(a) In General. Heat-producing and comfort-cooling equipment and appliances shall be of high quality and bear the label of an approved testing laboratory. Heating equipment shall be installed in a safe manner and with the minimum clearance as listed in Chapter 11 and shall fully comply with NFiPA requirements. All furnaces and boilers shall be installed inside the building. Rooftop installations are not permitted. A drain shall be installed below all furnaces and air handling equipment installed in attic space or above the ceiling. The installation of heating and cooling equipment and heat producing appliances, equipment accessories and system components shall fully conform to the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations.
(b) Gas-Burning Furnaces and Appliances (Liquid Propane or Natural Gas).
(1) Gas-burning furnaces and appliances must be UL or AGA approved, or have otherwise received approval by another nationally recognized testing lab.
(2) Only furnaces, wall heaters or unit heaters which have fully separated and totally enclosed combustion chambers, isolated from the circulated air in the heated space, may be installed in garages or other storage buildings. The combustion air intake and flue products from such units shall be extended to the outside of the building and terminate with matching accessories and wall caps a minimum of three feet above the grade at the point of exit.
(3) Open flame radiant heaters are not permitted in living spaces, garages or storage buildings.
(4) Gas-heating units which are equipped with atmospheric burners or have the combustion chambers open to heated space are prohibited in garages and all other locations where fuel, volatile fluids or combustible materials are stored.
(5) The following units are permitted, provided that the specifications of paragraph (b)(6) hereof have been met:
A. Through-the-wall gas room heaters which have totally enclosed combustion and are wall-mounted may be located in garages or accessory buildings, but not in the living space of a dwelling.
B. Radiant tube gas fired heaters which have totally enclosed combustion and are ceiling-mounted may be located in garages or accessory buildings, but not in the living space of a dwelling.
C. Vented gas-fired fireplaces which have totally enclosed combustion and require a field installed direct vent system, installed as specified by the fireplace/appliance manufacturer.
(6) A. A direct vent, when installed through walls, ceilings, attics, crawl spaces, and similar structural elements of a building, will be so arranged as to allow periodic inspections/elevations so that deterioration, if any, can be identified and addressed at its earliest stages.
B. The Hunting Valley Architectural Board of Review shall be vested with the authority to review and approve or deny the proposal based upon the external aesthetics of all roof and wall vent terminations.
(c) Oil Furnaces.
(1) Oil furnaces shall be manufactured in accordance with standard UL listings.
(2) Installation, combustion air requirements, draft control, and flue venting shall be in full compliance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
(3) Oil-burning furnaces or heaters are not permitted in garages.
(d) Boilers and Hydronic Equipment.
(1) Boilers.
A. Hot water and low-pressure steam boilers and hydronic equipment shall be manufactured and rated in accordance with the applicable ABMA rating and standards (refer to Appendix A).
B. Gas boilers shall be AGA approved and bear the AGA label.
C. Oil burners for boilers shall be UL approved.
D. Boilers shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. All systems shall include safety relief valves and safety shut-off devices for fuel supply on low-water conditions, conform to the latest ASME standards, and shall include provisions for water expansion and contraction in the system without activating the relief valve or adversely affecting system pressure.
(2) Hydronic heating units and appliances. Hydronic heating units and appliances shall be rated and constructed in accordance with IBR standards. The terminal heating units shall be located and installed in a manner to produce uniform space conditions. All boilers and hot water generators shall have name tags which include performance, fuel and electrical data.
(e) Electric Heating Equipment. Electric boilers shall conform to ABMA standards and shall be UL approved. The electric heating elements for boilers, furnaces and other electric components shall be in accordance with the applicable provisions of the National Electrical Code. All electric heating equipment shall be manufactured to NEMA standards. ABMA, UL and NEMA labels shall be attached.
(1) Electric heating installations and components shall be in full compliance with the National Electrical Code.
(2) Terminal heating elements shall be located and installed in a manner as to prevent contact with, and provide required separation from, all combustible materials.
(f) Air Conditioning and Cooling Equipment. Air conditioning and cooling equipment shall be manufactured, tested and rated in accordance with ARI standards and bear the UL label.
(1) Equipment shall be installed with necessary controls to properly function and in full accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
(2) Interconnecting and fluid-distribution piping shall be in accordance with piping requirements previously described in this chapter.
(3) Outdoor air cooled condensing and gas-fired absorption units shall be installed on reinforced concrete pads a minimum of four inches in thickness, placed on firm ground and of sufficient area to support the unit.
A. Units shall be located and installed so as not to restrict or to recirculate the heat rejection air, and in such a manner that there shall be adequate access for proper service of the equipment and system.
B. Outdoor units shall not be located below or immediately adjacent to windows or other openings and shall be appropriately screened.
C. Outdoor units shall operate at low and acceptable noise levels.
(4) Cooling coils for air conditioning systems shall be installed in ductwork and in required locations and with access capability for inspection, service and cleaning. Coated and insulated pans shall be included to collect and drain the water condensed from the air on the coil surface. Secondary drain pans below the equipment are required in attic spaces and above ceilings. See Section 1385.05(h).
(5) Heat pump equipment and systems shall conform to the same construction and installation requirements of other cooling and air conditioning equipment. See Section 1365.09 for use of ground water heat pumps.
A. Supplemental heaters shall be included in heat pump systems with sufficient capacity to maintain comfort level temperatures in the building when the heat pump unit may be inoperable.
B. The outdoor section of the heat pump unit shall be elevated and installed in such a manner that ice formation from condensate will not create conditions which would prevent the unit from performing properly and to avoid damage from ice and snow falling from the roof. Defrost provisions shall be included in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
(Ord. 2020-7. Passed 6-9-20.)