Window for a gas boiler room in a private house: legislative standards for glazing a room

Agree, no one wants to get hurt from a gas explosion. Isn't that right? However, no one guarantees this.Thus, in the last two decades, many of our compatriots have lost property, health and lives in such incidents. But you can avoid trouble. To do this, you will need to properly equip the window for the gas boiler room of a private house, always in compliance with the rules and regulations prescribed in legislative acts.

Only strict compliance with the requirements for the specified design element set out in the governing documents will help make the operation of gas equipment safer. We will explain why this is so below.

Legislation on windows in boiler rooms

The issue with glazing of rooms where gas boilers are located is regulated SP 402.1325800.2018, which came into force on June 6, 2019.

But the norms of this document only state that there must be windows in the boiler room and regulate their type and area. All other details are given in GOST R 56288-2014, to which SP 402.1325800.2018 refers.

The shape of the window in a room with a gas boiler can be any. The main thing is that it corresponds to the established area. And also, you need to remember to provide a window or any other method for ventilation

That's why boiler room design must be carried out taking into account the norms set out in these two by-laws.

What should windows be like?

SP 402.1325800.2018 states that a gas boiler can only be installed in a specially equipped room with a window.

Moreover, this element of the boiler room design must be equipped with:

• window;
• any other device suitable for providing ventilation of the boiler room.

Recommended reading: Adjusting plastic windows.

That is, the indicated design features of the window indicate that it is considered not only as a source of natural light. And as an important element of the system boiler room ventilation.

We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the general standards for the installation of gas boiler houses. More details - go to link.

Boiler room glazing area

Clause 5.10 of the above-mentioned Code of Rules states that the glass area must be at least 0.03 m² for each cubic meter of volume of the room where it will be installed. a gas boiler.

This is the standard value for buildings classified as fire/explosion hazard group B.

The profile Code of Rules indicates the minimum window area in a room with a gas boiler. But, in fact, this figure indicates what the opening should be to ensure effective release of excess pressure

Moreover, you should pay attention to the fact that the above area should be occupied by the window as a whole, namely glass. Which, moreover, must be an easily removable enclosing structure, otherwise the boiler room will not be allowed to operate.

What is an easily resettable building envelope?

These are structural elements of a building that, during a gas explosion, should easily collapse and form openings for efficient and rapid release of excess pressure. It is customary to use boiler room glazing as easily removable enclosing structures.

It should be remembered that reinforced glass, due to its strength characteristics, will not be able to collapse under the required loads. As a result, they will not provide effective relief of excess pressure. Therefore, their use in boiler rooms is strictly prohibited.

The same statement applies to materials such as:

• polycarbonate;
• triplex;
• Stalinite

That is, in fact, until recently only ordinary sheet glass was classified as easily removable structures. But since the summer of 2019, other options have appeared.

Analogs to sheet glass

If the specified material in a particular case is not the optimal solution, then preference can be given to windows with double-glazed windows.

The image shows the design of an easily resettable window. Moreover, the average user will not always identify its features. Yes, this is not necessary, since the difference with a conventional product will only appear in a critical situation

But there are limitations. Thus, ordinary sheet glass can be replaced with double-glazed windows manufactured in accordance with the requirements specified in GOST R 56288-2014 for residential buildings. It is prohibited to use any other products.

The specified GOST also states that ordinary glass can be replaced with windows with:

• a rotating element, which is an easily resettable flap, which, during a gas explosion, under the influence of even slight excess pressure, opens outward and rotates around the axis of its hinges intended for fastening;
• a displaceable element, which is a window frame with a double-glazed window or the double-glazed window itself, which during a gas explosion under the influence of slight excess pressure are destroyed and fall out.

Moreover, the pivoting sash can be horizontal or vertical, which increases the functionality of easily removable windows.

Their important feature is also the mandatory presence of special safety locking devices, destructible fastening elements, and latches.

When exposed to excess pressure, they must freely release the displaced or rotating structural element.

This photo was taken in 1999 after the explosion at the capital's Intourist hotel. In the foreground, easily removable structures and the opening they cleared to relieve pressure are clearly visible, thereby minimizing the consequences. The photo quality is not the best, but nevertheless, this does not prevent it from being one of the few real confirmations of the effectiveness of easily resettable structures.

According to the requirements of the above-mentioned profile GOST, all easily removable windows must be marked with special letter designations.

Namely, the following codes must be present on their structural elements:

• LSKOS, indicating that this is an easily removable window structure with double-glazed windows;
• letter AND, indicating that the window is intended for residential buildings;
• letter P or WITH, indicating the type of opening of the discharge opening - rotary/displaceable.

In addition, on windows with an easily resettable design, the number of the regulatory document on the basis of the requirements of which they were manufactured must be indicated.

For example, the full designation may look like this: LSKOS ZH P GOST R 56288-2012. This will eliminate mistakes when choosing.

Technical characteristics of LSK

According to the standards set out in the relevant GOST, locking devices for easily resettable windows must ensure release or rotation of the sash when the excess pressure reaches 0.7 kPa.

In this case, for windows with a displaceable structural element, a change in the position of the sash by 90° is considered to be triggered.

If the boiler room is a separate building or an extension to a house, then its structure can be completely or partially made of easily removable sandwich panels

That is, in the case of LSC in the room where the gas boiler is located, not only the size of the window is important, but also how it will clear the opening to relieve pressure.

Reliable operation must be ensured over a wide temperature range (-30...45°C).

Otherwise, easily resettable structures are ordinary windows. Which can effectively resist heat transfer and belong to sound insulation class D or higher.

Why are easily resettable structures needed?

In the Russian Federation, the issue of gas explosions is acute. Thus, dozens of these incidents occur annually in the country. The most notorious was January 2008, during which 10 explosions occurred, killing dozens of Russians.

And the reason is aggravated by cheap but very durable modern windows that can withstand significant excess pressure for a short time. As a result, the pressure on the building structure increases significantly. And it often cannot withstand horizontal loads, since the same walls are not designed for this. As a result, the buildings simply stack up like houses of cards.

It should be remembered that a window in the boiler room should be provided at the stage of creating project documentation. Or Gorgaz will not give permission for construction

There are 2 ways to combat this negative phenomenon, which include:

• strengthening the structure of buildings;
• use of easily removable structures.

And, since the first option is expensive and not always available, the main way to protect against the negative consequences of explosions was the use of LSC.

Which have been present on the Russian market for a long time, but their high cost has not contributed to their popularity. The government decided to “facilitate” this by making the use of easily resettable structures mandatory in a number of cases.

And about fire safety requirements for the installation of gas boiler houses, read in our other article.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

In the video attached below, a specialist talks about what form an easily resettable structure in a boiler room can take:

Glazing standards for an operating gas boiler house must be met. Since this increases, and significantly, safety in the house. After all, releasing excess pressure in time can save people’s lives and their property from destruction.

Below, under the article, you can ask questions, supplement our material with valuable information, or share your own experience of arranging windows in a boiler room. Tell us what difficulties you had to face when setting up a boiler room in a private house and how you managed to overcome them.