Emergency Burner shut off's

John_97

I own a split residence and would like to know if it is illegal to install 3-way switches to shut off the burner from different location's. The one burner control's the
heat to two apartment's in the residence and would like to shut off the burner from the two separate location's. This would require a 3-way switch on the 2nd. floor, a 4-way switch on the 1st. floor and a 3-way switch on the burner itself. Is this illegal or extra safe ???? Thank you for any suggestion's.

Unknown

I would think

that the only difficulty you are going to have with this involves the Emergency Shuttoff Switch Plate. They are labeled On and Off and utilizing a three way switch may have you with the toggle up for off and down for on at any given time depending on where it was last actuated. I think that the inspector may find this to be confusing. Hope this helps.

Glenn Stanton

Manager of Training

Burnham Hydronics

U.S. Boiler Co., Inc.

Jay_17

What about this

You don't need 3 way switches to have a shutoff in each location, 3 2way switches in series will work, any one will cut power. The only difference is that you won't be able to switch back on with any of the other switches, only the one that is off. This shouldn't be an issue really.
Jay

Dick Charland

Service nightmare

I'd recommend one in an obvious common hallway if available, it is bad enough to try and find one let alone 2 or 3 when there's a no heat call and it turns out the switch is off.

Firedragon_4

It is illegal under most

codes and is not allowed under the National Electrical Code(NFPA70). All switches in a safety circuit MUST only be single-throw (st) switches.

The use of a spst is the most common, but a dpst is allowed to control multiple units. The use of any switch with multiple throws (three-way)is not allowed (ie. dpdt).

I have an article coming out about this very subject in Fuel Oil News soon.

Robert_15

sorry to jump in but i would like your opion

I have a question for the experts but i hope i get the responce from Glenn Stanton of Burnham. I have a P205 hot water system with about 135 lin of feet of high output copper baseboard & around 2400 sq feet of house. My question is when the plummer installed the boiler he did not tie in the supply with the return for thermal protection. He said it was not needed. I do have an outdoor reset from honeywell (AQ475)set to high 180 low 135 and outside to 10. So i am concerned that if there is a problem it will void the warrenty Thank you Robert

Weezbo

i tend to like line of sight...

"?"
'where is the switch?' what happens to the unfortunate transformer installer if some one out of his line of sight throws a switch? just asking...

i am uncomfortable with the thought of "Free Electro shock theraphy" no matter What fricking code supports it.

Lurker_2

as said before

Multiple two-way switches are better. Otherwise, you'll never know by looking at the switch whether it's on or off, so you won't know if your neighbor upstairs already turned it off and you're turning it back on.

-Michael

Leo

One Switch is Enough

I have been to no heat calls numerous times where the owner/occupant was clueless about the emergency switch. And in our state you ony have one. Over $100 in labor costs to find the switch they covered up only to turn it back on. Or the guy who argues with you on the phone when you ask him to check it at 8:00PM only to laughingly hit him with an after hours charge after you drove to his house to turn it on.

Leo