Fire safety requirements for gas boiler houses: subtleties of arranging premises for gas boiler houses

Gas boiler houses, both domestic and centralized, are objects that require increased attention and compliance with all installation rules established in legislative acts. Strict fire safety requirements for gas boiler houses must be strictly observed, and only a responsible attitude can guarantee the safety of people living nearby.

Why is it so important to follow the recommendations of experts and are boiler houses really so dangerous or is it just a myth designed to add hassle to their construction?

Let's look at all the nuances.

Terms and definitions for gas boiler houses

To make it easier for you to understand the essence of the conversation, we will immediately explain what is called and what it is called.

Boiler room - this is a separate room or building, a complex of buildings and structures with technological installations designed for processing and distributing thermal energy obtained from the incoming gas resource.

It is this fuel that is usually chosen most often for providing heat and hot water supply, since it is considered the most environmentally friendly, efficient in terms of efficiency and economical to use

Boiler installations - this is boiler room equipment, which includes a heating unit, in our case a boiler, various devices and mechanisms that allow the production and control of thermal energy (this includes chimneys, ventilation, alarms, various automation, remote sensors, etc.) for the production needs of residential, public buildings and premises for other purposes.

Units for gas boiler houses are almost always automated, which facilitates the process of processing and supplying fuel, compared to solid fuel ones.

Consumer - a subscriber who receives thermal energy in the form of heating or hot water supply, coming from the boiler room premises legally in accordance with the concluded agreement, property rights, and residence.

Central boiler houses — buildings for heating purposes, providing heat supply to several objects.

Decentralized — boiler houses of autonomous type.

OPO - a hazardous production facility.

In addition, according to their purpose, heat supply facilities are divided into:

1. Heating, that is, designed to equip heating, ventilation, air conditioning and hot water structures with thermoenergy.
2. Heating and production - the same as in the first case with the addition of technological support for industrial buildings.
3. Industrial - only for process heating. Used in industry.

Fire safety of boiler houses is a priority in the approval of design documentation for the installation of gas-using appliances.

Any gas boiler house is an object of increased danger, since the gas has explosive and fire hazardous properties if the equipment operation rules are violated

Let's now look at the documentation that regulates the fire safety requirements of buildings.

Fire safety standards for boiler houses

To understand safety rules and regulations, you need to know the laws that will help you avoid unnecessary paperwork and remodeling requirements.

Here are the main ones:

• SNiP 21-01-97* (SP 112.13330.2011) - about fire safety of buildings.
• RF PP No. 1521 dated December 26, 2014 — a list of mandatory standards, including those for gas systems.
• Order of Rosstandart dated October 3, 2011 N 5214 — a list of documents on the basis of which compliance with technical regulations on the safety of gas distribution networks is ensured on a voluntary basis.
• SP 62.13330.2011 - Gas distribution systems.
• SP 42-101-2003 - basic rules for the construction and design of gas distribution systems.
• PP No. 870 — TR for the safety of gas distribution networks.
• SP 402.1325800.2018 — rules for designing gas consumption.
• SP 3 (4, 5, 6, 7, 10).13130 ​​- rules ensuring the protection of fire systems.
• SP 60.13330 2016 - heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
• SP 402.1325800.2018 - “Residential buildings. Rules for the design of gas consumption systems."
• SP 89.13330.2016 - Boiler installations.
• Federal Law No. 123 — “TR on fire safety requirements.”
• PP No. 390— “About the fire safety regime.”
• NPB 105-03.

Of course, there are still a lot of rules and regulations, but these are the basics that will help you properly arrange a boiler room in compliance with all fire safety standards.

Why equip a separate boiler room at home?

When installing a heating system, the home owner is faced with a choice of where the gas-using equipment will be located.

The decision may be determined by aesthetic and design considerations, security issues (in the presence of incapacitated persons at home, as well as children). But in addition, this may be dictated by current equipment power standards

Let's consider the types of location of boiler rooms.

Boiler rooms can be located:

• inside the house - usually provided for at the construction stage of the house, since the constructed building may not have free space suitable for the parameters;
• on a separate foundation as an extension, along a blank wall and maintaining a distance to the nearest door and window of 1 meter without a permanent connection to a residential building;
• freestanding - are located some distance from the main house.

The regulations determine that if the power of gas-using equipment does not exceed 60 kW, it can be place in the kitchen (except for the kitchen-niche), in the kitchen-dining room, other non-residential premises, except for bathrooms and bathrooms.

The minimum combustion volume for 30 kW power is at least 7.5 cubic meters. m. From 60 to 150 kW require the arrangement of a separate room. The minimum room volume is 13.5 cubic meters. m. From 150 to 350 kW. The minimum volume of the room is from 15 cubic meters. m.

A free-standing gas boiler room must be designed before construction or installation. Follow all the rules for its arrangement, otherwise the location of gas-using equipment in it will not be approved

We are talking specifically about individual boiler houses, that is, with equipment power from 60 to 350 kW.

Rules for the arrangement of premises of autonomous boiler rooms

In order not to get confused in a huge number of regulations, when installing an autonomous gas boiler room for your house or apartment, you can use SP 402.1325800.2018.

This document is included in the list of documents approved by the Ministry of Justice for voluntary use, but there are several nuances.

The document of voluntary application does not cancel the obligation to comply with the rules in the absence or incomplete content of an alternative solution. And meanwhile, the application of this Code of Rules ensures sufficient compliance with the technical regulations on the safety of buildings and structures.

Let's consider its main points that will help us in arranging the premises of a heat-generating boiler room in a house or apartment.

So, a separate boiler room designed to provide thermal energy and hot water must be at least 15 cubic meters. meters in area and at least 2.5 m in height when installing a boiler with an open combustion chamber, or 2.2 m with a closed combustion chamber.

The boiler room can be installed in any non-residential, ventilated room that complies with all standards, including in basements/basements, except for bathrooms and bathrooms. At the same time, it is a separate room that is necessary when operating units with a power of 50 kW or more, while the total power of the boilers (if there are 2 of them) should not exceed 100 kW.

In the apartment version, fully assembled boiler appliances with coolant temperature parameters of no more than 95 degrees are used. At the same time, when installing new boiler houses, the combustion chamber must be sealed, and the boiler itself must be equipped with an automatic control and safety system

If you are setting up boiler room in a private house or an apartment, even in a separate room you cannot install more than two heating units or gas tank-type water heaters.

Ventilation should be of a natural type, the exhaust is provided for 3 air changes per hour and the same influx, which also includes the supplied volume of combustion air. To determine the exact parameters, it is necessary to make special calculations. You can read more about ventilation of a gas boiler room Here.

Glazing, and the window opening must be at least 0.03 cubic meters. m from each cube of room volume area or according to GOST R 12.3.047, must be easily resettable.

If you don’t know what it is, take a look at GOST R 56288. That is, it can be polycarbonate, triplex, reinforced glass, and so on. Such a right is established with the justification for relieving pressure during explosions and ensuring the stable position of the building.

The requirements for setting up a separate boiler room in a residential building or apartment, with the exception of gas stoves, which classify the room as a place for cooking, are almost identical to kitchen heat generators

There must be a door that opens outward.

Now about distances. The passports of gas-using equipment contain information and recommendations from manufacturers about the location of their devices and the distance to various structures. It is very important to strictly observe them, but at the same time also count on ease of access to devices for operating, inspecting or repairing them. Moreover, there are several mandatory fire safety standards.

The walls on which double-circuit wall-mounted units are hung must be fireproof, and the equipment itself must be at least 2 cm away from surfaces, including side ones. The distance is ensured by standard fasteners. At the same time, take into account the weight of the boiler equipment so that the wall materials can withstand a load of at least 35-70 kg.

The wall insulation should protrude beyond the appliance by 10 cm on the sides and on top by at least 70 cm, but the height of the location should not impede easy access. And when installed on the floor, the insulating materials must have a fire resistance rating of at least 45 minutes, while the insulation is equipped with a protrusion of at least 10 cm on all sides

If the gas pressure is planned to be above 0.0025 MPa, install in front of boilers and gas boilers stabilizers, which will equalize the gas combustion potentials.

Installation of an alarm system

Design decisions on the safety of buildings from gas contamination can be carried out at the design stage. For this purpose, systems are used with automatic shut-off of the gas supply in blocked houses, with a power of gas-using devices from 50 kW, when boiler rooms are located in basements and on ground floors, in multi-apartment buildings, including built-in or attached heat generators.

To determine the presence of flammable gases in the air, regardless of the type of boiler room, an alarm system is provided that is triggered at 3-20% of the concentration of a dangerous mixture in the air from the lower set limit. As a rule, light and sound signaling devices comply with GOST R EN 50194-1.

The automatic control unit for gas units must shut off the gas supply when:

• stopping the flame burning on the injectors without natural shutdown;
• when the pressure readings on the sensors are exceeded or when their readings are too low - also applies to the coolant;
• if the draft or forced air supply is disrupted;
• when there is a power outage - in the case of electrically dependent boilers;
• boiling (overheating) of the coolant.

The automation unit in gas boilers is very important to comply with fire safety.

The automatic safety unit ensures timely shutdown of gas and flame in the event of disturbances in the operation of gas boilers. It includes, in a minimal version: coolant limit level controller, thermometer, ionization, pressure and draft sensors

There are also rules related to grounding, lightning protection and electrical engineering in general.

Now we will look at them in more detail, because they also increase the fire hazard of gas-using equipment.

Electricity and water supply

Boiler rooms have electrical wiring in one way or another. This includes light supply, boiler automation, piezo ignition, lighting, pumping equipment, and so on. Its arrangement in boiler rooms is carried out in accordance with the Electrical Installation Rules.

It goes without saying that when laying an electrical cable, it is very important to ensure that it runs freely, is accessible for inspection, and does not touch temperature-affected zones.

The socket to which a double-circuit, single-circuit unit or water heater is connected must be grounded in accordance with all the rules and in no case should you throw “earth” onto gas pipes.The distance from the socket to the devices is standardized within 0.5 m so that the equipment can be quickly turned off if necessary

It is imperative to provide for the supply of a water supply system to the equipment to provide a hot water supply system and a water supply circuit.

Ensuring the installation of water supply systems is carried out according to the standards SP 55.13330, SP 54.13330, and SP 30.13330.

Rules for using home boiler rooms

Autonomous boiler installations must be operated in compliance with the rules for using gas-using equipment.

Standard requirements:

• regularly check the functionality of the equipment;
• do not use defective devices;
• do not store flammable liquids near the units;
• keep children away from the equipment;
• carry out annual maintenance of devices with the involvement of specialists from the gas distribution department;
• Do not change or repair heat generators and gas pipelines yourself.

The employee who allows your devices into operation is required to instruct you on the rules of use for your safety.

Fire hazard of industrial premises

With premises of single-family and apartment buildings figured it out. Now let's talk about heat generators for industrial and warehouse purposes. According to Federal Law No. 123 TR on fire safety requirements.

The designation helps determine what and in what cases is necessary to ensure the safety of people and their property in buildings in the event of an emergency. For example, equipping a building with a fire alarm, a fire extinguishing system, the degree of fire resistance of finishing materials, the type of emergency evacuation, and so on.

To determine the degree of explosion/fire hazard of an object, division into classes and categories is used.

According to PP No. 390, a gas boiler house is classified as a hazardous production facility and belongs to category F5. According to the standards, premises of this type are standardized to a fire hazard category from the most dangerous under the letter A to the least dangerous, designated by the letter D:

1. Increased fire/explosion hazard is A.
2. Explosion and fire hazard - B.
3. Fire hazard falls into category B - from B1 to B4.
4. Moderate fire hazard - under the letter G.
5. For a reduced fire hazard, to which it is difficult to classify such a gas installation, the symbol is D.

As a rule, it is difficult to coordinate the design of a gas facility with the D-subclass, so we will consider boiler houses from A to D.

You can't just go ahead and define a specific subclass. To do this, the necessary research and calculations should be carried out with the help of specialists with experience in designing gas-fired heat generators.

The subclass should be calculated based on:

1. Type of fuel used.
2. According to the degree of fire resistance (I, II, III, IV and V).
3. The equipment that is installed indoors.
4. Design features of the boiler room itself (hazard class according to the design of the gas boiler room C0, C1, C2 and C3). Determined by Article 87 of Federal Law No. 123.
5. Characteristics of the processes being carried out.

The subclass is also conditionally determined on the basis of SP 12.13130.2009, NPB 105-03, SP 89.13330.2011, Federal Law No. 123. In principle, it is not necessary to determine which hazard class a particular gas boiler house belongs to, if the task is simply to determine whether it is a hazardous production facility.

The boiler room, in any case, is a gas consumption network. OPO is determined by the following criteria:

• The presence of boilers that are under excess pressure or temperature indicators of the working environment above 115 degrees.
• If the gas boiler house contains gas pipelines with a pressure of 0.005 MPa or more.
• A boiler house is a centralized system or installation that serves socially significant segments of the population.

The fire hazard class according to all criteria is determined by design specialists.

Fire safety of boiler houses

Industrial buildings are subject to special fire safety requirements. First of all, it is individual and compiled according to the definition of the subclass of the premises at the design and instruction stage.

When drawing up projects for gas boiler houses, it is necessary not only to familiarize yourself with the documentation regulating fire safety, but also to consult with specialists. By the way, even mandatory standards can be challenged by developing and approving individual STUs for non-standard cases

But there are also general rules. Fire safety requirements for a specific building are indicated in the design brief; the created project is subject to additional approval.

First of all, it is necessary to have easily removable enclosing structures, the size of which is calculated individually, but it should not be less than 0.05 cubic meters. m for category A and from 0.03 cubic meters. m for category B. The area and thickness of the glazing is determined in accordance with SP 56.13330.

If there is no technical variation in providing glazing, it is possible to arrange a top floor made of aluminum, chrysotile cement and steel sheets, as well as explosion valves.

The fire resistance of walls, as well as other internal structures, is determined according to the classification of the gas boiler room by room category in compliance with fire safety. In any case, these must be non-flammable materials that, in the event of ignition, do not contain toxic aggregates.

Boiler room doors must open outward. And the gas pipeline inlet must be equipped with a solenoid valve. It is necessary to stop the fuel supply when safety sensors are triggered and there is a power outage.

The power supply is arranged according to safety rules that exclude ignition in the event of a short circuit. Be sure to provide emergency lighting, lightning protection in boiler rooms, as well as in residential buildings, grounding

Internal water supply is a prerequisite for compliance with safety regulations. Fire cabinets are placed near shut-off valves and the telephone number of the fire organization, as well as the valve number, must be marked on their doors.

In this case, the fire extinguishing system should be installed in such a way that the jets reach, if necessary, any point in the boiler room.

Features of the work of a boiler room operator

The chief engineer assigned to the boiler room or another authorized person approves the fire safety regulations and appoints a person responsible for fire safety actions, who, in turn, conducts employee briefings, training and classes on fire safety minimums in case of an emergency.

It is mandatory for employees to post the evacuation plan and emergency numbers in visually accessible places.

Boiler room personnel are required to complete special courses for gas heat generator operators and receive a certificate. Without this, it is strictly prohibited to allow employees to work.

Daily visual inspection of gas equipment is required.

Under no circumstances should you:

• attempt to start equipment with faulty burners and fuel supply devices;
• carry out the kindling process when the automatic control and adjustment is not working;
• start units without preliminary purging;
• use the units for purposes other than their intended purpose, for example, drying clothes and so on;
• smoking in a room with increased explosion/fire hazard - a special smoking area is equipped separately;
• work in clothes contaminated with flammable substances;
• ignore disposal of cleaning material;
• store bottles and cylinders with flammable units near the equipment.

And, of course, children and unauthorized persons are prohibited from accessing the equipment.

Fire alarms are required to be installed in such premises.

The signal is transmitted to the equipment by sensors of various types of use through a connected loop. They are located on the ceiling at a distance from the installation site of ventilation and air conditioning systems

The power supply system for the sensors must be uninterrupted. That is, this is a network connection and a UPS.

Fire safety equipment for gas boiler houses

As already mentioned, the locations of the equipment necessary to extinguish fires have special designations.

It is mandatory to have powder, foam or carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, issued according to the operational passport. Sand is stored in metal boxes.

The work uses asbestos fiber, felt and rags, and they should be stored in places protected from fire.

Maintenance and performance testing of boiler equipment in industrial premises is carried out by a specialist with the necessary qualifications

The fire safety kit is contained in special sealed boxes painted red.

Fire safety of production and warehouse premises is ensured by compliance with legislative acts.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Ventilation in a boiler room with a gas boiler:

So, we have determined the fire safety standards for home gas boiler houses, how to find out what hazard class an industrial gas boiler house belongs to and what rules apply in them. Of course, these are only general requirements, but when designing a heat-generating room, it is necessary to study in detail all regulatory documentation.

Perhaps you have skills in designing gas boiler rooms or can supplement our material with valuable information? Please share your experience in the comments. There you can ask questions about the topic of the article.