Here is the low down on New York State's Residential Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Fire Code.
First I’d like to say that it may not seem like it from the posts I’ve made recently, but I’ve been involved in residential construction for 28 years. Been framing houses since I was 16 (I'm 44). Got an associates degree in architecture. Started a business as a framing contractor in 1990 and continue to own and operate it. I've also done a fair amount of general contracting projects over the past 20 years.. But I still prefer the framing projects.
The reason for all that history is to say that I know FAR TO WELL THE HEADACHES the building dept. can cause. I never meant my last post to be as controversial as it was.
I only considered not applying for a permit because of the potential for those headaches and always intended to install per code.
But after I got the flood of negative responses I actually began to doubt what I already knew, or at least thought that I knew oh no here I go again second guessing my self.
I was only looking for some other opinions or experience on installing it the garage versus in the house.
Like I said I did go to the building dept. a few weeks ago and acted as though a client was interested in a gasser. They had no clue what that was . I didnt lead them on with to much info and I didn't climb to high up the ladder of authority, but they thought that there was no need for a permit but would look further into it. My cue to get out fast.
Since then I've spoken to an architect, read through the NYS building Code, mechanical, plumbing and fire code, spoke with the Fire Marshall AND went back to the building dept. today. I climbed a little high on the ladder and spoke with the plans examiner and we looked through the NYS Code books together. There is NO mention of prohibiting a boiler of any type (gas, propane, electric, oil or wood) from being in a garage. But there would be some standards that would have to met. First off gas fumes are heavier then air and normal code is to have ANY device that could spark or cause combustion (i.e. combustion chamber, electric motor, electric outlet etc) elevated 18†or higher. The same goes if there is an entrance to a living space the living space needs to be 18†or higher.
The unit must be on a non-combustble floor. The walls and ceilings should (but not required) have fire rated sheetrock OR with out fire rated rock the unit must be minimum distance away( to many variables to list) from combustible surfaces . BUT if the walls are fire rated then there is NO minimum set back. Of course you want enough room to maintain the unit. And like any other chimney roof penetration there must be a thimble. It actually says " the unit should be installed as per manufacture specifications". Simple, straight forward and easy.
So that is a condensed version of the NYS Building Code. Your local township or jurisdiction may have some of their own policies but all in all NYS doesn't have a problem.
I will be sheet rocking everything and building a concrete platform to set it on. I also intend to put a CO2 alarm, as well as a Heat alarm ( if the temp raises too high too fast in a set amount of time an alarm goes off). I may, depending how much heat the unit throws off, run a water line with a fire sprinkler head. I won't if I think the high temps would trip the sprinkler.
So the headaches I thought would be there, weren't and I actually applied for a permit!
And hopefully that will also satisfy the insurance company also.
I do truly enjoy this forum and have learned alot in a short time. In fact, because of all the thinking and worrying and panicking and freaking out I did about location and walls and fire proofing and explosions and death and mayhem, I actually have a better place to put it!! (still in the garage).
I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and concerns.
Now its time to get moving on this install!!
OHH RAA!
First I’d like to say that it may not seem like it from the posts I’ve made recently, but I’ve been involved in residential construction for 28 years. Been framing houses since I was 16 (I'm 44). Got an associates degree in architecture. Started a business as a framing contractor in 1990 and continue to own and operate it. I've also done a fair amount of general contracting projects over the past 20 years.. But I still prefer the framing projects.
The reason for all that history is to say that I know FAR TO WELL THE HEADACHES the building dept. can cause. I never meant my last post to be as controversial as it was.
I only considered not applying for a permit because of the potential for those headaches and always intended to install per code.
But after I got the flood of negative responses I actually began to doubt what I already knew, or at least thought that I knew oh no here I go again second guessing my self.
I was only looking for some other opinions or experience on installing it the garage versus in the house.
Like I said I did go to the building dept. a few weeks ago and acted as though a client was interested in a gasser. They had no clue what that was . I didnt lead them on with to much info and I didn't climb to high up the ladder of authority, but they thought that there was no need for a permit but would look further into it. My cue to get out fast.
Since then I've spoken to an architect, read through the NYS building Code, mechanical, plumbing and fire code, spoke with the Fire Marshall AND went back to the building dept. today. I climbed a little high on the ladder and spoke with the plans examiner and we looked through the NYS Code books together. There is NO mention of prohibiting a boiler of any type (gas, propane, electric, oil or wood) from being in a garage. But there would be some standards that would have to met. First off gas fumes are heavier then air and normal code is to have ANY device that could spark or cause combustion (i.e. combustion chamber, electric motor, electric outlet etc) elevated 18†or higher. The same goes if there is an entrance to a living space the living space needs to be 18†or higher.
The unit must be on a non-combustble floor. The walls and ceilings should (but not required) have fire rated sheetrock OR with out fire rated rock the unit must be minimum distance away( to many variables to list) from combustible surfaces . BUT if the walls are fire rated then there is NO minimum set back. Of course you want enough room to maintain the unit. And like any other chimney roof penetration there must be a thimble. It actually says " the unit should be installed as per manufacture specifications". Simple, straight forward and easy.
So that is a condensed version of the NYS Building Code. Your local township or jurisdiction may have some of their own policies but all in all NYS doesn't have a problem.
I will be sheet rocking everything and building a concrete platform to set it on. I also intend to put a CO2 alarm, as well as a Heat alarm ( if the temp raises too high too fast in a set amount of time an alarm goes off). I may, depending how much heat the unit throws off, run a water line with a fire sprinkler head. I won't if I think the high temps would trip the sprinkler.
So the headaches I thought would be there, weren't and I actually applied for a permit!
And hopefully that will also satisfy the insurance company also.
I do truly enjoy this forum and have learned alot in a short time. In fact, because of all the thinking and worrying and panicking and freaking out I did about location and walls and fire proofing and explosions and death and mayhem, I actually have a better place to put it!! (still in the garage).
I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and concerns.
Now its time to get moving on this install!!
OHH RAA!
