gas burner switches

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benmin

benmin

Senior Member
Location
Maine
Occupation
Master Electrician
Are there any codes with the NEC or NFPA on gas burner switches? I know oil burners require one by NFPA codes but recently, I've been told there are none for gas burners. I'll still put them outside the mech room simply because it makes sense and I'm assuming most AHJ's would require it.
 
benmin said:
Are there any codes with the NEC or NFPA on gas burner switches? I know oil burners require one by NFPA codes but recently, I've been told there are none for gas burners. I'll still put them outside the mech room simply because it makes sense and I'm assuming most AHJ's would require it.
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I don't know of a code requiring an emergency switch for a gas burner, I was told by our locale inspector that they are not required due to all the safeties on gas burners, True or not?:-?
 
We recently did a job in a dwelling where the boiler was 5' from the service. The fire inspector said that it was part of the fire code to have the red cover on a switch adjacent to the boiler for a fireman to shutoff the boiler in an emergency. He wouldn't accept the CB as the disconnect for the boiler.
 
I do a lot of boiler wiring for a plumbing contractor here in nothern NJ. All the inspectors that I've come across want a local disconnect switch with a red gas burner cover plate. The switch has to be within sight of the furnace. If the residence has an oil furnace they require both a local and a remote disconnect (i.e at the top of the staircase if the unit is in the basement) and the cover plates have to say oil burner on them.
 
gas

gas

goldstar said:
I do a lot of boiler wiring for a plumbing contractor here in nothern NJ. All the inspectors that I've come across want a local disconnect switch with a red gas burner cover plate. The switch has to be within sight of the furnace. If the residence has an oil furnace they require both a local and a remote disconnect (i.e at the top of the staircase if the unit is in the basement) and the cover plates have to say oil burner on them.
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We run into this in only certain towns in the so. of boston area. Mostly for oil burner installs.
 
I always install a switch on the unit itself, but it's never a RED emergency plate, because I always have a GFI right next to it... If the switch on the unit isn't obvious enough what it does, god help us...
 
Hate to raise the dead...but it's related and already started....

infinity said:
We recently did a job in a dwelling where the boiler was 5' from the service. The fire inspector said that it was part of the fire code to have the red cover on a switch adjacent to the boiler for a fireman to shutoff the boiler in an emergency. He wouldn't accept the CB as the disconnect for the boiler.
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Does this mean there is no requirement for a remote switch on a gas furnace/boiler?

goldstar said:
I do a lot of boiler wiring for a plumbing contractor here in nothern NJ. All the inspectors that I've come across want a local disconnect switch with a red gas burner cover plate. The switch has to be within sight of the furnace. If the residence has an oil furnace they require both a local and a remote disconnect (i.e at the top of the staircase if the unit is in the basement) and the cover plates have to say oil burner on them.
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Do you have a code reference I can browse?


Another thread referenced NFPA 31 ....is that the code, and can we whittle it down to an article?

I'm looking for both oil and gas as a "permanent" ref. for me.

Thanks.
 
Celtic said:
Do you have a code reference I can browse?


Another thread referenced NFPA 31 ....is that the code, and can we whittle it down to an article?

I'm looking for both oil and gas as a "permanent" ref. for me.
Click to expand...
I'll try to find it for you. I'm not so sure it's an NEC issue. It might be a building code issue
 
donselectric said:
we have to wire them just like a oil fired unit
that includes the sw by the cellar door (on the outside of it)
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When you say "we have to wire them," does that mean that inspectors are requiring this? What code are they using to justify it?

I admit this is a confusing issue especially here in "Oil Burner Land." There are requirements that vary by state (in New England) to have a remote shutoff for an oil burner. The location differs in every state, if it even exists.

However, I have searched far and wide and have found nothing on the subject of gas burners that requires a remote disconnect, other that the NEC required disconnect on the equipment itself.

I have found that inspectors in this area will often erroneously apply the oil burner rules to ALL heating equipment.
 
goldstar said:
... All the inspectors that I've come across want a local disconnect switch with a red gas burner cover plate. The switch has to be within sight of the furnace. oil burner on them.
Click to expand...


Key word here is want. We all want something, but does it mean we will get it.

Somewhere in the past, someone used the reference that is required for OIL burners to have a switch with a red plate. There is no reference for a gas burner to have a red plate/switch, so you will not find it in a document.

The reason for the oil burner to have a switch is to turn the oil pump off. A switch will not turn off the gas in a gas supplied burner.
 
i try to stay on good terms with inspectors
if it not out or reason i do what they want
it pays off in the long run and the cust pays
for it and i sleep better knowing i did a better
job and it dont take anymore time to do in reality
for me anyway....i'm old and slow.....:D
 
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