Operation and Installation Manual
7
4. 
When air for combustion and room ventilation is from 
inside buildings, conned space shall be provided with 
two permanent openings, one starting 12 inches from 
the top and one 12 inches from the bottom of the 
enclosed space. Each opening shall have a minimum 
free area of 1 square inch per one thousand (1,000) 
Btu per hour of the total input rating of all appliances 
in the enclosed space, but must not be less than one 
hundred (100) square inches. These openings must 
freely communicate with the interior areas having 
adequate inltration from the outside. See Figure #1.
5. 
When the boiler is installed in a conned space and 
all air is provided from the outdoors, the conned 
space shall be provided with two permanent openings, 
one commencing within 12 inches from the top and 
one commencing 12 inches from the bottom of the 
enclosure. The openings shall communicate directly, or 
by ducts, with the outdoors or spaces (crawl or attic) 
that freely communicate with the outdoors. One of the 
following methods must be used to provide adequate 
air for ventilation and combustion.
A.  When directly communicating with the outdoors, 
each opening shall have a minimum free area 
of 1 square inch per 4,000 Btu per hour of total 
input rating of all equipment in the enclosure. See 
Figure #2.
VENTILATION & COMBUSTION AIR
B.  When communicating with the outdoors by means 
of vertical ducts, each opening shall have a 
minimum free area 1 square inch per 4,000 Btu per 
hour of total input rating of all appliances in the 
enclosed space. See Figure #3.
C.  If horizontal ducts are used, each opening shall 
have a minimum free area 1 square inch per 2,000 
Btu per hour total input rating of all appliances in 
the enclosed space. See Figure #4.
D.  When ducts are used, they shall be of the same 
cross sectional area as the free area of the area of 
the openings to which they connect. The minimum 
dimension of rectangular air ducts shall not be less 
than 3 inches.
6. 
In calculating free area using louvers, grills or screens 
for the above, consideration shall be given to their 
blocking effect. Screens used shall not be smaller than 
¼ inch mesh. If the free area through a design of 
louver or grill is known, it should be used in calculating 
the size opening required to provide the free area 
specied. If the design and free area is not known, 
it may be assumed that wood louvers will have 20-
25% free area and metal louvers and grills will have 
60-75% free area. Louvers and grills shall be xed in 
the open position or interlocked with the boiler so that 
they are opened automatically during boiler operation. 
Refer to the Combustion Air Requirements chart on 
previous page for combustion air minimum opening 
requirements.
Figure #1 










