Fire code requirements for mechanical room (2 family house)

Hi, I bought a flipped 2 family house, it came with a new Green Mountain forced hot water gas boiler and a new Rheem gas water heater (input 36,000 btu, 40 gallons). The previous owner didn’t file any permit when he did the upgrade (oil to gas conversion I guess), so my general contractor and I are trying to figure out what should be done to bring the mechanical room up to the NYC fire code standards. The water heater and boiler are located inside a closet in our english basement (see photo). There is a brick wall in the back of the closet, masonry wall on the left, sheetrock wall on the right side, exposed wood beams ceiling, the front of the closet is wide open with no fire rated closet doors. Both boiler and water heater are standing on a tiled concrete floor. There is no drain or fresh air vent nearby, but there is actually a window just 6 feet away. We hired A&A to run a stainless steel flue through the brick chimney. My general contractor added an emergency switch in the stairs between the basement and first floor. But I am wondering what else we are supposed to do: fire rate the closet or the room where the closet is located? Should we add fire rated closet doors? A drain on the floor level? A fresh air vent? Anything else? I read that requirements are not the same for 1-2 family houses vs. 3 or more. Also our tenant’s recreation room will be located at the same level (other side of the English basement separated by a wall and stairs), so that’s one more reason why we want to do this. I have attached floorplans. Thanks in advance for your help. Aurelien

aurelien

in Plumbers and Plumbing 10 years and 9 months ago

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alfredsutton | 10 years and 7 months ago

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That is good that you have get some good ideas from here. But I think you should once consult with a Boiler inspectors before applying all this ideas. This will keep you away from any danger.

aurelien | 10 years and 9 months ago

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Thank you for your feedback. I will start by fireproofing the mechanical closet and will add fire rated doors with louvers. I will also get estimates for a floor drain and ducted air intake.

ellenlourie | 10 years and 9 months ago

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Boiler inspectors don’t check your type of property. Plumbing inspectors are not into the boilers. So, you have to rely on good heating contractor for proper mechanical room set up. I agree , you must cover your ceiling with fire rated material. Fresh air for combustion is a must. And If you will do ducted air into mechanical room and install door, you will save a lot of gas by cutting infiltrations. CO detector interlocked with boiler. Floor drain or sump pump. This is not a full list to bring your heating equipment into compliance with codes.

brucef | 10 years and 9 months ago

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I’m not sure I understand your situation completely, but I can offer some guidance. The question is not what exactly does the code say, and meekly following it, in preparation for arguing that it should be approved because your version of correct is correct. Our experience is that boiler division guys are better informed but more “mercurial” than regular plumbing inspectors. If you implied there are exposed wood beams above, by all means cover them with 5/8″ drywall, two layers if at all possible. Remember, heat goes up, so treatment of ceiling is paramount. While twin louvers in a metal door might actually meet code for air intake, if you have a window that you can duct to, do it and make that issue moot.

aurelien | 10 years and 9 months ago

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Here are pictures of the mechanicals before and after we removed the sheetrock panels to install a flue.