Combustion appliances in garage

[randynavarro]

For purposes of combustion and dilution air, is a garage with an ordinarily installed gasketed garage door a confined space or unconfined space?

[Chad Fabry]

Without soffit vents, or if the ceiling is dry walled, I consider it a confined space.

[kurt]

Doesn't your area link the definition to a maximum btu output?

Chicago (Peoples Gas) indicates 150,000btu as the max. allowable, then pretty much anything without direct air communication is called a confined space.

[randynavarro]

Doesn't your area link the definition to a maximum btu output?

No. I've never come across any rule or reference like that.

Another head scratcher for me: suppose the math shows the appliances need 4500 cubic feet of air and there's about 4700 cubic feet of air in the garage but the garage is confined. Is that acceptable?

[Brandon Whitmore]

Another head scratcher for me: suppose the math shows the appliances need 4500 cubic feet of air and there's about 4700 cubic feet of air in the garage but the garage is confined. Is that acceptable?

Depends, who did the math?[:-slaphap

[Marc]

Another head scratcher for me: suppose the math shows the appliances need 4500 cubic feet of air and there's about 4700 cubic feet of air in the garage but the garage is confined. Is that acceptable?

I wouldn't worry about it. I doubt any garage door would produce an ideal air seal when it's in the closed position because there's no need for anyone to manufacture such a model. Who air conditions the garage? The drafts will likely provide enough combustion/dilation/ventilation air, unless it is a 199,000 btu/hr on-demand unit.

Marc

[JEuriech]

When I run into a borderline situation. The first thing I look for, are signs of previous incomplete combustion. Did you see any signs of excess soot as an example, on the vent pipes or draft hood?

Jeff

[Phillip]

This is todays inspection, water heater and furnace in the garage.

Click to Enlarge

35.59 KB

I know its wrong.