Page 870 - 2018_IRC

APPENDIX D

RECOMMENDED PROCEDURE FOR SAFETY
INSPECTION OF AN EXISTING APPLIANCE INSTALLATION

This appendix is not a part of the requirements of this code and is included for informational purposes only.
This appendix is an excerpt from the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, coordinated with the
section numbering of the International Residential Code.

User note:
About this appendix: Appendix D provides procedures for testing and inspecting existing gas appliance installations for safe operation.

D.1 General. The following procedure is intended as a guide combustible gas detector should be capable of the fol-
to aid in determining that an appliance is properly installed lowing:
and is in a safe condition for continued use. Where a gas sup- a. PPM: Numeric display with a parts per million
plier performs an inspection, their written procedures should (ppm) scale from 1ppm to 900 ppm in 1 ppm
be followed. increments.
D.1.1 Application. This procedure is intended for existing b. LEL: Numeric display with a percent lower
residential installations of a furnace, boiler, room heater, explosive limit (% LEL) scale from 0 percent
water heater, cooking appliance, fireplace appliance and to 100 percent in 1 percent increments.
clothes dryer. This procedure should be performed prior to c. Audio: An audio sound feature to locate leaks.
any attempt to modify the appliance installation or building
envelope. (2) CO Detector: The CO detector should be capable of
the following functions and have a numeric display
D.1.2 Weatherization Programs. Before a building enve- scale as follows:
lope is to be modified as part of a weatherization program, the
existing appliance installation should be inspected in accor- a. PPM: For measuring ambient room and appli-
dance with these procedures. After all unsafe conditions are ance emissions a display scale in parts per mil-
repaired, and immediately after the weatherization is com- lion (ppm) from 0 to 1,000 ppm in 1 ppm
plete, the appliance inspections in D.5.2 are to be repeated. increments.
D.1.3 Inspection Procedure. The safety of the building b. Alarm: A sound alarm function where hazard-
occupant and inspector are to be determined as the first step ous levels of ambient CO is found (see D.2 for
as described in D.2. Only after the ambient environment is alarm levels)
found to be safe should inspections of gas piping and appli- c. Air Free: Capable of converting CO measure-
ances be undertaken. It is recommended that all inspections ments to an air free level in ppm. Where a CO
described in D.3, D.4, and D.6, where the appliance is in the detector is used without an air free conversion
off mode, be completed and any unsafe conditions repaired or function, the CO air free can be calculated in
corrected before continuing with inspections of an operating accordance with Note 3 in Table D.6.
appliance described in D.5 and D.6. D.2 Occupant and Inspector Safety. Prior to entering a
D.1.4 Manufacturer Instructions. Where available, the building, the inspector should have both a combustible gas
manufacturer’s installation and operating instructions for the detector (CGD) and CO detector turned on, calibrated, and
installed appliances should be used as part of these inspection operating. Immediately upon entering the building, a sample
procedures to determine if it is installed correctly and is oper- of the ambient atmosphere should be taken. Based on CGD
ating properly. and CO detector readings, the inspector should take the fol-
lowing actions:
D.1.5 Instruments. The inspection procedures include mea-
suring for fuel gas and carbon monoxide (CO) and will (1) The CO detector indicates a carbon monoxide level of
1
require the use of a combustible gas detector (CGD) and a 70 ppm or greater . The inspector should immedi-
CO detector. It is recommended that both types of detectors ately notify the occupant of the need for themselves
be listed. Prior to any inspection, the detectors should be cali- and any building occupant to evacuate; the inspector
brated or tested in accordance with the manufacturer’s shall immediately evacuate and call 911.
instructions. In addition, it is recommended that the detectors (2) Where the CO detector indicates a reading between
have the following minimum specifications. 30 ppm and 70 ppm . The inspector should advise the
1
(1) Gas Detector: The CGD should be capable of indicat- occupant that high CO levels have been found and
ing the presence of the type of fuel gas for which it is recommend that all possible sources of CO should be
to be used, for example, natural gas or propane. The turned off immediately and windows and doors
1
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Responding to Residential Carbon Monoxide Incidents, Guidelines For Fire and Other Emergency Response Personnel,
Approved 7/23/02
2018 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE ® 845
Copyrighted © 2017 by, or licensed to, ICC (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to UL, LLC pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproductions authorized or distribution authorized.
ANY UNAUTHROIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT; AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.