6.1.4 Requirements for Boilers and Hydronic Systems
These requirements apply to:
Installations up to and including 400,000 btu/hr;
Residential installations of three family or less housing; and
Where the Boiler Safety Division will not be informed or required to inspect.
1.0 Owner and Operator Instruction
1.1 The installer shall be responsible to compile and provide to the owner and/or the operator all installation, operating and service instruction manuals and information.
1.2 The installer shall instruct the owner/operator on the use, maintenance and service requirements of the system and associated equipment as in the CSA B149.1 Natural Gas and Propane Installation code, “Responsibilities of the Installer”.
2.0 General Requirements
2.1 All boilers shall be approved by a recognized Canadian certification agency and have all the required markings on the name/rating plate attached to the boiler.
2.2 Installations shall meet the requirements of the most recent version of the CSA B214 Installation Code For Hydronic Heating Systems.
2.3 Replacement boilers shall also meet these requirements.
2.4 Boiler controls and safeties can not be located or piped in such a way as to be isolated from the boiler by manual or automatic valves or controls.
2.5 All boilers shall have two limit controls. One shall act as an operating control and one shall act as a high limit safety control.
2.6 Pressure relief valves shall be installed with the discharge outlet facing down or horizontal and the discharge outlet piped down towards the floor. The ends of the discharge pipe shall not be threaded or provided with a fitting, which could allow the discharge pipe to be blocked or restricted.
3.0 Low Water Cut-off Requirements
3.1 Unless regulated by other jurisdictions, boilers installed with a heat distribution system at a level below the boiler shall be provided with an approved low water cut-off device.
3.2 Low water cut-off controls shall be installed as specified by the manufacturers certified installation instructions and shall be capable of shutting off the fuel supply to the burner(s).
3.3 Low water cut-off safety devices shall be installed and piped in the same manner as required by the Boiler and Pressure Vessels Act to allow for inspection and testing.
4.0 Boiler Installation and Operation
4.1 Boilers designed to have burner operation with no flow conditions present shall be installed as per the manufacturers certified installation instructions and any other requirements set forth by any national or local codes and jurisdictions.
4.2 Boilers sensitive to low return water temperatures shall be installed and controlled in such a way as to maintain the minimum return water temperature during normal operation as required by the manufacturer. Owners and/or operators shall be instructed of any minimum return water temperature requirements.
4.3 Boiler installations shall include a minimum of two thermometers located to accurately sense the water temperature inside (or leaving) the boiler and the return water temperature entering the boiler. Installations shall have a minimum of one pressure gauge located at or on the boiler.
5.0 Coil and Fin Tube Boilers
5.1 When used in residential applications and in heating applications of three family and less housing:
The heating system shall be installed in such a manner that the boiler has constant flow conditions when in use.
The boiler shall be equipped with a flow switch installed so that with reduced or no flow, the burner must shut off.
The boiler shall be equipped with two limit controls. One to act as an operating (primary) control and the second shall act as a high limit (secondary) control. Both of which must shut down the fuel supply to the burner when the respective set point has been reached.
5.2 When used in commercial applications or residential applications of more than three families:
The heating system shall be installed in such a manner that the boiler has constant flow conditions when in use.
In accordance with the Boiler Safety Division a flow switch shall be installed. The flow switch must be capable of being tested in service. When flow is reduced or stopped, the burner must shut off.
The boiler shall be equipped with two limit controls. One to act as an operating (primary) control and the second shall act as a high limit (secondary) control. Both of which must shut down the fuel supply to the burner when the respective set point has been reached.
6.0 Hydronic Boilers Other Than Fin Tube (Cast Iron Sectional, etc.)
6.1 When used in residential applications and in heating applications of three family and less housing:
The boiler shall be equipped with two limit controls. One to act as an operating (primary) control and the second shall act as a high limit (secondary) control. Both of which must shut down the fuel supply to the burner when the respective set point has been reached.
6.2 When used in commercial applications or residential applications of more than three families:
The boiler shall be equipped with two limit controls. One to act as an operating (primary) control and the second shall act as a high limit (secondary) control. Both of which must shut down the fuel supply to the burner when the respective set point has been reached.
In accordance with the Boiler Safety Division:
Boilers with inputs of 400,000 BTU/hr or less shall have either a flow switch or a low water cut-off safety device installed.
Boilers with inputs over 400,000 BTU/hr shall have a low water cut-off device installed.
Both safety controls would be acceptable.
The flow switch must be capable of being tested in service and when flow is reduced or stopped, it must shut down the flow of fuel to the burner.
7.0 Steam Boilers and Replacement Steam Boilers
7.1 Steam boilers shall be installed as required by the manufacturer's certified installation instructions and to the requirements of all authorities having jurisdiction. They shall include all specified controls, safeties and related components.
7.2 Steam boilers shall have a minimum of one operating pressure control and one high limit pressure control approved for use on steam boilers.
8.0 Recommended Installation Guidelines
8.1 Hydronic heating systems must be design approved by an engineer or a qualified hydronic heating design specialist. A qualified hydronic heating design specialist may be an individual or company that can provide verification of successfully completing technical training in hydronic heating system design.
8.2 Heating systems must be constructed with consideration to indoor design temperatures, outdoor design temperatures, and minimum ventilation requirements and shall be in accordance with all national and local codes and jurisdictions.
8.3 Minimum return water temperatures to boilers must be maintained and identified in the owner's operating instructions.
8.4 When outdoor temperature compensation is used, boiler minimum return water temperatures must be considered.
8.5 In multiple boiler installations, the method of installation of the boilers must allow for recommended design flow through all boilers using piping design, pumping methods or balancing devices.
8.6 Use design approved valves for flow balancing. (Ball and gate valves are not approved for flow regulation.)
8.7 Installations with continuous flow conditions may require a pressure relief bypass valve or a piping arrangement to provide adequate flow if the system flow conditions can drop to 30% or less of design flow conditions. The pressure relief bypass valve or piping arrangement must be sized to suit the needs of the system.
8.8 Boilers sensitive to high or low flow conditions shall be installed as required by the manufacturers certified installation instructions.
8.9 The maximum operating pressure of a boiler must be at least 10 psi below the relief valve discharge pressure.
8.10 It is not recommended to pipe a relief valve discharge to the outdoors, pipe vertical above the outlet of the relief valve or pipe through a wall to another room. The discharge must be no more than 12” or less than 1” above the floor. The distance above the floor must be at least twice the diameter of the discharge pipe.
8.11 Any secondary heating loops isolated from the primary loop by means of a heat exchanger must have a separate expansion compensator, relief valve, thermometers, pressure gauges and controls as required by design, manufacturer's installation instructions and good piping practices.
8.12 Steam boiler replacements with units of a smaller water storage capacity must give consideration to the needs of a condensate receiving/holding tank to prevent the system from flooding the boiler or cycle on the low water cut-off.
8.13 Automatic feed water supply systems must comply with local or provincial plumbing codes.
8.14 Ventilation requirements as indicated in the National Building Code must be met.
8.15 When heat exchangers are used for secondary heating loops or when heat exchangers are used to heat domestic (potable) water, the installer must ensure the heat exchanger(s) is approved to suit the needs of the installation. The installation must meet the requirements of all national and local codes as well as the requirements of all jurisdictions having authority.