

- #SF OF LOUVER PER CFM AIRFLOW CALCULATOR INSTALL#
- #SF OF LOUVER PER CFM AIRFLOW CALCULATOR CODE#
- #SF OF LOUVER PER CFM AIRFLOW CALCULATOR FREE#
The basic considerations for selecting louvers are A number of fixed or operable blades mounted in a frame can provide this functionality. This article was originally titled “Can the boiler breathe?” in the September 2016 print edition of PM Engineer.A louver is a ventilation product that allows air to pass through it while keeping out unwanted elements such as water, dirt, and debris. Make sure your boiler can breathe and stay safe.
#SF OF LOUVER PER CFM AIRFLOW CALCULATOR CODE#
If you are using motorized combustion air dampers, ASME CSD1 code calls for an interlock on the driven damper to not start the boiler until the damper is open. This could allow the dangerous flue gases into the building. can pull the flue gases from an atmospheric burner or pilot. If the boiler room has an exhaust fan, it could adversely affect the venting of the flue gases. I have found them blocked by grass clippings, old newspapers and plastic shopping bags. I like to check the outside of the louvers to make sure they are clean and unobstructed. If something happens, you were the last one there. I offer to remove the blockage and if they refuse, will put something in writing advising them of the danger. As a service technician, I believe we have a duty to explain to the owner the importance of combustion air. I have been inside many boiler rooms where the combustion air openings have been blocked. Wire the fan to operate any time the water heater or boiler is operating.
#SF OF LOUVER PER CFM AIRFLOW CALCULATOR INSTALL#
If the room does not have that much space, you can install a combustion air fan to introduce air to the room. ft.Īssuming we have a 12-ft., high ceiling, our boiler room would require an area of 1,000 sq. If the same system as above is using indoor combustion air instead of outside air, the following is the size room we would need.Ģ40,000 total Btu/hr. When using indoor air for combustion, the boiler room should have 50 cu. Many residential boiler installations are relegated into a small closet and expected to work properly. You also will need an interlock to verify the fan is operating before the boiler or water heater starts. If you opt to use a fan for mechanical ventilation, you will need 1 CFM for every 2,400 Btu/hr.
#SF OF LOUVER PER CFM AIRFLOW CALCULATOR FREE#
The following are some rules of thumb on free area for other combustion air openings: That opening would be large enough for 300,000 Btu/hr. If it is not available, I use a factor of 75% free area for metal louvers so our free area of the 10-in. The louver manufacturer should be able to provide you with the actual free area or aK factor of the louver. This will not deliver the same amount of air as a wide-open hole because of the restrictions of the louvers and screen. So we install a metal louver with a screen in the opening. That would not be a good thing as critters and birds could come into the room. hole in the wall, we will have a 100-sq.-in. If we assume the free area of each metal louver to be 75% of the total size, we would need two grills each sized at 80 sq. per each opening.Ģ40,000 divided by 4,000 Btu/hr. in a room with two vertical openings with metal louvers:Ģ40,000 Btu/hr. Let us assume we have a 40 gal., 40,000-Btu/hr. To properly size the combustion air openings, add the input of all fuel burning equipment inside the boiler room. input of gas burning appliances in the room. One-inch free area for each 2,000 Btu/hr.

One-inch free area for each 4,000 Btu/hr. The International Fuel Gas Code requires the following combustion air openings for a boiler room: I see many boiler rooms with the combustion air opening accidently blocked by either leaves or garbage or purposely blocked by wood or cardboard. The dual openings also limit the possibility of a single opening being blocked and starving the boiler or water heater for air. This is to allow natural ventilation inside the boiler room. According to the International Fuel Gas Code, Section 304, each boiler room should have two openings, one within a foot of the floor and one within a foot of the ceiling.
