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BPI 1200 Combustion Safety

More explicitMore on how to do, not just interpretation

Clarified best practice intentionsSpecifies ambient CO monitor vs using combustion analyzer

Aligned with existing standardsRESNETANSI

Does not exclude appliances from testingProvisions for unvented & solid fuel burning

BPI 1200

ANSI – A Better Standard

Ambient CO ThresholdsTieredAligns with other devices i.e. wall mounted

Equipment SpecificsCGLD must read LEL Ambient CONOx filter

Worst CaseSimplified Test ProcedureRemoval of draft & dep. limits as pass/fail

Biggest Changes

Ambient CO Measurements

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Ambient CO Action Levels

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Worst Case Spillage

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• Drill necessary test holes in flue pipe

• Turn off kill switch or set to pilot

• Fire the unit!– Set thermostat to heat mode,

15°F above ambient indoor temp or run hot water at sinks.

– When ready to fire, flip kill switch to “ON”

– Start your stopwatch when the unit fires

– Look out for flame rollout– Use smoke pencil to check spillage

for the appropriate amount of time

Spillage and CO – Warm Vent

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Spillage and CO – Cold Vent

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Testing Combined Flues

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• Fire the appliance with the smallest Btu capacity first

– Check for spillage

– Measure draft

• Fire larger appliance(s) in order of Btu capacity

– Check for spillage

– Re-check spillage for every appliance

Testing Combined Flues

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Testing Combined Flues

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Which Tests Per Category

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CategoryI

CategoryIII

Category IV

Spillage Yes No No

Undiluted CO Yes Yes Yes

Where to Test

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Spillage and Undiluted CO: Category I

Natural Draft Furnace

Natural Draft Water Heater

Induced Draft Furnace

Spillage

Undiluted CO

Where to Test

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Spillage on Induced Draft Furnaces

Where to Test

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Spillage, Draft, and Undiluted CO: Fuel Oil Furnace

Spillage

Undiluted CO

Barometric Damper

Where to Test

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Spillage, Draft, and Undiluted CO: Category I

Natural Draft Space Heater

Floor Furnace

Spillage

Where to Test

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• Measure Undiluted CO at the flue pipe outlet

• BPI Protocols prohibits drilling Cat III or IV systems.

• There is no spillage testing for these.

Condensing PVC flue

Direct Vent Concentric Flue Pipe

Undiluted CO

Undiluted CO: Category III/IV

Interpreting Results

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• Compare results with BPI standards to determine whether the combustion appliance has reached any action levels.

– Did spillage fail? Under which condition?

– Undiluted CO Limits Exceeded?

• Make recommendations according to BPI standards

CAZ Depressurization

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Problems with Venting?

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• Poor chimney/flue design

• Obstructions in the flue

• Lack of makeup Air

• High negative pressure in the combustion zone

CAZ Depressurization Problems

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• Worst case depressurization must be brought within acceptable limits as part of the work scope. Possible causes:– Exhaust fan lacks makeup air

– Pressure imbalances in home HVAC

– Duct leakage

– Lack of CAZ makeup air

– Insufficient CAZ volume

– Holes in ceiling (stack effect)

Relieving CAZ Depressurization

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• Seal duct leaks

• Fix holes in top of envelope to stop stack effect

• Provide high-low ventilation for combustion closet

• Provide makeup air for large exhaust fans

• Balance room pressures using jumper ducts/transfer grilles

• Add a chimney exhaust system

• Add a power vent

• Switch to sealed combustion

• Fuel switch to electric heat pump/water heater

CO Thresholds

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CO Air-Free

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CO Action Levels

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Testing Gas Ovens and Ranges

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• Gas stoves have different testing protocols than other combustion appliances

• Stoves are only evaluated for CO output and gas leaks

Gas Sniffing Stoves

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• Pull out the bottom drawer to sniff gas lines. Do NOT pull stove from wall!

• Do not fire stove if gas leaks are present

Range Top Inspection

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• Light burners in sequence

– Record any problems with auto-lighting

• Visually inspect flame for;

– Blue color

– Non-pulsing (consistent)

– Yellow flame indicates flame impingement or bad fuel mixture

Gas Oven Test Preparation

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• Continue monitoring ambient CO

• Keep kitchen exhaust running – if recirculating – keep running and window open

• Remove all items (debris) from oven and stove top

• Turn on oven to hottest setting (500°F) – do not turn on self clean feature!

Gas Oven Testing

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Gas Oven Testing

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Diagnostic Guide

Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

If over 70 ppm of Carbon Monoxide is detected inside,

evacuate the house, and ventilate it until CO levels have dropped before re-entering to identify the

problem.

Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

Each furnace manufacturer includes a recommended range of temperature rise on the data plate.

Duct Diagnostics

The Temperature Rise Test can identify issues with the furnace or the duct system such as..Incorrect furnace fan speedImproper duct sizing or restrictions 38

Return

Supply

(Supply temp) – (Return temp) = Temp rise

120°F

70°F

120°F – 70°F = 50°F

Measuring Temperature Rise

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Filte

r

Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

SAFETY – COMBUSTION DIAGNOSTICS

Bedroom

Bedroom Living Room

Kitchen/Dining AreaBathIf the CAZ had a solid door, where

Where is the CAZ?

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Vented Combustion Appliance

SAFETY – COMBUSTION DIAGNOSTICS

Bedroom

Bedroom

Bath

If the CAZ had no door, where would the CAZ be?

Vented Combustion

Appliance Living Room

Kitchen/Dining Area

Where is the CAZ?

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Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

Hall closetNo

YesNo

YesNo

No

0 ppm640ft3

2000ft3

Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

Where to Test Category I Appliances

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Natural Draft Furnace

Natural Draft Water Heater

Induced Draft Furnace

Spillage

Undiluted CO

Where to Test

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Spillage, Draft, and Undiluted CO: Fuel Oil Furnace

Spillage

Undiluted CO

Barometric Damper

All fuel oil devices should be tested for soot with a smoke pumper.

A value of 1 or lower is desiredTesting anything over a 1 can damage test equipment

Measuring System Efficiency

Oil System Smoke Test

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Where to Test: Category IV Furnace

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CO testing is done at the exhaust termination.*

Worst-case for a Gas Pack?

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Where to Test: Mobile Home

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Inner Liner

Outer Liner

Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

SAFETY – COMBUSTION DIAGNOSTICS

You are in the CAZVented

Combustion Appliance

Bedroom

Bedroom Living Room

Kitchen/Dining AreaBath

Fan Fan

Setting Up the Manometer for CAZ

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You are not in the CAZ

Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

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Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

70 ppm CO Ambient

Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

Warm Vent vs. Cold Vent

Cold vent pertains to a combustion appliance that is turned OFF.

Warm vent pertains to a combustion appliance that is turned ON.

Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

Where to document spillage, ambient CO and CO AF for combustion appliances.

BPI guidelines for causes and alleviation of CAZ depressurization

Worst Case CAZ Depressurization Worksheet

CO Air Free

-BPI-1200-S-2017 Standard Practice for Basic Analysis of Buildings

Example: 20.9100 ppm (as measured) at 9% O2

20.9 - 9 x 100 = 175 COAF