Boiler Room Emergency shutoff 1

[John1732]

Good Morning, I am the Maintenance man in a 150 bed assisted living/skilled nursing facility. We have a boiler room with two
800,000 BTU heating boilers and two 650,000 BTU domestic water heaters. The question is how many "Boiler Room Emergency Shutoffs" do I need ? Currently we only have one located outside of the boiler room in an interior hallway whose door exits the boiler room. Other means of egress are one door which opens to the outdoors. And another door which opens to the Main electric switch gear room with an exterior door that opens to the out side. Thank You for your insight. John

 

[stookeyfpe]

If a requirement for such a shutoff exist it will be in the jurisdiction's mechanical code. I suggest you contact the jurisdiction. I haven't investigate the NFPA requirements for such a feature.

 

[chicopee]

Since boiler rooms are unattended, emergency shutoff would be from the person entering the boiler room from the interior hallway, therefore, one should be sufficient.

 

[chicopee]

By the way, normally above the burners would be automatic detectors shutting down the burners.

 

[DRWeig]

I believe that's in the mechanical code, not fire or life safety codes.

The last few installations I've seen had a row of shutoffs along one wall, one for each boiler. Then they also had one outside each egress door. BUT, I don't have that code handy to look at, so I can't say if all of that was required or not. Perhaps someone will look it up for you.

chicopee, the intent of the shutoffs is twofold from what I have learned. In building HVAC, boiler rooms often have people in them - sometimes continuously. In larger buildings, hospitals, and central plants for large school campuses, the building engineer and maintenance staff may have their workspaces in the boiler room. If something goes wrong, they can poke an emergency stop button on the way out, OR someone outside knowing there is a problem can do so without entering the room.

Please note again that I have not looked in the code. Above are just examples that I have seen in the past couple years. Also, the version of the mechanical code adopted in the OP's jurisdiction may be an older one. It could also have local amendments.

Finally, my advice to John1732 is to ask the local building inspector. He or she is the law, after all.

Best to you,

Goober Dave

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[cdafd]

Might also be a nfpa 101 question, if there is any requirement.

Sounds like one is good to go

 

[sspeare]

In my State, Pennsylvania, boiler installations must comply with ASME Standard CSD-1-2004, which is titled: "Controls & Safety Devices for Automatically Fired Boilers."

Paragraph CE-100(a), in ASME CSD-1-2004, says it this way:

"A manually operated remote shutdown switch ...... shall be located just outside the boiler room door ....... If the boiler room door is on the building exterior, the switch should be located just inside the door. If there is more than one door to the boiler room, there should be a switch located at each door. The emergency shutdown switch ...... must disconnect all power to the burner controls."

For good boiler room operation, you should comply with ASME Standard CSD-1, as long as it does not conflict with your jurisdictions Rules & Regulations.

Check with your AHJ - Authority Having Jurisdiction. I wouldn't be surprised if they have adopted some version of standard CSD-1. But watch out: like I said, my AHJ enforces CSD-1-2004. Your AHJ may enforce a different version of that same Standard. Find out what they want, buy the Standard from ASME, and get to work!

You posted a good question - best of luck!