Fire safety requirements for gas boiler houses: rules for arranging premises for gas equipment

Gas boiler houses, both for domestic and centralized purposes, refer to objects that increased attention and observance of all the rules of arrangement established in the legislative acts. Strict fire safety requirements for gas boiler houses must be strictly observed and only a responsible attitude can become a guarantor of the safety of people living nearby.

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

Let's figure out all the nuances.

Terms and definitions for gas boilers

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

Boiler room Is a separate room or building, a complex of buildings and structures with technological installations, intended for the processing and distribution of heat energy obtained from the incoming gas resource.

Boiler plants - this is the equipment of the boiler house, which includes a heating unit, in our case a boiler, various devices and mechanisms that allow to carry out and control the production of heat energy (this includes chimneys, ventilation, alarms, various automation, remote sensors, etc.) for the production needs of residential, public buildings and other premises destination.

Units for gas boiler houses are almost always automated, which facilitates the process of processing and supplying fuel, in comparison with solid fuel.

Consumer - a subscriber receiving heat energy in the form of heating or hot water supply, coming from the boiler room legally in accordance with the concluded agreement, ownership, residence.

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

Decentralized - boiler houses of autonomous type.

OBO - hazardous production facility.

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

1. Heating, that is, designed to equip heating, ventilation, air conditioning and hot water supply structures with thermal energy.
2. Heating and production facilities are 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 project documentation for the arrangement of gas-using devices.

Let's now deal with the documentation that regulates the requirements for fire safety of buildings.

Boiler house fire safety standards

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

Here are the main ones:

• SNiP 21-01-97 * (SP 112.13330.2011) - about fire safety of buildings.
• PP RF No. 1521 of December 26, 2014 - a list of mandatory standards, including those for gas systems.
• Rosstandart order of 03.10.2011 N 5214 - a list of documents on the basis of which, on a voluntary basis, compliance with the TR on the safety of gas distribution networks is ensured.
• 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 safety of gas distribution networks.
• SP 402.1325800.2018 - gas consumption design rules.
• SP 3 (4, 5, 6, 7, 10) .13130 ​​- rules to ensure the protection of fire systems.
• SP 60.13330 2016 - heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
• SP 402.1325800.2018 - “The buildings are residential. Gas Consumption Systems Design Rules ”.
• SP 89.13330.2016: Boiler plants.
• ФЗ №123 - "TR on fire safety requirements".
• PP No. 390- "On the fire-fighting regime."
• NPB 105-03.

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

Why equip a separate boiler room at home?

When arranging the heating system, the owner of the house faces a choice of where the gas-using equipment will be located.

Consider the types of location of boiler rooms.

Boiler rooms can be located:

• inside the house - usually provided even at the stage of building a house, since the constructed one may not have a free space that is suitable in terms of parameters;
• on a separate foundation as an extension, along a blank wall and in compliance with the distance to the nearest door and window from 1 meter without capital adjoining to a residential building;
• freestanding - are located at some distance from the main house.

It is determined by the standards 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 a bathroom.

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

We are talking specifically about individual boiler houses, that is, with an equipment capacity of 60 to 350 kW.

Rules for the arrangement of premises for autonomous boiler rooms

In order not to get confused in a huge number of regulations, when arranging 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 approved by the Ministry of Justice as a voluntary application, but there are several nuances.

The voluntary application document does not replace 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 TR on the safety of buildings and structures.

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

So, a separate boiler room designed to provide heat energy and hot water should 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 equipped in any non-residential, ventilated room that meets all standards, including in basement / basement rooms, except for bathrooms and bathrooms. In this case, it is a separate room that is necessary for the operation of units with a capacity of 50 kW, while the total power of the boilers (if there are 2 of them) should not exceed the mark of 100 kW.

If you equip boiler room in a private house or an apartment, even in a separate room, more than two heating units or gas water heaters of a capacitive type cannot be installed.

Ventilation should be of a natural type, the hood is provided for 3 times the air exchange per hour and the same inflow, which also includes the supplied volume of combustion air. To determine the exact parameters, special calculations must be made. 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 the area of ​​the room volume, or according to GOST R 12.3.047, must be easily discharged.

If you do not know what it is, take a look at GOST R 56288. That is, it can be polycarbonate, triplex, glass with reinforcement, and so on. Such a right is established with the justification for extinguishing the pressure during explosions and as ensuring the stable position of the building.

The door must be required, and opening outward.

Now about the distances. The passports of gas-using equipment contain information-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 count on the convenience of access to the devices for controlling them, inspecting or repairing them. Moreover, there are several and mandatory fire regulations.

The walls on which the wall-mounted units of the double-circuit type are hung must be fireproof, and the equipment itself must be at least 2 cm away from the surfaces, including the side ones. The distance is provided 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.

If the gas pressure is planned to be over 0, 0025 MPa, install in front of boilers and gas boilers stabilizerswhich will equalize the combustion potentials of the gas.

Arrangement of the alarm system

Design solutions for the safety of buildings against gas contamination can be carried out at the design stage. For this, systems are used with automatic shutdown of the gas supply in blocked houses, with a power of gas-using devices from 50 kW, when boilers are located in basements and on ground floors, in multi-apartment buildings, including built-in or attached heat generating.

To determine the presence of combustible gases in the air, regardless of the type of boiler room, a system is provided alarm, which is triggered at 3-20% of the concentration of a hazardous 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 automation unit of gas units must shut off the gas supply when:

• cessation of combustion of the flame on the nozzles without natural shutdown;
• exceeding the pressure indicators on the sensors or when they are too low - also applies to the coolant;
• if traction or forced air supply is broken;
• when a power outage occurs - in the case of electrically dependent boilers;
• boiling (overheating) of the coolant.

The automation unit in gas boilers is very important for compliance fire safety.

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

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

Power supply and water supply

In the premises of the boiler rooms, one way or another, there is an electrical wiring. These are light supply, boiler automation, piezo ignition, lighting, pumping equipment and so on. Its arrangement in boiler rooms is carried out in accordance with the Rules for the Installation of Electrical Installations.

It goes without saying that when laying the electrical cable, it is very important to ensure that it passes freely, is accessible for inspection, does not touch the zones of temperature effects.

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

The provision of installation of water supply systems is carried out according to the standards of SP 55.13330, SP 54.13330, as well as SP 30.13330.

Rules for the use of house boiler rooms

Boiler plants of autonomous type must be operated in compliance with the rules for using gas-using equipment.

Requirements are standard:

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

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

Fire hazard of industrial premises

With single-family rooms and apartment buildings sorted it out. Now let's talk about heat generators for production and storage purposes. According to Federal Law No. 123 TR on fire safety requirements.

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

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

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

As a rule, it is difficult to coordinate the device of a gas facility with the D-subclass, therefore we will consider boiler rooms from A to G.

The subclass should be calculated based on:

1. The 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 house itself (hazard class according to the constructiveness of the gas boiler house C0, C1, C2 and C3). Defined by Article 87 of the Federal Law No. 123.
5. Characteristics of the ongoing processes.

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

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

• The presence of boilers under excess pressure or temperature indicators of the working environment over 115 degrees.
• If the gas boiler house has gas ducts with a pressure of 0.005 MPa.
• A boiler house is a centralized system or installation serving socially significant segments of the population.

The fire hazard class by all indications is determined by the design specialists.

Fire safety of boiler houses

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

But there are general rules as well. Fire safety requirements for a specific building are indicated in the design assignment, the created project is subject to additional approval.

First of all, it is necessary to have easy-to-drop 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 for providing glazing, there is the possibility of arranging the upper floor made of aluminum, chrysotile cement and steel sheets, as well as explosive valves.

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

Boiler 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 the safety sensors are triggered and the power is cut off.

Internal water supply is a prerequisite for compliance with the PPB. Fire cabinets are placed near the shut-off valves and must indicate on their doors the phone number of the fire brigade, as well as the number of the crane.

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

Features of the boiler operator's work

The chief engineer assigned to the boiler room or another authorized person approves the PPB and appoints a person responsible for fire safety actions, which, in turn, conducts instructions for employees, training and exercises on the minimum fire safety in case of an emergency situations.

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

A daily visual inspection of the gas equipment is mandatory.

In no case:

• try to start equipment with faulty burners and fuel supply devices;
• to carry out the process of kindling when the automatic control and regulation is inoperative;
• start up the units without preliminary purging;
• use the units for other purposes, for example, dry clothes, and so on;
• smoke in a room with increased explosion / fire hazard - a special smoking area is equipped separately;
• work in clothing soiled with flammable substances;
• ignore the disposal of cleaning material;
• store vials and cylinders with flammable aggregates near the equipment.

And, of course, access to the equipment for children and unauthorized persons is prohibited.

Fire alarms must be installed in such premises.

The power supply system of the sensors is necessarily uninterrupted. That is, it is the network connection and the UPS.

Fire-fighting equipment for gas boiler rooms

As already mentioned, the locations of the equipment necessary for extinguishing fires have special designations.

The presence of powder, foam or carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, issued according to the operational passport, is mandatory. The sand is stored in metal boxes.

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

The firefighting kit is contained in special sealed boxes, painted red.

Fire safety of production and storage facilities is ensured through 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 house gas boiler houses, how to find out which hazard class an industrial gas boiler house belongs to and what rules apply to them. Of course, these are only general requirements, but when designing a heat generating room, it is necessary to study in detail all the regulatory documentation.

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