Combustion Safety

Combustion Safety

Combustion safety refers to the safe operation of combustion heating appliances, such as boilers and wood stoves, and goes hand in hand with healthy indoor air quality.

Through a grant from Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, CCHRC conducted a combustion air evaluation in the Fairbanks area. The purpose of the study was to assess sufficiency of current practices in combustion air supply for atmospherically vented heating appliances, and assess the performance of power-vented appliances.

Each house was measured and evaluated to determine:

1. house and combustion appliance zone (CAZ) surface area and volume;
2. common wall surface area and leakage;
3. air leakage of house and CAZ; and
4. the amount of combustion air (vented and ambient).

CCHRC staff met with individuals who are reviewing codes for the City of Fairbanks Code Review Board and presented data collected from this study on combustion air requirements for oil-fired boilers. This information was incorporated in new code requirements and adopted as an amendment to the 2000 International Mechanical Code.

For more info, visit Indoor Air Quality.