gas equipment is to be installed.
In addition, the installing plumber or gas fitter 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
qualified 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 floor 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-certified.
3. SIGNAGE. A metal or plastic identification 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).
(b) EXEMPTIONS: The following equipment is exempt from
248 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.
(c) 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.
(d) MANUFACTURER REQUIREMENTS – GAS EQUIPMENT
VENTING SYSTEM NOT PROVIDED. When the manufacturer
of product-approved side-wall, horizontally vented, gas-
fueled equipment does not provide the parts for venting
the flue gases, but identifies “special venting systems,” the
following requirements shall be satisfied by the manufacturer:
1. The referenced “special venting systems” 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.
(e) 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.
NOTE: For the State of Massachusetts, use only
plastic piping, fittings and vent terminations as
specified in this manual which are approved by the
Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers
and Gas for venting of appliances (see link below):
https://licensing.reg.state.ma.us/pubLic/pl_products/
pb_pre_form.asp
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Venting
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