Boilers in Attic areas?

Jim_7

I too have serviced equipment in attics and everytime I climb to one, it's an adventure. The original installation usually gets compromised in time with stuff piled around it. If the units are furnaces or air handlers, they're never serviced regularly or properly. Too hot and stuffy up there by the time the techs are summoned. The best boiler in the attic job I saw, was one where the boiler was in an actual fabricated mechanical room in the attic. You could walk around almost standing fully upright. the walls of the room were insulated against noise and the access was through a standard cut down twenty eight inch door. My opinion, for what it's worth, the only thing that should be in an attic is insulation and hidden presents at Christmas time

Warmfoot

Boilers in attic spaces....(Warmfoot)

I am designing a job and the contractor would like to have the boiler and indirect tank installed in a loft/attic area. I am looking for input on this type of application. I have never placed a unit in this type of area. Aside from the obvious downsides (serviceability, making a pan, etc...) What are some of the other things you guys may want to reccomend?

Ernie Bogue
Master Hydronics LLC
PO Box 779
Keyport, WA 98345
(360) 394-2049

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Tom Hughes

Munchkin

You might consider a Munchkin boiler. Very small footprint and also very short - hence the name. I'd pay special attention to preventing leaks and make sure to have drain pans with overflow that goes somewhere noticable where it won't cause any damage. Good Luck!

munchkin-man

atic installations

are plentyfull. I have been on 5 my self and John Sawyer on several and so has my tecnician. Just follow the code and be sure to provide a drip pan. enjoy

Edward A. Carey

Boiler in attic

This may sound stupid, be be sure that the boiler is rated to be installed on a combustible floor, or that the floor is not combustible.

Don't confuse installing a non combustible material over a combustible floor, as a proper installation.

An example of a bad installation would be putting a metal pan beneath a boiler listed for installation on a non combustible floor. Thereafter, locating the pan in contact with a wood floor, then placing the boiler inside the pan, on the metal covered floor.

This installation will actually cause more harm than good. The metal pan in direct contact with the floor beneath the boiler will accelerate pyrolysis of the wood, and can cause a fire.

A metal pan beneath a boiler is not a "listed" base for a boiler that is designed for non combustible floor installations.

The boiler must be listed for installation on a combustible surface. If it is not, a listed and mfg approved base must be used beneath the boiler when it in installed on that floor. Then place the boiler, on the base, in your pan ( also a must), and you should be fine.

Regards,

Edward A. (ED) Carey

Edward A. Carey

Boiler in attic

This may sound stupid, be be sure that the boiler is rated to be installed on a combustible floor, or that the floor is not combustible.

Don't confuse installing a non combustible material over a combustible floor, as a proper installation.

An example of a bad installation would be putting a metal pan beneath a boiler listed for installation on a non combustible floor. Thereafter, locating the pan in contact with a wood floor, then placing the boiler inside the pan, on the metal covered floor.

This installation will actually cause more harm than good. The metal pan in direct contact with the floor beneath the boiler will accelerate pyrolysis (chemical decomposition)of the wood, and lower the ignition temperature of the wood. The dead air space between the metal pan and the wood floor surface will prevent off gassing of the wood, resulting in the production of of a product
known as pyrophoric carbon.

To make a long story short, the wood below the metal pan will turn to a fuel enriched charcoal product. When it reaches it's auto ignition point and obtains adequate combustion air from below, (burn through the surface),
the floor beneath the boiler will burn like it was made of rocket fuel.

A metal pan beneath a boiler is not a "listed" base for a boiler that is designed for non combustible floor installations.

The boiler must be listed for installation on a combustible surface. If it is not, a listed and mfg approved base must be used beneath the boiler when it in installed on that floor. Then place the boiler, on the base, in your pan ( also a must), and you should be fine.

Regards,

Edward A. (ED) Carey

Edward A. Carey

Boiler in attic

This may sound stupid, be be sure that the boiler is rated to be installed on a combustible floor, or that the floor is not combustible.

Don't confuse installing a non combustible material over a combustible floor, as a proper installation.

An example of a bad installation would be putting a metal pan beneath a boiler listed for installation on a non combustible floor. Thereafter, locating the pan in contact with a wood floor, then placing the boiler inside the pan, on the metal covered floor.

This installation will actually cause more harm than good. The metal pan in direct contact with the floor beneath the boiler will accelerate pyrolysis (chemical decomposition)of the wood, and lower the ignition temperature of the wood. The dead air space between the metal pan and the wood floor surface will prevent off gassing of the wood, resulting in the production of of a product
known as pyrophoric carbon.

To make a long story short, the wood below the metal pan will turn to a fuel enriched charcoal product. When it reaches it's auto ignition point and obtains adequate combustion air from below, (burn through the surface),
the floor beneath the boiler will burn like it was made of rocket fuel.

A metal pan beneath a boiler is not a "listed" base for a boiler that is designed for non combustible floor installations.

The boiler must be listed for installation on a combustible surface. If it is not, a listed and mfg approved base must be used beneath the boiler when it in installed on a combustible floor. Then place the boiler, on the listed base, in your pan ( also a must), and you should be fine.

Regards,

Edward A. (ED) Carey

Rick Kelly

And don't forget...

With your boiler at the highest point of the system, Alow water cut-off switch is an absolute must.

Excellent points Ed.

Roger Litman

Boiler in attic

I might (reluctantly) consider a boiler in an attic area,but I would insist on antifreezing the system if there is any frost ever in the area- Think blown fuse or power failure. Putting the indirect there is looking for problems even with drain pans and piping to the outside or basement. I would check with my Insurance company for coverage before I would even consider doing this job in that way. My temptation would be to put the boiler outside first.

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Aidan (UK)

Noise

A gas-fitter friend over here put a new boiler in his attic. He hadn't anticipated the noise. It was closer to the bedrooms than an installation on the ground floor. The boiler was quiet, but when it starts up at 4am, there was little urban background noise and it sounds a lot louder than you'd expect. Many disturbed nights for a light sleeper.

Unknown

Boiler in attic

The pan shouldbe constricted of stainless steel.

The lips of the pan shold be 12" high.

The boiler should sit on stainless steel box beams, each box beam should be 6" high.

The should have an 1 1/4" copper indiect drain to prevent over flow if the p&t valve fails.

The boiler should be in an area that is well vented and easy for a service man to work on.


Jake

billygoat22

attic

maker sure the contractor makes the floor and stairs strong enough forthe weight. The only boiler I've seen in an attic was in a secind floor mech room, the floor was steel reinforced concrete and two airhandlers were in there also

Rick Kelly

and...

When using that pan, make sure the boiler assumes a position similar to how it would sit on a floor. In other words don't sit it down in the pan. It interrupts the flow of air at the lower intake slots and could cause some difficult to diagnose behavior.