Memphis City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 156

HEATING; OIL AND GAS

§ 156.001 DEFINITIONS.

For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

ALTER. The addition to, or renewal of, any part of an oil burner or gas burner or its equipment which may change the designed or approved method of functioning.

APPROVED. That which the Mechanical Inspector designates acceptable as a device, apparatus or method which demonstration and/or test has proven workable or safe for its intended use.

APPROVED FUEL OIL BURNER, OIL-BURNING SPACE HEATER or OIL-BURNING HOT WATER HEATER. An oil-burning unit complete with required safety controls, either electrical or mechanical, which has been tested by the enforcing officer or by a testing laboratory and has been found to be in compliance with this code and acceptable for the installation in the city.

AUXILIARY TANK. A tank between the storage tank and the burner delivering oil by gravity or pressure to the fuel oil burner.

BOARD. The Board of Examiners.

BOARD OF APPEALS. The Board of Appeals.

CITY. The City of Memphis, Michigan.

COMMISSIONER. The enforcing officer of the city.

DEPARTMENT. The enforcing agency of the city.

EFFECTIVE CHIMNEY HEIGHT. The vertical distance from the point of entry of the horizontal vent connection to the top of the chimney.

FUEL GAS. Manufactured gas, natural gas or mixtures thereof, as distributed by the local public utility. For gases other than mentioned, see applicable provisions of state regulations governing liquid petroleum gas.

FUEL OIL. Any liquid used as fuel and having a flash point not less than 110°F, as determined by the Pensky-Martin Closed Cup Tester.

FUEL OIL BURNER. Any device including burners, meters, valves and other equipment designed and arranged for the purpose of burning fuel oil for space heating, generating steam or hot water supply purposes.

FUEL OIL DRUM. Any container for the storing of fuel oil, having a capacity of not more than 55 gallons which is not directly or indirectly connected with the fuel oil burner or oil-burning space heater.

GAS BURNER. A device for the final conveyance of the gas or a mixture of gas and air to the combustion zone of a boiler, furnace or other device used in connection with a space heating unit or system.

GAS-FIRED SPACE HEATING EQUIPMENT AND APPURTENANCES. Gas burners, as previously defined, and all piping from the meter to the burner, blowers, control devices and accessories connected to or used in conjunction with the burner.

OIL-BURNING SPACE HEATER. A self-contained space heating device, complete with required safety controls either electrical or mechanical and have a fuel oil storage tank of not over ten gallons capacity attached to the unit by the manufacturer said device shall not be attached to any furnace, boiler or other central heating device having duct work, and shall not be connected to auxiliary fuel oil storage tanks unless all provisions of this chapter pertaining to fuel oil burners are complied with.

OIL-FIRED HOT WATER HEATERS. Oil-fired hot water supply unit.

PORTABLE. Equipment that is not permanently positioned in place by fastening to floors, walls or ceilings with nails, screws, bolts, grout or other recognized means.

STORAGE TANK. Any tank for the storage of fuel oil connected through some approved means of suction or gravity feed directly or indirectly to the fuel oil burner or oil burning space heater.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.002 GAS; INSTALLATIONS.

(A) Gas fitting, gas burner installations and repair work shall be done with the gas turned off.

(B) At least two persons shall work in any situation where the nature of the work is such as to otherwise expose any person or property to danger.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.003 SOURCE OF IGNITION.

(A) No matches, candles or other sources of ignition shall be used when working on piping or equipment filled with gas or in searching for leaks.

(B) Workers or helpers shall not smoke while connecting or disconnecting gas filled piping or equipment nor shall others be permitted to smoke while in the room with or near such work.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.004 ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING.

Artificial lighting for use in connection with searching for leaks or work in gaseous atmospheres shall be restricted to approved electric hand flash lights or other electric lights controlled by switches located outside the gassy area. Every worker shall be equipped with an approved electric hand flash light.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.005 FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS.

(A) Alcohol, gasoline and other flammable liquids, including the liquid which is removed from meters or from drips in gas piping shall be handled with the proper precautions and shall not be left by the worker on the premises of the customer.

(B) Fitter’s torches or furnaces (including blowtorches) shall not be left within the customer’s premises from the end of one working day to the beginning of the next.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.006 REPAIRS.

(A) No worker, unless in the employ of the gas company shall repair, alter or open the service pipe or service extension or set or remove the service meter or do any other work on the parts of the gas supply system up to and including this meter.

(B) Only emp1oyees of the gas company shall be permitted to turn the gas on at a service cock or curb cock or at any other cock which controls the supply of gas to more than one customer.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.007 OPENINGS.

Before turning gas under pressure into any piping, the installer shall assure himself or herself that there are no openings from which gas can escape.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.008 COMPLETED INSTALLATION.

(A) After installation is completed, and before leaving the premises, all air must be blown from piping and appliances and all pilot burners must be lighted and properly adjusted.

(B) When purging pipes supply equipment which has burners enclosed in spaces wherein gas may collect the air shall be blown from an opening outside the enclosure, such as the end of the manifold.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.009 TURNING OFF GAS.

(A) When necessary to turn gas off, a worker shall use the meter cock or a line cock which affects only part of the piping of a single customer.

(B) Before gas is shut off from any line or piping, all users or their responsible representatives whose service is affected shall (except in emergencies) be advised that the gas is to be shut off and instructed to shut off all appliance cocks and not to open any of them again until notified that service has been restored, in accordance with §§ 156.007 and 156.008.

(C) If a meter cock is found shut off, unless the worker himself or herself has shut it off or know that it was shut off by the customer to prevent leakage and the cause of the leakage has been repaired by the worker, he or she shall not turn the gas on.

(D) It shall be the duty of any worker to turn the gas off from any equipment, pipe or piping system and regardless of the wishes of the user thereof, to leave the gas turned off until the cause for interrupting the supply has been removed in any of the following cases:

(1) If ordered to do so by the Department;

(2) If any leakage of gas is noted;

(3) If there is any condition which threatens interruption of gas supply which may cause burner flame to be extinguished or otherwise prove dangerous; and

(4) If an installation is found of some gas-fired equipment such as to cause a serious personal or property hazard.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.010 TURNING ON GAS.

(A) A worker shall not turn gas on at a meter or a line cock if piping, equipment or meters are known to leak or to be defective.

(B) No worker or any other person shall turn gas on at a meter cock or a line cock after the same has been ordered turned off by the Department or the gas company without specific permission from the agency who turned the gas off.

(C) Gas shall not be turned on at either a line cock or a meter cock unless gas burning equipment is connected to the piping system supplied.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.025 PURPOSE.

(A) Except as hereinafter provided, this chapter shall apply to the installation of all fuel burners and gasfired heating equipment, provided, that existing installations may be continued in use without change where such existing installations basically conform to standards of this chapter and present no apparent danger to life or property through the methods of installation or operation and provided further that an installation permit has been previously obtained as required by any ordinance which this chapter supercedes.

(B) The city shall permit contractors engaged in the installation of gas-fired, oil-fired or coal-fired heating equipment legally licensed by other municipalities of the state to engage in the business of installing or contracting to install, alter or service gas-fired, oil-fired or coal-fired heating equipment, parts or accessories thereof, or appurtenances thereto, within the corporate limits of the city upon registration with the Department and the payment of a registration fee, provided, that the municipalities in which such contractors are licensed reciprocate in recognizing gas-fired, oil-fired and coal-fired burner installation contractors duly licensed under the provisions of this chapter by granting them the same privilege and charging the same license and registration fees.

(C) To be eligible for a reciprocal license, a hearing contractor shall obtain his or her license in the municipality wherein the said contractor maintains his or her principal place of business; provided further, that the licensing chapter, examinations and examination procedures of such municipalities are substantially equal to the requirements set forth in this chapter.

(D) No gas-fired, oil-fired or coal-fired burner installation contractors license shall be recognized for the purpose of registration by the city, which has been issued by a municipality which has failed to approve, by affirmative action of its legislative body, the reciprocal licensing provisions contained in this chapter. The right of any municipality to participate in the reciprocating section of this chapter shall be determined by the Board of Examiners of the reciprocating municipalities and based upon qualifications outlined in this chapter.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.026 INSTALLATIONS.

It shall be unlawful in the city for any person, firm, partnership, association or corporation to engage in the business of installing or contracting to install, alter or service any oil-fired or gas-fired heating equipment covered by this chapter, parts or accessories thereof or appurtenances thereto, without first having filed an application with the Department and obtained a license therefore as hereinafter provided.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.027 LICENSES.

(A) Application for a license shall be made on forms furnished for such purpose by the Department.

(B) The application shall contain, in addition to other required information, the following:

(1) Name, age and address (legal and place of business) of applicant;

(2) Qualifications of applicant;

(3) If applicant is a corporation:

(a) Full and accurate corporation name;

(b) When and where incorporated;

(d) Name of officer or regular employee who is to take the examination and his or her qualifications.

(4) If the applicant is a partnership: names and addresses (legal and place of business) of members thereof and the name of the partner or regular employee who is to take the examination and his or her qualifications; and

(5) If the applicant conducts business under a trade or assumed name:

(a) Complete and full trade name;

(b) The name of the person or persons doing business under such trade or assumed name; and

(1) Gas-fired equipment limited to input ratings not exceeding 500,000 B.T.U. per hour, per unit;

(2) Gas-fired equipment with all input ratings (unlimited);

(3) Oil-fired equipment limited to units or burners designed for the use of Nos. 1, 2 and 3 distillates as defined in the U.S. Department of Commerce Commercial Standard CS 12-40, having a maximum fire rate of 30 gallons per hour;

(4) Oil-fired equipment unlimited as to size or capacity of an oil burner and designed for any grade of fuel oil;

(5) Coal-fired equipment limited to input ratings not exceeding 500,000 B.T.U. per hour, per unit;

(6) Coal-fired equipment with all input ratings (unlimited);

(7) Combination of any two limited licenses;

(8) Combination of any two unlimited licenses;

(9) Combination of all limited licenses;

(10) Combination of all unlimited licenses; and

(11) Combination of any limited and unlimited licenses.

(D) Annual license fee for the issuance of gas-fired, oil-fired and coal-fired heating equipment shall be as follows.

(1) The fee shall be $25 for any one, or for any combination of, license classifications. Contractors may secure licenses for additional classifications without any additional license fee, provided they pay the required examination fee and their license is approved by the Board of Examiners;

(2) License registration fee shall be $10 for any one or for any combination of license classifications. Registration of additional license classifications may be made without additional charge.

All licenses and registrations shall expire June 1, following date of issuance.

(E) No license shall be revoked except for cause upon proof of charges filed by the Inspector, specifying with reasonable detail the facts showing carelessness or negligence in the performance of the licensee’s duties in connection with his or her work or showing that such licensee has violated or permitted a violation of this code or that this code has been violated in connection with work for which the licensee was responsible and of which the licensee was aware or, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, should have been aware that such violation has occurred.

(F) Upon the filing of such charges, the governing body may forthwith suspend the license involved, and shall give to such licensee notice of a hearing upon such charges, which hearing shall be held by the governing body not less than 14 days after the date of such notice unless an earlier date is agreed upon in writing by the licensee affected. Such notice shall be by personal service or registered mail forwarded to the last known address and shall state the time and place of such hearing and shall contain a copy of the charges. If such charges are sustained by the governing body, the licensee shall be notified in writing of such revocation.

(G) No person having procured a masters contractor’s license shall permit or allow the use of his or her name by any other five persons, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of obtaining a permit to do any installation, alteration, replacement or repair of gas burner or oil burner equipment in the city.

(H) The Board is hereby authorized to adopt rules and regulations necessary to make effective the provisions of this chapter.

(I) Licenses may be revoked or suspended in accordance with the charter and ordinances of the city relative thereto.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.028 BOARD OF EXAMINERS.

(A) (1) A Board of Examiners, consisting of at least five members, or the number provided for by charter provision, shall be appointed by the governing body to advise the person in charge of the Department on examinations required by this chapter. The members shall be citizens of the United States and residents of the city and shall be qualified in the knowledge of the mechanics of the business.

(2) The five members shall consist of two representing the governing body, two representing the heating business and one citizen at large, who shall be an engineer. Their terms of office to be set by the Commission of the city and any vacancies shall be filled by them. The city may elect to have said examinations conducted by the Board of Examiners for the City of Detroit.

(B) The duties of the Board of Examiners shall be to determine, by examination of such a kind as it may require, the qualifications and ability of applicants for licenses. Such examinations shall consist of oral or written and may include practical tests and shall cover the theory and practice of heating construction and engineering and the interpretation of charts, blueprints and plans for heating installations. The Board shall file with the Department a written report of its findings and recommendations in each case.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.029 BOARD OF APPEALS.

(A) There is hereby created a Board of Appeals, herein after referred to as the Board, which shall consist of the Board of Examiners, hereinbefore referred to; provided, however, that the Inspector shall be disqualified from sitting as a member of the Board or from voting on any and all matters involving the suspension or revocation of any license issued under this code or on any and all matters that are in the nature of an appeal from any ruling or decision made by said Inspector.

(B) The Board is hereby authorized and empowered to do the following:

(1) When it is impossible for a licensee under this code or an owner to obtain the material specified for use in the code because of any national emergency or when it is undesirable to use the materials specified because of improvements, or new discoveries made or when it is impractical or undesirable for a licensee to follow the method or procedure prescribed by this code, the Board, in its discretion, may approve any material proposed as a substitute for those mentioned in the code, or may, in its discretion, approve any method of procedure as a substitute for that herein prescribed and when such approval is given it shall have the force and effect of law;

(2) Hear and conduct appeals from rulings or decisions of the Inspector as specified in this code;

(3) Conduct investigations on any matters pertaining to the effective operation and application of the code to the various matters covered thereby;

(4) Make findings that shall be conclusive on all questions of fact, whether arising from such investigations, appeals or otherwise; and

(5) To make rules and regulations for carrying out the provisions of this chapter.

(C) In the event that any person desires to appeal to the Board from any decision or ruling of the Inspector or any matter under the code, such appeal shall be made in writing and filed with the Secretary of the Board and at the same time such person shall pay a filing fee of $10 to the City Treasurer. If the ruling or decision of the Inspector is not affirmed by the Board, the fee of $10 shall be returned to the person appealing; if such ruling or decision is affirmed, the fee shall be retained by the city. In the event proceedings are instituted before the Board of Appeals for any purpose other than to appeal from the ruling or decision of the Inspector, the filing fee as hereinbefore provided shall not be required. Where giving notice of hearing on an appeal is not otherwise provided for herein, the Secretary of the Board shall give such notice to all the interested parties at least ten days before the date of such hearing, either by personal service or registered mail, and the hearing shall be held at such time and place in the city as shall be therein stated. Proof of service of giving such notice shall be made and filed with the Board of Appeals prior to the hearing.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.030 EXAMINATION OF APPLICANT; FEE.

(A) No license shall be issued to an applicant until he or she has submitted to an examination, or such applicant has a person in his or her regular employ who is actively in charge, who has submitted to the examination; provided, that when a license has been issued to an applicant based on the qualifications of such regular employee and the active services of such employee with the applicant have been terminated, it shall be unlawful for the said licensee to engage in any of the operations covered by this chapter until the said licensee is again qualified in accordance with the provisions thereof.

(B) Examination may be written or oral and may include practical demonstrations and it shall cover the construction, engineering and the interpretation of charts, blueprints and plans of heating installations. The examinations shall be uniform for all reciprocating municipalities.

(C) Every applicant shall, upon making application for a license, pay an examination fee of $10. Any applicant failing to appear for examination or failing to secure a passing grade shall again pay the examination fee before being permitted to again take the examination.

(D) Examinations for a license under this chapter shall be held on the twentieth day of each month except when such is a holiday, in which case it shall be held on the following day. No sessions of the Board of Examiners need be held unless there is at least one applicant for examination. Special sessions of the Board of Examiners may be called by the Chairperson when, in his or her discretion, necessity may require it.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.031 PERMITS.

(A) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, association or corporation to install or alter any oil-fired or gas-fired heating equipment covered by this chapter in the city, except as herein provided, without a permit from the Department. Application for such permit shall be on forms furnished for such purpose by the Department and shall contain sufficient information for a proper description of the burner, equipment and accessories to be installed or altered.

(B) The Department shall issue numbered tags, of a type which will be destroyed upon removal, to licensed oil burner and gas-fired space heating installation contractors and shall keep a record of tags so issued. These tags shall be attached to the fuel oil fill or vent pipe by the contractor upon completion of an oil burner installation or to the fuel line of the gas space heating apparatus at the manually operated shutoff valve by the contractor upon the completion of the gas space heating installation.

(C) Upon issuance of an oil burner or gas burner installation permit, the Department shall inspect the installation and if found to conform with the provisions of this chapter, a permanent metal tag, property numbers shall be affixed by the Inspector.

(D) It shall be unlawful for any owner, occupant, firm, partnership, association or corporation having control or management of any building or structure to use or permit to be used therein any fuel oil burner, oil-burning heater which has been installed or altered subsequent to the effective date of the chapter without a permit as herein provided. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, association or corporation, except authorized personnel of the gas company, to turn on the gas for use in any gas-fired space heating equipment which has been installed or altered in any building or structure subsequent to the effective date of this chapter without the said permit.

(E) No person oa1 persons, firm or corporation shall supply with fuel oil any tanks or containers for fuel oil unless such fuel oil burners and equipment shall have, as herein provided, a tag attached to the fill or vent pipe of such tank or container.

(F) Fees for the issuance of installation or alteration permits for inspections required under the provisions of this chapter shall cover the cost of inspection and supervision resulting from the enforcement of this chapter. The fee shall be $5.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.032 INSPECTIONS.

(A) The Inspector, and his or her authorized assistants, shall have the right, during reasonable hours, to enter any building or premises in the city for the purpose of making any inspections or tests of any fuel oil burner or gas burner, or parts thereof, contained therein.

(B) It shall be the duty of the Inspector or his or her authorized assistants to inspect all fuel oil and gas burning equipment covered by this chapter at the time of its installation and all oil-fired and gas-fired heating equipment installed previously to the enactment of this chapter, which, due to its construction, installation or condition, may be dangerous to life or property.

(C) The Inspector, and his or her authorized assistants, may make such other inspections and tests as are deemed necessary for the purpose of safety and the enforcement of this chapter.

(D) Whenever any fuel oil burner or gas space heating burner, or part thereof, or any accessory thereto, is found to be unsafe or in a condition so as to be dangerous to life or property, the Inspector or his or her authorized assistants are hereby empowered to condemn the unit or the part thereof and no such unit or part thereof, shall thereafter be used until put in a safe condition and approved by the Department.

(E) (1) Whenever any fuel oil burner oil-burning or gas-burning space heater, or part thereof, has been condemned, the Inspector shall place thereon a warning tag listing the causes for the condemnation. It shall be unlawful for any owner, occupant, firm, partnership, association or corporation having control or management of any such unit or part thereof, to use, or permit to be used, such unit or part thereof, until such causes for the condemnation shall have been remedied and the unit, or part thereof, has been put in safe condition and approved as such by the Department.

(2) Licensed contractors will be permitted to place such equipment in operation in accordance with the following procedure:

(a) Correct the cause of condemnation;

(b) Notify this Department by telephone that the hazardous condition has been corrected;

(d) Sign the warning tag with the name of the company holding the contractor’s license, countersigned by the worker responsible for making the corrections and leave the signed warning tag attached.

(F) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the authority of the Fire Department and the Board of Health in making supplementary inspections under these respective safety regulations.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.033 PLUMBING.

The installation, alteration, maintenance, extension or replacement of any plumbing, including domestic water heating equipment, as defined by the plumbing laws of the state, and §§ 154.20 through 154.24 is not permitted to be done by any licensee under this chapter, unless such licensee is also licensed as a master plumber under the plumbing laws of the state and is registered in accordance with the provisions of the said §§ 154.20 through 154.24.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.034 ELECTRIC WIRING.

(A) The electric wiring installed in connection with an oil-fired or gas-fired space heating equipment shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of Ch.155.

(B) Each oil or gas-fired installation shall be provided with a remote control switch capable of disconnecting the electrical supply from the fuel burning equipment located in a place easily accessible, in case of fire, near the equipment. This switch shall be permanently and clearly labeled “BURNER SHUTOFF SWITCH”.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.045 CONSTRUCTION.

The construction, arrangement and manner of installation of all oil burners and oil burner equipment hereafter installed or use in connection with heating systems, and the alteration, replacement or repair hereafter of all oil burners and oil burner equipment used or to be used in connection with heating systems, shall conform to the provisions of this subchapter.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.046 APPROVED BURNERS.

(A) The Department may approve any oil burner listed by the Underwriters Laboratory, or any other nationally recognized inspection board or laboratory. Oil burners not listed by the Underwriters Laboratory, or any other nationally recognized board or laboratory, shall not be approved until they have been inspected and tested by some recognized laboratory capable of making such a test and inspection and the certificate showing such inspection and test shall be forwarded to the Department. This inspection and test shall cover arrangement of parts, suitability of material, strength of parts, electrical control, thermostatic arrangement, reliability of automatic features, positiveness of ignition and safeguards against flooding.

(B) Any person licensed to install, alter, repair or replace oil burners in the city shall install a used burner for use in connection with a heating system only after he or she shall have furnished the Inspector with a statement that said oil burner has been put in first-class operating condition.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.047 BURNER SPECIFICATIONS.

(A) The grade of fuel oil used with any burner shall be one which tests and experience show to be suitable for use with that burner. The oil shall have a flash point not less than 110°F when tested by the Pensky-Martins Closed Cup Testing Method and shall be free from acid, grit and fibrous or other foreign matter likely to clog or injure the burners or valves.

(B) The burner shall be designed to prevent excessive carbonization and shall be securely attached and supported.

(C) Gravity feed shall be used only with burners equipped with approved automatic devices to prevent abnormal discharge of oil in the burner.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.048 CARE AND OPERATION.

(A) Complete instructions in regard to care and operation of the oil-burning equipment shall be posted near the apparatus installed. The instruction sheet so posted shall include the specifications for the gravity and limiting flash point of oil suitable for use in the burner. All cards of instruction must be posted at the time of installation.

(B) In single residences, every oil burner installation shall have near the entrance to the furnace room, and readily accessible for convenient use in emergency, a hand fire extinguisher of at least a quart capacity approved by the National Board of Fire Underwriters for extinguishing combustible oil fires provided, however, that installations of oil-burning equipment in multiple dwellings, commercial establishments of any kind or description where the public congregates or persons are permitted to be present on invitation or otherwise, such installation shall have accessible in the furnace room for immediate and convenient use in emergency, a fire extinguisher of at least two and one-half gallons capacity, approved by the National Board of Fire Underwriters, and which shall be of foam type or its equivalent; provided further, that in case of great hazard or danger to the public, the Chief of the Fire Department, may, in writing, require further or additional fire extinguishing apparatus in order to safeguard public property and life.

(C) The use of acetylene or any other gas possessing a wider range of explosiveness in admixture with air than coal gas or water gas is prohibited for use in the gas pilot of any fuel oil burner.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.049 VENTILATION.

(A) Ventilation shall be provided to prevent the accumulation of any trapped vapors below the combustion chamber. Rooms in which oil-burning equipment is located shall be provided with adequate ventilation to assure continuous complete combustion of the oil.

(B) Name-plate designating the trade-name of the burner, the model or size number and the name and address of the burner manufacturer shall be securely attached to each fuel oil-burner and oil-burning space heater.

(C) No damper shall be permitted in the smoke pipe or chimney from the device heated that may restrict the passage of fumes or gasses by more than 40%. Each oil-fired heating unit covered by this subchapter shall be connected to a chimney flue.

(D) (1) Chimney flues and flue pipes shall freely conduct the flue gases to the outer air. The chimney or flue shall be properly constructed in accordance with the requirements of Ch. 154.

(2) The flue pipe shall not enter the chimney or flue beyond its inner wall and shall be so cemented to the chimney as to prevent infiltration of air. In entering the chimney or flue, the connection shall be made at least six inches above the extreme bottom.

(E) (1) The vent connection shall not be smaller than the size indicated by the vent collar of the appliance when same is oil designed.

(2) The horizontal vent connection shall not be longer than one-half the effective height of the chimney. The vent pipe shall maintain a pitch or rise of one-quarter inch per foot of the horizontal run from the equipment to the flue or chimney.

(3) The vent pipe shall be so installed as to avoid sharp turns or other constructive features which would create excessive resistance to flow of the gaseous products of combustion.

(4) Vent pipes from one or more oil-fired space heating appliances may be interconnected provided that the cross-sectional area of the manifold shall be equal to the sum of the cross-sectional area of the manifold shall be equal to the sum of the cross sectional areas of the vent collar connections of the appliances.

(5) No vent from an oil-fired space heating appliance shall be interconnected with a vent pipe from an appliance burning other fuels or designed for other uses except with the specific approval of the Department.

(6) A vent pipe from an oil-fired heating appliance and vent pipes from other appliances, burning the same or other fuels, may be connected into the same chimney through separate openings located at different levels, provided that the operation of any of the equipment is not adversely affected.

(7) The material used for vent pipes shall be such as to resist the corrosive action of flue gases and condensate.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.050 CONVERSION BURNERS.

In the case of conversion burners, the fuel door of the converted appliance shall be so arranged as to relieve pressure due to puffs or backfire caused by delayed ignition, and shall be provided with an approved self-closing device.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.051 ELECTRIC WIRING.

Electric wiring in connection with oil-burning equipment shall be installed in accordance with the regulations of the National Electric Code and local electrical rules as enforced by the Electrical Department.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.052 MINIMUM CLEARANCE.

(A) The minimum clearance of oil-fired heating units from combustible partitions and materials shall be as set forth in the Michigan Mechanical Code and Building Code, except in the case of equipment especially designed for burning fuel oil and tested and listed for lesser clearances by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.

(B) The clearance to combustible construction may be reduced as specified in the Michigan Mechanical Code and Building Code where the combustible construction is protected.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.053 SMOKE PIPES.

(A) Where metal smoke pipes of 12 inches or less in diameter pass through a wood or plastered stud partition, they shall be surrounded either by a body of brick, hollow tile or other incombustible fireproof material of a thickness of at least four inches around such smoke pipes; or they shall be surrounded by a sheet metal thimble of two concentric rings at least two inches apart and the entire thimble so constructed that there will be a free circulation of air between the two rings forming the same. Smoke pipes of a diameter of six inches or less may have thimbles with one-inch air space.

(B) Where a new smoke pipe is installed, it shall be lock-seamed or riveted, with all joints lapped not less than one and one-half inches and rigidly secured and shall have proper thimble for making tight connection to chimney flue.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.054 OIL-FIRED FLOOR FURNACES.

(A) Oil-fired floor furnaces shall be specifically approved by the Department for services in direct contact with combustible floors in which they may be installed.

(B) Fixed ventilation by means of a duct or grille arranged to supply air from a permanently ventilated attic or underfloor space, shall be provided to any confined space which encloses the floor furnace. The duct or grille shall be screened and have a free area at least twice the free area of the vent collar of the floor furnace or one square inch per 1,000 inch per 1,000 B.T.U. per hour of oil input, whichever is the greater, and shall be installed in such a manner as to ensure proper combustion.

(1) No floor furnace shall be installed in the floor of any aisle or passageway of any auditorium, public hall or place of assembly or in an exit-way from any such room or space.

(2) With the exception of wall-register models, a floor furnace shall not be placed closer than six inches to the nearest wall and wall-register models shall be placed closer than six inches to a corner.

(3) The furnace shall be so placed that a door, drapery or similar object cannot be nearer than 12 inches to any portion of the register of the furnace.

(4) Generally speaking, the more central the location, the better, favoring slightly the sides exposed to the prevailing winter winds.

(5) The floor around the furnace shall be braced and headed with a framework of material not lighter than the joists.

(6) Means shall be provided to support the furnace when the floor grille is removed.

(7) The lowest portion of the floor furnace shall have at least six-inch clearance from the general ground level, except that where the lower six-inch portion of the floor furnace is sealed by the manufacturer to prevent entrance of water, the clearance may be reduced to not less than two inches. When these clearances are not present, the ground below and to the side shall be excavated to form a “basin-like” under the furnace so that the required clearance is provided beneath the portion of the furnace. A 12-inch clearance shall be provided on all sides except the control side which should have an 18 inch clearance.

(8) Provisions shall be made for an access door to the floor furnace by means of an opening in the foundation wall of at least 18 by 24 inches and a trap door of at least 24 inches by 24 inches, located at some convenient point, and a clear and unobstructed passageway to the floor furnace of at least 18 inches high by 24 inches wide.

(9) Whenever the excavation exceeds 12 inches or water seepage is likely, a pit made of concrete, water-proof, not less than three and three-quarters inches thick and extending four inches above grade level shall be used. The pit shall be not less than six feet by six feet inside dimension, with at least two and one-half foot clearance on the control side and clearance on all other sides not less than six inches.

(10) Floor furnaces shall be protected, where necessary, against severe wind conditions.

(11) Listed oil floor furnaces may be installed in an upper floor provided the furnace assembly projects below into a utility room, closet, garage or similar nonhabitable space. In such installations, the floor furnace shall be enclosed completely (entirely separated from the nonhabitable space) with means for air intake to meet the provisions of this section, with access facilities for servicing on the control side, with minimum furnace clearance of six inches to all sides and bottom, and with the enclosure constructed of Portland Cement plaster on metal lath or material of equal fire resistance.

(12) Registers shall not be covered with combustible materials and the floor immediately surrounding the furnace shall be reasonably level.

(13) All floor furnaces, including those having single or dual wall register outlets, shall be installed as approved without alterations, extensions or changes of any kind in the furnace.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.055 PIPES AND JOINTS.

(A) Standard full weight wrought iron, galvanized iron, steel or brass pipe or approved brass or copper tubing shall be used throughout. Underground piping shall be galvanized or equivalent.

(B) Pipe used in the installation of the domestic type burners shall not be smaller than three-eighth inch iron pipe size; pipe used in the installation of industrial type burners shall not be smaller than one-half inch iron pipe size. Suction lines for equipment burning grades No. 5 and 6 oil shall not be less than one and one-half iron pipe size to within 30 inches of the pump or burner. Copper or brass tubing used in the installation of domestic type burners where the oil flows by gravity from the tank to the burners shall not be smaller in size than three-eights inch outside diameter, forty-nine-thousandths inch wall thickness tubing. For industrial type burners, such copper or brass tubing shall not be smaller in size than the equivalent of the iron pipe size mentioned above with wall thickness not less than forty-nine-thousandths inch.

(C) Piping shall be rigidly secured in place and protected from injury in a workerlike manner and where necessary, shall be protected against corrosion. Where practicable, oil piping shall be buried underground or in a concrete floor or placed in a metal-covered pipe trench.

(D) Unions shall be ground type conical seating with faces of metal. Flanged or packed joints shall not be used. Compression fittings shall not be permitted for joints made on copper tubing.

(E) Valves shall be constructed so that the stem cannot be withdrawn by continual operation of hand wheel. The packing gland shall be provided with a separate shouldered unheaded follower having a beveled contact space for the compression of the packing.

(F) All threaded joints shall be made with lethargy and glycerine shellac, or other approved compound, free from leaks and made up so as to form an adequate joint.

(G) Proper allowance shall be made for expansion, contraction, jarring and vibration. Pipe lines, other than tubing, connected to underground tanks, except fill lines and test wells, shall be provided with double swing joints arranged to permit the tank to settle without impairing the efficiency of the pipe connections.

(H) Oil supply lines to burners shall be provided with approved strainers.

(I) Gas pilot supply piping shall be provided with an approved shutoff valve and with an approved properly vented gas pressure regulator.

(J) Fused valves of approved type shall be installed in oil supply lines at each tank and within six inches of each burner. In the case of underground tanks, the fused valve shall be located at the highest point visible in the suction line.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.056 OIL STORAGE TANKS.

(A) Oil storage tanks on the inside of any building, shall be located in the lowest story, cellar or basement. Total above-ground storage either inside or outside of any building, on any premises shall be limited to 550 gallons but not more than 275 gallons shall be permitted in any one storage tank. On multiple tank installations, approved type check valves shall be provided to prevent cross flow between tanks. Design of check valves that are acceptable will include ball check valves, vertical life check valves and swing check valves that when in a closed position the angle shall be no less than for 45 degrees from the vertical. The fill-pipe on multiple installations shall be so arranged that both tanks will fill equally and the vent pipe shall extend well above cross connections between tanks to prevent air binding when filling, and shall meet the requirements of this section.

(B) Tanks shall be constructed of galvanized iron or basis open hearth steel or wrought iron, not less than 14 gauge or other material of equal strength and durability. All joints shall be welded or riveted. The tanks shall be reinforced with a welded or riveted pad or flange where connections are made. All tanks shall be made tight and tested at five pounds air pressure and with soapy water without showing leaks.

(C) Tanks shall have rigid and incombustible support and shall not be located less than five feet, measured horizontally, from any fire or flame and shall be placed on an incombustible floor.

(D) Each tank shall be provided with an approved type gauging device so that the fuel oil content of the tank may be determined at all times. Glass gauging devices or any others, the breaking or derangements of which would permit the escape of oil, shall not be used.

(E) Fuel oil should not be forced from storage tanks by positive air pressure.

(F) Underground tanks and storage tanks inside buildings shall be filled only through fill pipes terminating outside of buildings at a point at least two feet from any building opening at the same or lower level. Fill terminal shall be closed tight, when not in use, by a metal cover designed to prevent tampering. The fill pipe for such tank or tanks shall be iron or steel not less than one and one-half inches in diameter.

(G) All storage tanks for fuel oil shall be provided with a vent pipe not less than one-half the diameter of the fill pipe opening and in no case less than one and one-quarter inch iron pipe size in diameter.

(H) (1) The vent pipe shall be directly connected into the top of the tank and shall not be interconnected with lines used for other purposes. It shall not extend more than one inch inside the top of the tank.

(2) Vent pipes shall terminate outside of building, at least eight feet above grade, securely supported, at least 18 inches above the tank fill connection and at least two feet measured horizontally or vertically building from any building opening. The vent opening shall be protected by a return bend, hood or other fitting protected with an eight by eight corrosion-resisting screen to minimize the entry of foreign matter.

(3) Vent pipes shall maintain a pitch downward toward the tank of at least one-quarter inch per horizontal foot to prevent pocketing of liquid.

(4) The vent pipe from 275-gallon tanks may be connected to one upright, provided that they be connected to a point at least three inches above the lowest horizontal run of fill pipes.

(5) Vent pipes shall not be cross-connected with fill pipes or return lines from burners.

(6) Fill and vent pipes shall not be run through windows or coal chutes unless such openings are totally enclosed with non-combustible materials.

(I) (1) Except as otherwise permitted in this chapter, the storage of fuel oil in excess of 550 gallons shall be outside of any building in underground tanks.

(2) Tanks located underground shall be placed in a position so that the top of the tank is at least two feet below the surface of the ground and below the level of the lowest pipe leading into the building, provided, that tanks under driveways shall be protected by suitable reinforced concrete slabs. Tanks may be buried 16 inches below grade, with a cover of one foot of earth and a reinforced concrete slab of not less than four inches of thickness. The slab shall be set on a firm, well tamped earth foundation and shall extend at least one foot beyond the tank in all directions.

(3) Tanks may be permitted underneath a building if buried at least two feet below the lowest floor or may be placed l6 inches below the lowest floor and covered with 12 inches of earth and four inches of enforced concrete.

(4) Where it is impracticable to bury tanks, the Department may allow them to be installed inside a building when completely encased in six inches of reinforced concrete and six inches of sand. Access openings in the top of such enclosures may be permitted upon specific approval of the Department. Storage in such installations shall not exceed 5,000 gallons for any one premise.

(J) Underground tanks shall not be located within two feet of a private property line or a basement or pit lower than the top of such tanks, unless such tanks are completely encased in six inches of concrete of a one, three and five mixture.

(K) Underground tanks shall be set on a firm foundation supported so that bearing stresses are uniformly distributed and surrounded with clean sand, well tamped into place. Where necessary to prevent floating, they shall be securely anchored or weighted.

(L) Measuring devices on tanks beneath buildings and previously described encased tanks shall be of an approved wall gauge type. Gauge stick openings located inside any building are expressly prohibited.

(M) Tanks underground and vaulted tanks shall be provided with a clean-out connection, which shall be not less than three-quarter inch pipe, extending within one and one-half inches from the bottom of the tank to outside the building. This connection shall be properly capped.

(N) (1) Gravity feed shall be used only with burners arranged to prevent abnormal discharge of oil at the burner by automatic means specifically approved for the burner with which it is used.

(2) Gravity flow of fuel oil from tank to burner is permitted when each tank does not exceed 275-gallon capacity. Tanks of larger capacity, where permitted, shall discharge oil by suction through top of tank.

(O) Storage and auxiliary tanks shall be securely supported by substantial incombustible supports to prevent settling or sliding.

(P) Where a pump is installed between the storage tank and an auxiliary tank, means shall be provided so as to return any surplus oil to the storage tank or other approved means shall be provided to prevent overflow of the auxiliary tank.

(Q) Fuel oil drums as hereinbefore defined shall be of metal of not less than 18 gauge and shall be equipped with a suitable hand pump or approved self-closing faucet. Said fuel oil drums may be stored in any garage or building on the ground floor only. Fuel oil storage for use with oil-burning space heaters shall be limited to two 55-gallon drums inside of any buildings or not more than one 275-gallon tank outside of any building, where properly vented and provided with a hand pump. The use of faucets on drums or tanks stored inside of buildings is prohibited.

(R) (1) The metal used in all tanks shall be of a minimum gauge U.S. Standard, depending upon the capacity or size as given in the following table:

Capacity	Thickness of Material
1 to 285 gallons	12 gauge
286 to 560 gallons	12 gauge
561 to 1,100 gallons	10 gauge
1,101 to 4,000 gallons	7 gauge
4,001 to 12,000 gallons	1/4 in.
12,001 to 20,000 gallons	5/16 in.
20,001 to 30,000 gallons	3/8 in.

(2) All such tanks shall be welded or riveted and shall be heavily coated outside with asphaltum or other rust-resisting material. All tanks and underground piping attached thereto shall be tested for leakage and shall be tight at five pounds air pressure. All tanks having a capacity in excess of 275 gallons and all tanks for underground installation shall bear the Underwriters label.

(T) For fuel oil heavier than 35 degrees A.P. I. tanks may be made of concrete, in accordance with the standards of the National Board of Fire Underwriters for the construction of concrete fuel oil storage tanks as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association, with special permission of the Department.

(U) Fuel oil return lines shall be provided with a check return line extending below the top of the tank.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.057 PREHEATING OF OIL.

Preheating of oil, where necessary, shall be done by steam, hot water or approved electric heaters. Heaters shall be substantially constructed with all joints made oil tight. Thermometer shall be installed at suitable locations to indicate the temperature of the heated oil. Heaters shall be by-passed or provided with suitable means to prevent abnormal pressure. Positive means must be provided to prevent introduction of oil or other liquid harmful to boiler operations into the boiler.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.058 OIL BURNERS.

(A) (1) Oil burners shall be securely installed in a worker-like manner, in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer, by qualified mechanics experienced in making such installations.

(2) Where oil burners are installed in furnaces originally designed for solid fuel, the ash door of the furnace shall be removed or bottom ventilation otherwise provided to prevent the accumulation of vapors in the ash pit, unless the burner is of a type which mechanically purges the ash pit.

(B) Boilers and furnaces in which oil burners are installed shall be connected to flues having sufficient draft at all times to assure safe operation of the burner. Smoke pipe dampers, if any, shall be removed or locked in the desired position. All check drafts must be closed at all times.

(C) Contractors installing industrial oil burner systems shall furnish diagrams showing the main oil lines and controlling valves, one of which shall be posted near the oil burner equipment and another at some point which will be accessible in the case of fire at the burners.

(D) Immediately upon the installation of the tanks and concealed piping of an oil burner installation, the installer thereof shall notify the Inspector that said tanks and piping are ready for inspection by registering the number of the permit and the location of the work in the inspection register book kept for that purpose in the office of the Inspector, and it shall be unlawful for any person to cover up any such tanks or piping until the same shall have been inspected and approved by said Inspector.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.059 ABANDONED FUEL TANKS.

Abandoned fuel oil tanks shall be removed; except that such tanks may be allowed to remain, provided that all fuel oil is removed from the tank, the gravity draw-off is securely capped or plugged at the tank, the fill pipe is plugged or capped inside the building, with the section extending outside the building removed, and the vent pipe is not altered. Abandoned outside fuel oil tanks shall be completely filled with water.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.060 FUEL OIL BURNERS AND SPACE HEATER CONTROLS.

(A) (1) All fuel oil burners subject to automatic ignition shall be provided with a permanent approved automatic device so designed that oil, upon entering the combustion chamber shall be immediately ignited or the oil supply shall be immediately shut off.

(2) All fuel oil burners used with warm air, hot water or steam heating systems shall be provided with an approved warm-air limit control, hot water limit control or pressure limit control and low water cut off, respectively to automatically shut off the burner when safe limits of temperature and/or pressure are exceeded; except that this requirement shall not be required for warm air space heaters.

(B) Gravity fed space heaters and hot water heaters shall be provided with a constant level safety float valve or other approved device to prevent flooding of burner due to ignition failure or any other cause.

(D) Electrically operated controls shall be so designed that failure of electric current will cause burners to be shut off and, in case of pot type burners, will place burners on low-flame operation.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.075 GAS BURNER INSTALLATIONS.

(A) The construction, arrangement and manner of installation of all gas burners and gas burner equipment hereafter installed for use in connection with heating systems, and the alternation and repair hereafter of all gas burners and gas burner equipment used or to be used in connection with heating systems, shall conform to the provisions of this subchapter.

(B) With the enactment of this subchapter, a list of gas-fired burners and equipment shall be maintained by this Department which, through the arrangement of parts, suitability of materials, strength of parts, electric or other controls, thermostatic arrangement, reliability of automatic features, positiveness of ignition and possibility of explosion, have been found by test or acceptable proof from the American Gas Association or other nationally recognized laboratory, to be acceptable under the provisions of this subchapter.

(C) It shall be unlawful for any person, licensed to install, alter, repair or replace gas burners within the city, to install any used gas burner or for the Inspector to issue any permit authorizing him or her to do so, until said licensee shall have first submitted with his or her application for such permit a copy of the purchase order describing the used burner that is to be installed and a statement by the purchaser acknowledging that to be the case, together with a statement by said licensee that said burner has been properly reconditioned and will comply in every way with code requirements for new equipment as to operation, safety standards and adjustments.

(D) No gas burner shall be installed in a room in which the facilities for ventilation do not permit the proper combustion of gas.

(E) The gas cock or shutoff for a gas burner shall be easily accessible.

(F) On conversion burner installations, the gas supply cock shall be located approximately five feet above the floor and approximately two feet to the rear of the face of the furnace where practicable.

(G) (1) When air or oxygen under pressure is used in connection with any gas supply, effective means shall be provided to prevent the air or oxygen from going back into the gas piping.

(2) Power burners (gas-air mixture furnished by a power blower) shall be equipped with an interlock control that will shut off the gas supply to the burner in the event of failure of the air supply to the burner (controls actuated by failure of power supply to the blower motor do not meet this requirement).

(3) All gas burners shall be located so that they will be readily accessible for operation, repair and adjustment and for maximum safety.

(4) Gas burners shall be installed so that their continued operation will not raise the temperature of surrounding combustible materials or construction more than 90°F above normal room temperature.

(H) Equipment with closed bases, in which no provision is made for the circulation of air below the burner boxes or combustion chambers shall be properly insulated from combustible floors.

(I) The minimum clearance of gas-fired heating units from combustible partitions and materials shall be as set forth in the Michigan Mechanical Code and Building Code except, in the case of equipment especially designed for burning gas and tested and listed for lesser clearance by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.

(J) The clearance to combustible construction may be reduced as specified in the Michigan Mechanical Code and Building Code where the combustible construction is protected.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see 156.999

§ 156.076 GAS PIPING, VALVES AND FITTINGS.

(A) (1) Standard full weight wrought iron or steel pipe, free from defects, shall be used in conveying gas inside of buildings.

(2) Approved seamless drawn well annealed copper, brass or other approved non-ferrous tubing with approved fittings may be used for permanent connections to stationary gas burners, but no soldered joints shall be used. All fittings for wrought iron or steel j pipe (except stop-cocks or valves) shall be of best quality malleable iron or steel. Threads shall be in accordance with the American Pipe Thread Standard.

(3) Where necessary, due to corrosive conditions, piping shall be suitably coated.

(4) Defects in pipe or fittings having been located, the defective pipe or fittings shall be removed and replaced with perfect material.

(5) No second hand pipe or fittings shall be used.

(B) (1) Piping shall be installed so that it is subject to no unnecessary strain and shall be securely and rigidly fastened.

(2) When in running pipe, it is necessary to cross wood joists of beams, the joists or beams shall not be notched, except by special permission of the Department.

(3) All horizontal piping shall be graded not less than one-quarter inch to 15 feet to prevent traps and shall drain to the risers and from the risers to the meter unless the framing of the structure prevents such. However, this does not permit violation of division (B)(2) above.

(C) (1) A drip, in which liquid condensate may collect and be removed shall be provided at any point in the line of pipe where condensate would collect.

(2) Drips shall not be located where the condensate will be subjected to temperatures below 32°F.

(3) Drips shall be installed only in such locations that the outlet of the drip will be readily accessible for emptying and cleaning.

(4) The size of any drip used shall be determined by the capacity and exposure of the piping which drains to it.

(D) The lower end of a vertical supply line, if accessible, shall be equipped with a tee (or cross) having a full-sized, plugged opening looking down to permit access for removing stoppages.

(E) All branches shall be taken from the top or side of horizontal piping.

(F) The installation of piping in relation to electric j wiring shall be in accordance with Ch. 154.

(G) Each outlet shall be securely closed gastight with a threaded iron plug or cap immediately after installation and shall be left so closed until an appliance is installed thereupon. In no case shall the outlet be closed with lead caps or lead plugs.

(H) When a gas burner is removed from an outlet, the outlet shall be securely closed gastight with a threaded iron plug or cap.

(J) Gas for space heating units shall be supplied by an independent gas line of sufficient size, direct from the meter, to furnish adequate supply to the burners without excessive pressure drop.

(K) (1) Gas piping may be concealed in walls, ceiling or floors only after inspection and approval by the Department (before gas is turned on).

(2) All gas piping which is to be concealed for more than one foot of its length shall be tested in the presence of an Inspector with a five pound air pressure and joints and seams shall be checked with soap and water. Piping shall hold this five pound pressure without dropping pressure for 15 minutes.

(3) No gas piping shall be installed in chimneys, flues, ventilating shafts or ducts and elevator shafts.

(4) Unions, running threads, right and left couplings, bushings and swing joints made of a combination of fittings shall not be concealed.

(5) Piping in solid floors such as concrete shall be laid in channels in the floor, suitable covered to permit access to the piping with a minimum of damage to the building. Piping in contact with earth or other material which may corrode shall be protected against corrosion in an approved manner.

(6) Piping shall not be laid in cinders.

(7) Only ground joint unions, or other approved fittings, shall be used in gas piping.

(L) (1) Valves and cocks used in connection with gas piping shall be of types approved for such use.

(2) Valves and cocks shall be of such design as to clearly indicate the “on” and “off” positions or directions of rotation to “open” and “close”.

(3) Valves shall be constructed so that the stems cannot be withdrawn by continuous operation of the hand wheel.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.077 GAS BURNERS; DEVICES.

(A) (1) Gas burners and devices, attachments or accessories to gas burners, which can in any way affect combustion or safety, shall not be installed until they have been inspected, tested and approved by the Department.

(2) This inspection and test shall cover arrangement of parts, suitability of material, strength of parts, electrical control, thermostatic arrangement, reliability of automatic features and positiveness of ignition.

(3) Any combination of gas burners, attachments or devices used together in any manner shall meet the requirements which apply to individual pieces of equipment.

(4) All gas burners, devices, attachments and accessories covered by this section shall bear the manufacturer’s identification marking.

(5) No devices or attachment shall be installed on any gas burner which may in any way impair the combustion of the gas.

(6) No devices employing or depending upon an electrical current shall be used if of such character that failure of the electrical current could result in the escape of unburned gas or in failure to reduce the supply of gas under conditions which would normally result in its reduction unless other means are provided to prevent the development of dangerous temperatures, pressures or the escape of gas. Only approved devices and controls may be used.

(B) (1) Electrically operated safety devices shall not depend upon the closing of a circuit to shut off the main gas supply. This requirement shall not be construed as prohibiting the use of electrical regulated devices provided the required safety devices are also installed.

(2) All electrical work and equipment of the system shall be in accordance with the requirements of Ch. 154.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955) Penalty, see § 156.999

§ 156.078 GAS BOILERS AND FURNACES.

(A) (1) Gas-fired floor furnaces shall be specifically approved by the Department for services in direct contact with combustible floors in which they may be installed.

(2) A separate manual shutoff valve shall be provided ahead of all controls and a union connection shall be provided downstream from this valve to permit removal of the controls of the floor furnace.

(3) Fixed ventilation by means of a duct or grille arranged to supply air from a permanently ventilated attic or underfloor space shall be provided to any confined space which encloses the floor furnace. The duct or grille shall be screened and have a free area at least twice the free area of the vent collar of the floor furnace or one square inch per 1,000 B.T.U. per hour of gas input, whichever is the greater, and shall be installed in such a manner as to ensure proper combustion.

(4) The following are requirements that will serve in properly placing the furnace or furnaces to serve one story.

(a) No floor furnace shall be installed in the floor or any aisle or passageway of any auditorium, public hall or place of assembly or in an exitway from any such room or space.

(b) With the exception of wall register models, a floor furnace shall not be placed closer than six inches to the nearest wall and wall-register models shall not be placed closer than six inches to a corner.

(c) The furnace shall be so placed that a door drapery or similar object cannot be nearer than 12 inches to any portion of the register of the furnace.

(5) Generally speaking, the more central the location, the better, favoring slightly the sides exposed to the prevailing winter winds. The floor around the furnace shall be braced and headed with a framework of material not lighter than the joists.

(B) Means shall be provided to support the furnace when the floor grille is removed.

(C) (1) The lowest portion of the floor furnace shall have at least a six-inch clearance from the general ground level except that where the lower six-inch portion of the floor furnace is sealed by the manufacturer to prevent entrance of water, the clearance may be reduced to not less than two inches.

(2) When these clearances are not present, the ground below and to the sides shall be excavated to form a “basin-like” pit under the lowest portion of the furnace. A 12-inch clearance shall be provided on all sides except the control side, which shall have an 18-inch clearance.

(D) Provision shall be made for an access door to the floor furnace by means of an opening in the foundation wall of at least 18 by 24 inches and a trap door of at least 24 inches by 24 inches, located at some convenient point and a clear and unobstructed passageway to the floor furnace of at least 18 inches high by 24 inches wide.

(E) Whenever the excavation exceeds 12 inches or water seepage is likely, a pit made of concrete, waterproof, not less than three and three fourths inches thick and extending four inches above grade level shall be used. The pit shall be not less than six feet by six feet inside dimension, with at least five and one-half foot clearance on the control side and clearance on all other sides not less than six inches.

(F) Floor furnaces shall be protected, where necessary against severe wind conditions.

(G) Listed gas floor furnaces may be installed in an upper floor provided the furnace assembly projects below into a utility room, closet, garage or similar nonhabitable space. In such installations, the floor furnace shall be enclosed completely (entirely separated from the nonhabitable space) with means for air intake to meet the provisions of this section, with access facilities for servicing on the control side, with minimum furnace clearance of six inches to all sides and bottom and with the enclosure constructed of Portland cement plaster on metal lath or material of equal fire resistance.

(H) (1) No gas-fired boilers, furnaces or other devices for space heating a building or buildings shall be installed and no boiler or furnace designed for other fuels shall be converted to the use of gas unless the following regulations are complied with.

(2) Either an automatic safety pilot, so constructed and adjusted that no gas can flow through the main burner unless the pilot is burning, or some other approved type of safety device serving this same end, shall be employed.

(3) Pilot burners shall be supported in such manner that their position relative to the main burner or shall be fixed.

(4) Pilot burner shall be so positioned as to be safely lighted and readily accessible for inspection, cleaning or replacement.

(5) Automatic safety pilots of gas burners having an hourly input of less than 400,000 B.T.U. shall be so adjusted that the main gas supply will be shut off within three minutes after the pilot flame has been extinguished.

(6) Gas burners having an hourly input of 400,000 B.T.U. or more shall be provided with a flame rod or other approved instantaneous type safety pilot which will shut off the main gas supply within ten seconds of pilot flame failure; except that safety pilot, which shuts off the main gas supply gas designed sectional cast iron boilers, will be accepted when provided with approved flame failure.

(7) Pilot flames shall be so adjusted as to effectively ignite the gas in the main burner or burners shall be adequately protected from drafts and shall not become extinguished when the main burner or burners are turned on or off in normal manner.

(8) All pilots shall be go adjusted as to prevent carbon deposits.

(9) All warm air furnaces shall be equipped with an approved high temperature limit device and set not to exceed 200°F for mechanical air distribution. All hot water boilers shall be equipped with an approved high water temperature limiting device and the boilers shall be equipped with approved pressure limiting devices and approved low-water and steam boilers shall be set so as not to exceed the limitations as specified by the regulations of the American Society of Engineers. These limiting devices shall be in addition to operating controls.

(I) (1) An approved gas pressure regulator of sufficient size shall be installed in the gas line leading to the gas burner. An additional approved adjustable gas pressure regulator shall be installed in the gas pilot supply line.

(2) All gas pressure regulators or diaphram control valves, used with the space heating equipment shall be vented to a constant burning pilot so that any gas leaking to the atmospheric side of the regulator or control valves will be carried to and ignited by the pilot or an approved venting device shall be used.

(3) On burners where no constant burning pilot is provided, the gas pressure regulator or diaphragm control valve shall be vented to the smoke pipe on the chimney side of the draft diverter or directly to the outside atmosphere.

(J) (1) An approved manual main shutoff valve shall be provided ahead of all control and a union connection shall be provided downstream from this valve to permit, removal of the controls or equipment.

(2) A pilot supply line shall be installed on the supply side of an approved main burner shutoff device through an approved fitting and shall be equipped with a shutoff valve and an adjustable pilot gas pressure regulator.

(3) Drilling and tapping the fuel line for the purpose of connecting a pilot gas supply line is prohibited.

(K) (1) All gas burners shall consist of factory assembled and tested units.

(2) Gas burner units shall be so installed or attached as to prevent twisting, sliding or dropping out of the intended correct position.

(3) Burners shall be so installed as to be readily accessible for inspection and cleaning and no part of the flames shall impinge so as to cause incomplete combustion. No baffles shall be applied which will interfere with proper combustion.

(4) Air shutters shall be adjusted to produce a good flame at the prevailing gas pressure.

(5) Secondary air openings shall provide sufficient area to supply an adequate amount of air for complete combustion and, if automatically controlled, the construction shall be such that, in case the control fails in any way, either the gas will be shut off or the secondary air door will remain open.

(6) The flames from constant burning pilots and burners shall freely ignite the gas from adjacent burners when operating at prevailing gas pressure and when the main control valve is regulated to deliver about one-third the full gas rate.

(7) Burners shall not expel gas through air openings in mixer faces when operating at prevailing pressures.

(L) The combustion chamber, and all of its passages, shall be gastight.

(M) The fuel door of a converted appliance shall be arranged to relieve pressure due to puffs or backfire caused by delayed ignition or other causes and shall be provided with an approved self-closing device.

(N) Every gas-fired boiler, furnace or other space heating device shall be effectively vented to the outside atmosphere.

(O) Where dampers are an integral part of the equipment, they shall be removed or permanently secured in the wide-open position, except such dampers as may be used to alter the passage of flue passes through the equipment, which will be located in such a position as not to interfere with the safe operation of the burner.

(P) (1) Every gas-fired boiler, furnace or other non-portable space heating device shall be connected to a flue.

(2) In case of conversion burners, the section of the vent pipe between the outlet of the equipment and the chimney shall be full size as the flue collar of the appliance and in no case less than one square inch per 6,500 B.T.U. hourly input. Where the outlet from the equipment is larger than the above indicated size, an orifice plate or other approved restricted section may be inserted.

(3) No adjustable dampers in the flue pipe shall be permitted.

(4) A draft hood or diverter of approved design or its approved equivalent shall be placed in and made a part of the flue pipe from the equipment or in the equipment itself. Such device shall be designed to ensure the ready escape of the products of combustion in the event of no draft, back draft or stoppage beyond the equipment, prevent a back draft from entering the equipment and neutralize the effect of stack action of the flue on the operation of the burner and shall otherwise comply with the requirements hereinafter specified for such devices and their installation.

(5) The draft hood or diverter shall be located at a point not lower than the top of the highest flue passage.

(Q) The draft hood or diverter shall be located at least one foot higher than the top of the highest flue passage for equipment of the revertible(down draft furnace) flue type and all boilers or furnaces of this type not specifically designed for the use of gas fuel shall be so altered or equipped as to prevent accumulation of gas in any part thereof.

(Ord. 19, passed 1-7-1955)

§ 156.999 PENALTY.

Any person, persons, partnership, association or corporation or any one acting in behalf of said person, persons, firm, partnership, association or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall upon conviction thereof be subject to a fine of not more than $100 or to imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than 90 days or to both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court. Each day that a violation of this chapter is continued or permitted to exist without compliance shall constitute a separate offense punishable upon conviction in the manner prescribed, in this section.