Indoor wood boiler / code / insurance

[Sukhoi29SU]

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

 

[grader]

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.

 

[Highbeam]

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.

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.

 

[Sukhoi29SU]

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.

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.

 

[Highbeam]

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.

Just be ready for the garage question. It’s a code interpretation issue where you either believe ohdoor equals garage or you don’t.

 

[salecker]

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.

 

[Sukhoi29SU]

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.

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.

 

[Highbeam]

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.

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.

 

[S.Whiplash]

I've never seen the Switzer boilers on the EPA approved list, are they legal to install in Illinois?

 

[Sukhoi29SU]

I've never seen the Switzer boilers on the EPA approved list, are they legal to install in Illinois?

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.

 

[Sukhoi29SU]

I've never seen the Switzer boilers on the EPA approved list, are they legal to install in Illinois?

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