furnace exhaust pipe fire/building code

greg_43

I just had a new boiler and indirect water heater installed. I have a split level home about 50 or so years old. The system is located in the laundry room adjacent to the garage. This is the third system put in since the house was built. It wasn't until after the install that the techs told me that the furnace exhaust pipe was less than 18" from a flamable surface, and that I would have install concrete board as a barrier. I have hard faced paneling going around the system on two sides. One wall is adjacent to the garage and the other to a very small closet. It is a very confined area that I have to work in. Do I have to use concrete board, or is there something else I could use instead that is lighter and easier to handle? I don't think I have enough room to maneuver around with concrete board with the exhaust duct and all the pipes. The guys should have told me before the install, but, everything is done on a time line! There is about a 10" space between the exhaust duct and the paneling. The thing that gets me, is that the system that was replaced was about 18yrs old, and nothing was said about it then. I'm from Connecticut, and I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks

Bob Forand

We use

We use a fireboard called mineral board. It is 2" thick and allows for zero clearance. We often use it in floor joist bays on direct vent equipment.

Weezbo

while you may benifit from a heat shield....

having a boiler in a laundry room you want to be very vigilant on cleaning the dryer vent, the boiler.. and burner...both the dryer and the boilers burner require some form of air ,...so, combustion air is an importamnt feature and or dedicated air supply to the burner and auxillary air for the dryer...if the dryer is nat gas,...there might be something to having a dedicated boiler room...

Techman

Fire board

Morning all! Does a double layer of 5/8 sheetrock count? Also,does the cieling above the boiler have tobe fire rated?