Indoor wood boiler / code / insurance

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
S

Sukhoi29SU

New Member
Nov 20, 2017
48
South Beloit, IL
I’m about to place a deposit on a Switzer 1750 gal boiler. Prior to doing so I want to make sure I’ve done my homework so I don’t run into any issues.

I’ve called the insurance company (USAA) as well as an extra insurance company to make sure it’s insurable. They didn’t know what it was but indicated it shouldn’t be a problem.

I have a voice mail into the county code inspector. I imagine the wood boiler could always be installed after the permit is pulled for my remodel and it passes code with my propane backup boiler.

Any other considerations or horror stories from guys that have run into issues with indoor boilers?

Thanks
 
if the unit is pressurized it will be classed as a boiler and should have ulc/csa tags on it meeting the code. as long as its installed with proper clearances it should be fine.
 
grader said:
if the unit is pressurized it will be classed as a boiler and should have ulc/csa tags on it meeting the code. as long as its installed with proper clearances it should be fine.
Click to expand...

Watch out for the “garage” issue. If the solid fuel burner is located in a space with an overhead door some people conclude that the space is a garage. In the us, you can’t have a solid fuel burner in a garage.
 
Highbeam said:
Watch out for the “garage” issue. If the solid fuel burner is located in a space with an overhead door some people conclude that the space is a garage. In the us, you can’t have a solid fuel burner in a garage.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the responses.

It’s a lower level ‘workshop’, underneath my garage utilizing span Crete floor. The lower level workshop where the boiler will be will have an overhead garage door, that will be utilized for transporting wood into the lower level. I imagine if I ran into too much trouble I could put up another wall and make a ‘boiler room’ within the workshop, however, I’d like to keep it open if possible so the heat coming off the boiler can also help heat the workshop.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Highbeam
Sukhoi29SU said:
Thanks for the responses.

It’s a lower level ‘workshop’, underneath my garage utilizing span Crete floor. The lower level workshop where the boiler will be will have an overhead garage door, that will be utilized for transporting wood into the lower level. I imagine if I ran into too much trouble I could put up another wall and make a ‘boiler room’ within the workshop, however, I’d like to keep it open if possible so the heat coming off the boiler can also help heat the workshop.
Click to expand...

Just be ready for the garage question. It’s a code interpretation issue where you either believe ohdoor equals garage or you don’t.
 
Up here if you have a wood burning appliance in a garage you have to raise it an additional 18" because of the potential gas fumes,which are heaver than air.
You had mentioned an opening in your spancrete floor to the boiler room underneath.
I could see that raising a flag for an inspector up here,and it is something i would not do myself either because of the potential of catastrophic fire if your car ever had an issue with the fuel system, like the gas tank springs a leak.

My boiler room has an overhead door,so far the inspectors don't feel it is classified as a garage.I told them it was for when i get old and have to haul wood with my Bobcat.
 
salecker said:
Up here if you have a wood burning appliance in a garage you have to raise it an additional 18" because of the potential gas fumes,which are heaver than air.
You had mentioned an opening in your spancrete floor to the boiler room underneath.
I could see that raising a flag for an inspector up here,and it is something i would not do myself either because of the potential of catastrophic fire if your car ever had an issue with the fuel system, like the gas tank springs a leak.

My boiler room has an overhead door,so far the inspectors don't feel it is classified as a garage.I told them it was for when i get old and have to haul wood with my Bobcat.
Click to expand...

Thank you.

Good consideration on the opening in the spancrete to boiler room underneath. I shouldn’t need an opening for exhaust. I plan on taking the exhaust of boiler out the wall and then up the side of house from outside. One of the main reasons I want an opening in another part of this addition is to straddle the opening with car so I have access to a car from underneath to work on. Definitely not necessary, but it’d be nice. That opening would be at the opposite corner of a 1700 sq foot addition, over 50 foot away. But, I do understand the concern - thanks for bringing that up. Maybe I’ll forget about it. It might be a mute point as I don’t even know if something like that is possible with spancrete.

Good to know having a garage door is possible, and it definitely would be utilized to get wood to the boiler. I guess the big concern with parking vehicles down there is that if there ever was a fire, insurance might not cover it if it wasn’t meeting code by keeping all vehicles out of there.
 
Sukhoi29SU said:
Thank you.

Good consideration on the opening in the spancrete to boiler room underneath. I shouldn’t need an opening for exhaust. I plan on taking the exhaust of boiler out the wall and then up the side of house from outside. One of the main reasons I want an opening in another part of this addition is to straddle the opening with car so I have access to a car from underneath to work on. Definitely not necessary, but it’d be nice. That opening would be at the opposite corner of a 1700 sq foot addition, over 50 foot away. But, I do understand the concern - thanks for bringing that up. Maybe I’ll forget about it. It might be a mute point as I don’t even know if something like that is possible with spancrete.

Good to know having a garage door is possible, and it definitely would be utilized to get wood to the boiler. I guess the big concern with parking vehicles down there is that if there ever was a fire, insurance might not cover it if it wasn’t meeting code by keeping all vehicles out of there.
Click to expand...

Don’t forget that Canada code is totally different from American code with regard to solid fuel burners in the “garage”. The Canadians smartly allow it.
 
I've never seen the Switzer boilers on the EPA approved list, are they legal to install in Illinois?
 
S.Whiplash said:
I've never seen the Switzer boilers on the EPA approved list, are they legal to install in Illinois?
Click to expand...
Good question. I’m awaiting a call from county code inspector tomorrow when he gets back from break. I talked to a boiler inspector for state of Illinois that basically said they have nothing to do with residential boilers. Only inspect apartment complexes, schools, etc.
I wouldn’t put it past the state of Illinois to *%+#% up my plans, though.
 
S.Whiplash said:
I've never seen the Switzer boilers on the EPA approved list, are they legal to install in Illinois?
Click to expand...

State said they do not inspect residential, and county said it meets code as long as it is installed in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations. Insurance said it’s not a problem if it meets code.

Sending my deposit today
 
  • Like
Reactions: gfirkus
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
Indoor or Outdoor Boiler to Heat Garage?
Replies
58
Views
21K
The Boiler Room - Wood Boilers and Furnaces
Como
Como
K
  • Locked
For the person asking, "Which wood stove is best?" One newbie's experience
Replies
26
Views
4K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
begreen
begreen
rwh442
  • Locked
Insurance issues with wood boiler in garage
Replies
20
Views
8K
The Boiler Room - Wood Boilers and Furnaces
91220da
91220da
Top Bottom
Back