Section 400.18637. Heating plants.

(1) Heating shall be only from an approved central heating plant or an approved permanently installed electrical heating system.

(2)   A heating plant shall be enclosed by walls, a floor, and a ceiling that have not less than a 1-hour resistance to fire and at least 1 wall shall be an outside wall that does not expose a closed court. A doorway or other opening  through  a  required heating plant enclosure shall  be protected by a B-labeled fire door  in  a   labeled  fire door   frame,   be installed so as to be  reasonably  smoketight,   and  be   equipped   with a self-closing device.

(3)   A heating plant room shall not be located beneath any portion of a building. This rule does not require the removal of an existing heating plant from beneath an existing congregate facility unless it is required in the interest of public safety. If it becomes necessary to expand the capacity of a heating plant to heat a congregate facility,  the   expansion shall not be permitted under any portion of the existing building.

(4)   A furnace room or heating plant enclosure   shall  be  provided  with approved air vents which are connected directly to the outside and which are sufficient in size to supply the required  volume  of  air  to  support   proper  combustion.   Adequate ventilation shall be provided directly to the outside from the ceiling of the   heating plant   enclosure   to   eliminate excessive temperature at all times.

(5)   A portable heating unit is not permitted.

(6)   A gas meter shall be located outside or in a room that is separated from other occupancies and exposures  by  not  less  than  a   1-hour-rated enclosure that is vented to the outside. A gas meter may be in the heating plant room if it is located 5 or more feet from the heating unit.

(7)   A heating plant room shall  not   be  utilized  for  the   storage   of combustibles or for a maintenance shop unless the room is  protected  with automatic sprinklers.

History: 1994 AACS.