First time poster…
I have added a direct-vent gas fireplace to my workshop. the gas inspector wants it raised off the ground as if it’s a water heater or furnace in a garage (combustion source 18″ off floor). I tried to reason that with a sealed combustion chamber, drawing combustion air from the outside, this should be safer than a typical B-vent device. I assume the reasoning for the code is that the vapors resulting from spilled gasoline or solvent could be drawn into the combustion chamber and the vapors usually are most concentrated near the floor. He can’t find any mention of it in the code. Anyone ever dealt with this before?
Dave, in St. Louis
Replies
Years ago I installed a hot water heater that had a double walled pipe which took in outside air and the exhaust went outside through the pipe. The water heater sat directly on the floor. One of the pipes took in outside air and the other pipe was the exhaust. They were two pipes in one. One pipe was inside of the other.
I would bet you dollars to doughnuts the instructions said to check your Local Codes before install.
What if a crack developed in the unit?
Be safe and move it up.
true story: buddy pulls his car in the garage,now he's not some gearhead,just joe smoe homeowner. anyway pulls in to change tire ,puts the jack under the rear end ,takes tire off. cheap azzzz jack slips off goes through gas tank and dumps 15 gals. gas NOW. he sense's he has problems grabs his 5yr old boy and runs out garage. hot water tank that is up on stand to code blows. burns his house and everthing he owns down,but no one is hurt. that 18 " deal is fine if you spill a little gas filling the lawnmower,but in case like this probably 4' isn't enough.
now i gotta ask why would you even consider a flame source in a garage that you must work [needing heat] that is less than 8' from floor. as in a overhead heater.sell the fireplace buy a new heater for 400.00 please...... larry
just a quick side note : insurance told him go get a room everthing will be fine,thieves came in and stole anything worth anything that night.to bad a little gas didn't get on them.
hand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
I had a little direct vent monitor gas heater in a prev house. It got it's combustion air from outside and sat on the floor as well... I don't think there should be any difference in code that it's in the shop?? You could legally put a woodstove in there, on the floor and it'll get its combustion air from the room, right?
I think your inspector is making things up. The manual for the furnace/heater should have all clearances listed and guidlines for installation. If the inspector can find nothing contrary to the manual's guidelines, he has no call to deny your installation.