Code Req Insulation Ventilation

CODE
REQUIREMENTS AND
ENERGY ANALYSIS
OF INSULATION AND
VENTILATION FOR
GAS-FIRED
EQUIPMENT ROOMS
Copyright 2001 American Gas Association
All Rights Reserved
Prepared for
Codes, Standards and Technical Support
American Gas Association,
400 N. Capitol St., NW
Washington, DC 20001
Prepared by
Steven V. Stoltz, P. E.
November 2001
Disclaimer
This report was prepared by Energy International, Inc. as an account of work sponsored
by the American Gas Association (AGA). Neither AGA, members of AGA, nor any
person acting on behalf of either:
a.
Makes any warranty or representation with respect to the accuracy, completeness,

or usefulness of the information contained in this report, or that the use of any
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b.
Assumes any liability with respect to the use of, or for damages resulting from the
use of, any information disclosed in this report.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1
BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................................1
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ...................................................................................................2
SUMMARY OF RESULTS ................................................................................................2
REVIEW OF GAS AND ENERGY CODES ...............................................................................2
SUMMARY OF ENGINEERING ANALYSIS .............................................................................3
GAS AND ENERGY CODES AND STANDARDS ..........................................................4
EQUIPMENT ROOM INSULATION REQUIREMENTS...............................................................4
International Energy Conservation Code 2000 (IECC) ...............................................5
ASHRAE Standard 90.2-1993, Energy Efficient Design of Low-Rise Residential
Buildings .......................................................................................................................6
UNUSUALLY TIGHT CONSTRUCTION ..................................................................................8
National Fuel Gas Code (1999) Definition of Unusually Tight Construction..............9
International Fuel Gas Code (2000) Definition of Unusually Tight Construction.......9
INFILTRATION AND VENTILATION....................................................................................11
ENGINEERING ANALYSIS............................................................................................12
OVERVIEW OF METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................12
SUMMARY OF RESULTS ...................................................................................................13
SCENARIO DEVELOPMENT ...............................................................................................17
Water Heater Categories ............................................................................................17
Furnace and Space Heating Equipment Categories ...................................................18
Equipment Room Thermal Characteristics .................................................................18
Appliance Characteristics...........................................................................................19
Climate Data ...............................................................................................................21
Energy Costs ...............................................................................................................22
EQUIPMENT ROOM TEMPERATURES AND ANNUAL ENERGY COSTS FOR SIX CITIES ........22
Atlanta .........................................................................................................................25
Baltimore.....................................................................................................................26
Chicago .......................................................................................................................27
Houston .......................................................................................................................28
Seattle ..........................................................................................................................29
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................30
CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................30
RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................................31
APPENDIX A -- INFILTRATION AND VENTILATION CODES AND STANDARDS32
International Energy Conservation Code (IECC 2000) .............................................32
ASHRAE Standard 90.2 - 1993 ...................................................................................34
ASHRAE Standard 90.2 Ventilation Requirements.....................................................36

ASHRAE Standard 62-1999, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality.............36
List of Figures
Figure 1. Equipment Room Temperature and Thermal Balance ......................................14
List of Tables
Table 1. Annual Energy Savings/Costs for Additional Insulation....................................15
Table 2. Annual Energy Benefits and Costs for Outside Combustion Air .......................16
Table 3. Equipment Room Thermal Properties ................................................................19
Table 4. Equipment Characteristics and Combinations Considered for Further Study....20
Table 5. Average January and ASHRAE Heating Design Temperatures..........................22
Table 6. Equipment Room Design Heating Temperatures -- Atlanta...............................25
Table 7. Annual Energy Costs -- Atlanta..........................................................................25
Table 8. Equipment Room Design Heating Temperatures -- Baltimore ..........................26
Table 9. Annual Energy Costs -- Baltimore ......................................................................26
Table 10. Equipment Room Design Heating Temperatures -- Chicago ...........................27
Table 11. Annual Energy Costs -- Chicago ......................................................................27
Table 12. Equipment Room Design Heating Temperatures -- Houston............................28
Table 13. Annual Energy Costs -- Houston ......................................................................28
Table 14. Equipment Room Design Heating Temperatures -- Seattle .............................29
Table 15. Annual Energy Costs -- Seattle.........................................................................29
INTRODUCTION
This report provides an analysis of existing gas and energy codes and standards with
interpretations relative to the ventilation and insulation of residential gas-fired equipment
rooms. This report also presents a methodology for evaluating the temperatures and
energy use associated with equipment rooms that are provided with outside air for
combustion. Results of the energy analysis are presented for a variety of typical gas-fired
equipment and for climate data from five major U.S. cites.
BACKGROUND
One interpretation of the Model Energy Code 1995 Edition Commentary implies that
when a space is directly ventilated with outside air, such as an equipment room provided
with outside combustion air, that space is unconditioned and outside the thermal
envelope. This interpretation requires the addition of insulation to the walls and other
surfaces separating such a ventilated equipment room from any adjoining conditioned
spaces.
A conditioned space is typically any space that does not communicate
directly to the outside (i.e., that is not directly ventilated to the outdoors)
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Energy codes and standards define the thermal envelope as comprising the surfaces
separating conditioned spaces from the exterior environment or unconditioned spaces.
The surfaces that comprise the thermal envelope are subject to the insulation and air
leakage requirements that are applicable to exterior surfaces in general. The question of
interest is whether the surfaces that separate a conditioned space from a gas-fired
equipment space should be considered as part of the thermal envelope when the
equipment room is directly ventilated with outside air for combustion.
The potential problems presented by the interaction of improved appliance efficiency,
tight construction and mechanical exhaust systems have been widely recognized and
studied. Accordingly, gas codes require that naturally ventilated gas-fired appliances
located in structures with unusually tight construction (UTC) must be provided with
combustion air from outside. At the same time it appears that the energy code criteria for
infiltration control are roughly equivalent to the gas code definitions of unusually tight
construction. Thus it is often assumed that energy standards require unusually tight
construction and therefore gas fired equipment rooms must be provided with outside air
for combustion.
Model Energy Code 1995 Edition Commentary, page 30, Council of American
Building Officials, International Code Council, Inc. March 1998
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GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

While the broader issues of depressurization and potential venting failure are important,
this study is focused primarily on the energy costs and interpretations of energy codes
relating to equipment rooms with outside combustion air.
The goal of this study is to provide an energy engineering perspective on the issues
relating to the ventilation and insulation of equipment rooms for fuel-burning appliances.
It is hoped that this will facilitate a broader understanding of the issues allowing the
development of designs to minimize cost and energy consumption without compromising
air quality or life safety.
One objective of this report is to review and interpret existing energy and gas codes to
determine whether equipment rooms that are directly ventilated with outside air should
be insulated from adjacent conditioned spaces. Another objective of this report is to
evaluate the cost effectiveness of such insulation. In addition, the energy costs associated
with the choice of either interior or outside air for combustion and ventilation are
compared.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
In general, gas, energy, and ventilation codes and standards acknowledge that tight
construction, mechanical exhaust systems and fireplaces may require the introduction of
additional outside makeup air to avoid interference with fuel burning appliances
However, these codes and standards do not provide a consistent approach to determine
such a requirement or how best to satisfy it.
As to whether confined and directly ventilated equipment rooms should be insulated from
adjacent conditioned spaces, energy codes and standards appear to agree that additional
insulation is not required if the heat from the equipment maintains the temperature in the
equipment room at 50oF or above. Using the engineering model developed for this
report, it was found that temperatures of 50oF or above are maintained under most
conditions in ventilated equipment rooms with a variety of equipment configurations and
climate data.
In addition, the model shows that insulating the equipment room from adjacent
conditioned spaces increases energy consumption and cost in most cases. Furthermore,
the model shows that in many cases, using air from the conditioned space for combustion
reduces total energy costs as compared to directly venting outside combustion air to a
confined equipment room.
REVIEW OF GAS AND ENERGY CODES
Gas and energy codes and standard provide interrelated provisions for the insulation and
ventilation of spaces containing fuel-burning equipment. Equipment room insulation
requirements from the IECC and ASHRAE 90.2 are dependent on the temperature
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maintained in the room by the release of heat from the equipment in the room. If a
minimum temperature of 50oF is maintained, the equipment room is a conditioned space
and insulation is not required in walls between conditioned spaces.
The problem with this temperature-based performance criteria is that it cannot be verified
by simple inspection of the building or its plans. Performance criteria require either
measurements for a completed buildings or engineering estimates for proposed designs.
The provision of outside air for combustion does not, in and of itself, make an equipment
room an unconditioned space.
Unusually tight construction is defined with minor variations by both the NFGC and the
IFGC. These gas code definitions are compared with energy related requirements and
recommendations from the IECC and ASHRAE 90.2. A detailed review of these
requirements shows that compliance with energy codes or standards does not necessarily
require unusually tight construction.
SUMMARY OF ENGINEERING ANALYSIS
To address temperature based performance criteria, a thermal analysis model has been
developed to calculate equipment room temperatures given the characteristics of the
equipment room and the temperatures in the adjoining conditioned space and outside.
Using this model, equipment room temperatures were evaluated for a variety of typical
equipment room characteristics and climate data. It was found that temperatures of 50oF
or greater were maintained under most conditions.
The analysis also shows that the addition of insulation to the walls and other surfaces
separating an equipment room from other conditioned spaces will increase total energy
costs in most cases. Energy costs will be increased where the additional insulation
reduces beneficial heat gain from the equipment room to the conditioned space during
mild heating load conditions. Additional insulation was found to be beneficial only for
equipment rooms with water heaters in climates dominated by cooling costs. In no case
were the energy cost savings of insulating the equipment room from adjacent conditioned
spaces sufficient to justify the additional cost of insulated construction.
The energy analysis also shows that providing confined equipment spaces with
combustion air from outside, rather than air from the conditioned space, does not
necessarily reduce energy consumption. Although the use of outside air for combustion
reduces infiltration losses to the conditioned space, this outside air also reduces the
equipment room temperature and the net flow of useful heat to the conditioned space
during the heating season.
GAS AND ENERGY CODES AND STANDARDS

Gas and energy codes and standard provide interrelated provisions that affect
requirements for the insulation and ventilation of spaces containing fuel-burning
equipment. The review and consideration of these interrelated provisions are organized
in three subsections:
Equipment room insulation

Unusually tight construction
Infiltration and Ventilation
Equipment room insulation requirements from the IECC and ASHRAE 90.2 are
dependent on the temperature maintained in the equipment room by the release of heat
from the equipment in the room. If a minimum temperature of 50oF is maintained, the
equipment room can be considered as a conditioned space and insulation is not required
in walls between conditioned spaces. The provision of outside air for combustion does
not, in and of itself, make an equipment room an unconditioned space.
Unusually tight construction is defined with minor variations by both the NFGC and the
IFGC. These gas code definitions are compared with energy related requirements and
recommendations from the IECC and ASHRAE 90.2. A detailed review of these
requirements shows that compliance with energy codes or standards does not require
unusually tight construction.
Infiltration and ventilation requirements from the IECC, ASHRAE 90.2, and ASHRAE
62 are reviewed with emphasis on provisions relating to combustion air requirements,
overall infiltration rates and unusually tight construction. This review provides a general
background and is included in Appendix A.
EQUIPMENT ROOM INSULATION REQUIREMENTS
Energy codes and standards specify a minimum level of thermal resistance for the
ceiling, walls, floor and other surfaces that separate conditioned spaces from the outside
or from unconditioned spaces. Questions relating to the insulation of equipment rooms
must first consider whether the equipment room should be classified as a conditioned
space or an unconditioned space as defined by the energy codes and standards.
If the equipment room is an unconditioned space, then insulation would be required in
surfaces adjoining conditioned spaces. Although not required, the insulation equpment
room surfaces adjoining other unconditioned spaces or the outside should be considered
to ensure the reliable operation of equipment and prevent freezing.
If the equipment room is a conditioned space, then insulation would be required in the
walls and other surfaces separating the equipment room from the outside or
unconditioned spaces such as unheated garages. In this case, insulation would not be
required in the walls and other surfaces separating the equipment room from other
conditioned spaces.
The applicable definitions of conditioned and unconditioned spaces as provided by the
IECC - 2000 and ASHRAE Standard 90.2 - 1999 are reviewed below as they apply to the
insulation of equipment rooms and in particular the insulation of equipment rooms that
may be provided with outside air for combustion and ventilation. This review shows that
if the temperature in an equipment room is maintained at 50oF or above it satisfies
definitions of both the IECC and ASHRAE 90.2 as a conditioned space. The
Engineering Analysis section of this report describes a methodology to calculate
equipment room temperatures based on the balance of heat released from the surfaces of
equipment in the room with convective and conductive heat losses from the room.
In addition, ASHRAE 90.2 provides a category of indirectly conditioned space that is
defined in terms of the relative areas and U values of the exterior and interior wall
surfaces and the flow of air between the conditioned space and the indirectly conditioned
space. This definition could be applied with minor modification to equipment rooms
provided with outside air for ventilation.
International Energy Conservation Code 2000 (IECC)
The following four definitions excerpted from the IECC are essential to interpreting the
code requirements for the insulation of equipment rooms. Taken as a whole, the
following definitions show that if an equipment room is maintained at 50oF or above, the
equipment room is a conditioned space and insulation is not required in the walls, floor or
ceiling that separate the equipment from other conditioned spaces. Insulation would be
required in the walls and other surface of the equipment room that separate the equipment
from the exterior or unconditioned spaces, such as unheated garages or attics.
BUILDING ENVELOPE. The elements of a building which enclose conditioned
spaces through which thermal energy is capable of being transferred to or from
the exterior or to or from spaces exempted from the provisions of Section
101.4.1.
CONDITIONED SPACE. A heated or cooled space, or both, within a building
and, where required, provided with humidification or dehumidification means so
as to be capable of maintaining a space condition falling within the comfort
envelope as set forth in ASHRAE 55.
HEATED SPACE. Space within a building which is provided with a positive heat
supply (See Positive heating supply). Finished living space within a basement
with registers or heating devices designed to supply heat to a basement space
shall automatically define that space as heated space.
POSITIVE HEAT SUPPLY. Heat deliberately supplied to a space by design,
such as a supply register, radiator or heating element. Also heat indirectly
supplied to a space through uninsulated surfaces of service water heaters and
space heating components, such as furnaces, boilers and heating and cooling
distribution systems which continually maintain air temperature within the space
of 50oF (10oC) or higher during normal operation. To be considered exempt from
this definition, such surfaces shall comply with the insulation requirements of this
code.
The above definitions show that if an equipment space is maintained at 50oF or higher, by
heat indirectly supplied from the surface of service water and space heating systems, it
satisfies the definition of having a Positive Heat Supply. A space with a Positive Heat
Supply satisfies the definition of a Heated Space. A Heated Space is Conditioned Space
and walls between conditioned spaces are not part of the thermal envelope. In this case
the code requires insulating the walls and other surfaces separating the equipment room
from the outside or unconditioned spaces since these surfaces are part of the thermal
envelope.
The MECcheck Workbook2 also states that, A space is conditioned if heating and/or
cooling is deliberately supplied to it or is indirectly supplied through uninsulated surfaces
of water or heating equipment or through uninsulated ducts.
ASHRAE Standard 90.2-1993, Energy Efficient Design of Low-Rise Residential
Buildings
As with the IECC, definitions from ASHRAE Standard 90.2 relating to conditioned
spaces are reviewed below to provide a basis for interpreting the requirements for
insulating equipment room surfaces. Under Standard 90.2 An equipment room may fall
into one or more of three definitions of the type of space. These are: conditioned space,
indirectly conditioned space, and unconditioned space.
An equipment room satisfies the definition of a heated space if, (as with the IECC), the
equipment room is maintained at 50F or more at design heating conditions. The
equipment room may also be considered as an indirectly conditioned space based on a
comparison of overall exterior and interior heat transfer coefficients. If the equipment
room is either heated, or indirectly conditioned, then the walls and other surfaces
separating the equipment room from the exterior and other unconditioned spaces would
requiring insulation.
If the equipment room is neither heated or indirectly conditioned then the equipment
room would be an unconditioned space. In this case, the walls and other surfaces
separating the equipment room from other conditioned spaces would require insulation.
MECcheck TM 1998 and 2000 International Energy Conservation Code, Version
3.0, April 2000, was developed by the Building Energy Standards Program at Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory for use by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) and the Rural Economic and Community Development (RECD)
under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Codes and Standards. Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle Memorial Institute for the U.S.
Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC06-76RLO 1830.
2
ASHRAE Standard 90.2 also makes a distinction between unconditioned spaces and the
outdoor environment with respect to the insulation requirements. The insulation
requirements for surfaces that are exposed to unconditioned spaces are less stringent than
for surfaces that are exposed directly to the outdoor environment. Therefore, even where
an equipment room is determined to be an unconditioned space, the insulation
requirements applicable to the surfaces separating the conditioned space from the
equipment room may be less stringent than for surfaces that are directly exposed to the
outdoor environment.
Excerpts of the applicable definitions from ASHRAE 90.2 are provided below for
reference.
CONDITIONED SPACE: cooled space, heated space, or indirectly conditioned
space.
COOLED SPACE: enclosed space within a building that is cooled by a cooling
system whose sensible capacity exceeds 5 Btu/(h.ft2) or is capable of
maintaining a space dry-bulb temperature of 90F or less at design cooling
conditions.
DESIGN HEATING CONDITIONS: winter outdoor design conditions listed for
selected locations in chapter 24, table 1, column 5 (97.5 % values) of the 1989
ASHRAE Handbook-Fundamentals.
HEATED SPACE: enclosed space within a building that is heated by a heating
system whose output capacity exceeds 10 Btu/(h.ft2) or is capable of maintaining
a space dry-bulb temperature of 50F or more at design heating conditions.
INDIRECTLY CONDITIONED SPACE: enclosed space within a building that is
not heated or cooled space, whose area-weighted heat transfer coefficient to
heated or cooled space exceeds that to the outdoors or to unconditioned space,
or through which air from heated or cooled space is transferred at a rate
exceeding three air changes per hour (see heated space and cooled space).
UNCONDITIONED SPACE: space within a building that is not conditioned space
(see conditioned space).
UNHEATED SPACE: space within a building that is not heated space (see
heated space).
ENVELOPE COMPONENTS: The requirements shall apply to the envelope of
the conditioned space including the ceilings, walls, floors over unconditioned
spaces, foundations and slabs, doors, fenestration (glazings), partitions between
conditioned and unconditioned spaces, and air infiltration control.
In comparison, the Standard 90.2 definition of Heated Space is equivalent to the IECC
definition of Positive Heat Supply. Both definitions rely primarily on performance
criteria, specifically the maintenance of a temperature of 50F or more within the
equipment room. Standard 90.2 may also be more stringent since it requires the
maintenance of 50F at design heating conditions while the IECC requires the
maintenance of 50F under normal operation which implies more typical exterior
conditions. A problem with both definitions is that they either require the calculation of
7
equipment room temperatures based on the thermal characteristics of the proposed design
or the measurement of the actual temperatures after the construction is completed. The
implementation of either of these approaches is complex and time consuming and subject
to interpretation. An engineering methodology for calculating the temperature in an
equipment room is provided as part of this report.
In contrast, the definition of Indirectly Conditioned Space provided by Standard 90.2
appears to be based on directly stipulated criteria such as the areas and U values of the
various surfaces that separate the equipment room from the interior and exterior of the
building. However the definition as stated in the ASHRAE 90.2 needs both correction
and expansion to serve this purpose. As a correction, and to be consistent with ASHRAE
Standard 90.1, the phrase area-weighted heat transfer coefficient should be changed to
the product of U-factor(s) and surface area(s). The definition should be expanded to
include the thermal effect of outside combustion air that is supplied to the equipment
room.
An engineering methodology for comparing the overall thermal transmittance from an
equipment room to the exterior with the overall thermal transmittance from the
equipment room to the interior including the effect of combustion air flow has been
implemented as a spreadsheet solution and is described in more detail in the Engineering
Analysis section of this report and in Appendix B.
UNUSUALLY TIGHT CONSTRUCTION
There is an interaction between the gas and energy codes and standards for the ventilation
and insulation of gas fired equipment rooms. Energy codes such as the IECC and
standards such as ASHRAE 90.1 and 90.2 require measures to control moisture and
reduce infiltration that may result in an unusually tight construction as defined by the
International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) and National Fuel Gas Code (NFGC).
The Model Energy Code 1995 Commentary notes that, The code criteria for infiltration
control are such that a building would be of unusually tight construction as determined by
NFPA 31, 50, 54. As such, any residence built to the code should provide all air for
combustion of fuels for heating or water-heating equipment from the outdoors or utilize
powered drafts for combustion. This generalization while consistent with the intent of
the codes is not entirely supported by detailed comparison of related energy and gas code
criteria.
Compliance with energy codes does not necessarily require unusually tight construction.
It is possible to comply with energy codes and standards without satisfying the detailed
criteria or general intent of gas code definitions of unusually tight construction. For
example, both NFGC and IFGC definitions of unusually tight construction require that
walls and ceilings exposed to the outside have a continuous water vapor retarder.
However, vapor retarders are not required by the IECC or ASHRAE Standard 90.2 to
tighten a building, rather vapor barriers are recommended as a means to prevent
8
condensation in unvented building cavities and are specifically not recommended or

required for construction in hot and humid climates. Therefore a structure without a
continuous water vapor retarder could comply with the energy codes and yet not satisfy
the definition of the gas codes of unusually tight construction.
The NFGC and IFGC code definitions of Unusually Tight Construction (UTC) are
excerpted below. Note that both refer to water retarders, weatherstripping windows and
doors and the general use of caulking and sealants at other cracks. The NFGC also
includes an average air exchange rate of less than 0.35 air changes per hour as a
performance characteristic of unusually tight construction.
National Fuel Gas Code (1999) Definition of Unusually Tight Construction
Unusually Tight Construction. Construction where (1) walls and ceilings
exposed to the outside atmosphere have a continuous water vapor retarder with
a rating of one perm (6 x 10-11 kg/pa-sec-m2) or less with openings gasketed or
sealed; and (2) weather stripping has been added on operable windows and
doors; and (3) caulking or sealants are applied to areas such as joints around
windows and door frames, between sole plates and floors, between wall-ceiling
joints, between wall panels, at penetrations for plumbing, electrical, and gas
lines, and at other openings; and (4) the building has an average air infiltration
rate of less than 0.35 air changes per hour.
Section 5.3.2 states that, equipment located in buildings of unusually tight construction
shall be provided with air for combustion, ventilation, and dilution of flue gasses using
the methods described in 5.3.3, 5.3.4, or 5.3.5. However, 5.3.3(a) allows all air from
inside the building. This is presumed to be in error since the intent of the code with
respect to unusually tight construction is to require all air from outdoors using the
methods described in 5.3.3(b), 5.3.4, and 5.3.5. This suggested correction maintains
consistency with the 1996 edition of the NFGC and the 2000 Edition of the IFGC. It may
also be noted that the 1999 edition of the NFGC adds section 5.3.3(c) which allows a
combination of air from indoors and outdoors where the building is not of an unusually
tight construction.
International Fuel Gas Code (2000) Definition of Unusually Tight Construction
Unusually Tight Construction. Construction meeting the following
requirements:
1. Walls and ceilings exposed to the outside atmosphere having a
continuous water vapor retarder with a rating of 1 perm (57 ng/s-m2-Pa) or
less with openings gasketed or sealed; and
2. Storm windows or weatherstripping on operable windows and doors; and
3. Caulking or sealants applied to areas, such as joints around window and
door frames, between wall-ceiling joints, between wall panels, at
penetrations for plumbing, electrical and gas lines, and at other openings
Additional related excerpts of the IECC 2000, ASHRAE Standard 90.2 and ASHRAE
Standard 62 are included with commentary in Appendix A to provide a direct
examination of how energy and ventilation codes and standards are related to the gas
code definitions of unusually tight construction.
As summarized below, a review of related gas and energy provisions finds that a house
built in compliance with the requirements and recommendations of the energy codes and
standards does not necessarily satisfy the definitions of unusually tight construction.
Also, the specific criteria of the gas and energy codes are not always directly comparable
with energy requirements. It is also noted that overly tight construction with less than
0.35 air changes per hour (a criterion of the NFGC) would also fail to satisfy the
minimum ventilation rate required by ASHRAE Standard 62.
Continuous Water Vapor Retarder: Both the National and International Fuel Gas Codes
refer to a continuous water vapor retarder with a rating of 1 Perm or less. This implies a
continuous sheet of material as compared to the discontinuous barrier typically provided
with the installation of batt insulation applied between the studs of standard wall
construction. Also, water vapor retarder should not be confused with permeable wholehouse wrap (see below) commonly used in new construction as a water barrier and to
reduce infiltration. The primary purpose of a vapor retarder is to prevent condensation in
unvented cavities of frame walls, floors and ceilings that can facilitate the growth of mold
mildew and rot. Both the International Energy Code and the ASHRAE Standard 90.2
recommend the use of vapor retarders except in hot and humid climates.
Vapor Permeable Whole-House Wrap: Although the use of a whole-house wrap
contributes significantly to tightness, the gas code criteria for UTC does not apply since
the permeability of the wrap is greater than 1 perm. The use of a moisture vaporpermeable whole-house wrap is recommend by both the IECC and ASHRAE 90.2 to
reduce infiltration and increase the tightness of the construction. The house wrap is
applied at the exterior of the construction and ideally it should have a permeability that is
greater than any membranes or materials used at the interior of the wall construction.
This approach ensures that the wrap reduces infiltration without impeding the flow of
vapor that might cause condensation. It is not uncommon for residential construction to
use a permeable whole house wrap at the exterior of the construction without a
continuous water vapor retarder.
Windows and Doors: Gas and energy code criteria for the tightness of windows and
doors are not directly comparable. Storm windows or weatherstripping on windows and
door are easily recognized characteristics of UTC as defined by the NFGC and IFGC. In
contrast, the IECC and ASHRAE Standard 90.2 specify widow and door air tightness
with maximum leakage rates in either cfm per length of crack or cfm per square foot of
area. Weather stripping is specified for site-built doors and windows but storm windows
are not referred to by energy codes or standards. Also most windows in current
construction are weatherstripped with sealed multiple-pane construction rather than
removable storm windows.
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Caulking and Sealants: Caulking and sealants are recommended by the energy codes and
standards. There is little ambiguity in these requirements relative the gas code definitions
of unusually tight construction. However, moisture vapor permeable house wrap may, in
part, be an alternative to other caulking or sealants.
Average Air Infiltration Rate: The NFGC includes an additional criterion referring to an
average air infiltration rate of less than 0.35 air changes per hour. While the general
weatherstripping, caulking and sealants criteria refer to directly observable characteristic
of the construction, the average air change rate is a performance criterion that is difficult
accurately measure or predict. In addition, the NFGC does not specify a measurement
procedure, or the time period for averaging or weather conditions that should be included
in the measurement or calculation of the average air changes per hour.
It should also be noted that a house with less than 0.35 air changes per hour of outside air
ventilation probably does not comply with ASHRAE Standard 62-1999, Ventilation for
Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. As presented on Table 2 of this standard, residential
living areas should have a minimum of 0.36 ach or not less than 15 cfm (7.5 L/s) per
person. It is also noted on Table 2 that, ventilation is normally satisfied by infiltration
and natural ventilation. On the other hand ASHRAE 90.1 warns that
The requirements (of 90.1) are not intended to be used to adversely impact
indoor air quality. They are not deemed to supply adequate air supply for
combustion and ventilation or provide adequate fresh air supply. Consideration
of uses other than reducing unwanted air leakage is not covered in this standard.
The goal of this report is similarly limited to consideration to the energy costs associated
with infiltration when air from inside or outside the buildings is used for combustion and
ventilation. Issues of how the gas and energy codes could be structured to allow designs
that satisfy ventilation and combustion air requirements without conflict or unnecessary
cost are outside the scope of this study. This study simply presents energy costs
associated with several obvious interpretations of the existing codes.
INFILTRATION AND VENTILATION
Appendix A provides a review of the IECC and ASHRAE Standards related infiltration
and ventilation. Similarities and differences related to the treatment of infiltration and
ventilation as presented in various codes and standards are discussed therein. This
Appendix also provides a review and excerpts of the energy codes and standards related
to gas code definitions of unusually tight construction.
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ENGINEERING ANALYSIS
This section presents an engineering analysis of equipment room temperatures energy
consumption and costs associated with providing outside air for combustion and
ventilation and adding insulation to walls and other surfaces that separate equipment
rooms from conditioned spaces. Additional details about the analysis are provided in
Appendix B, Model User Instructions and Documentation.
OVERVIEW OF METHODOLOGY
The engineering analysis employs a steady-state assumption and solves for the equipment
room temperature required to balance the total flow of energy into and out of the
equipment room. Heat energy flows into the equipment room from the surfaces of gasfired equipment and through walls and other surfaces adjoining warmer conditioned
spaces. Heat energy flows out of the equipment room through exterior walls. Heat
energy is also transported by convection associated with air flows into the equipment
room from the conditioned space and from outside, particularly when equipment room is
directly vented to the outside to provide combustion air. It is assumed that all the air
entering the equipment room exits via the vent system of the gas fired equipment. This
pattern if air flow is consistent with the use of a single outside vent.
A variety of gas fired equipment and equipment room configurations has been analyzed.
The equipment room was assumed to be a confined space located in the interior of the
house with a well insulated ceiling/roof exposed to the exterior and the remaining walls
and floor adjoining other conditioned spaces. The net thermal effect of the equipment
room on the heating and cooling loads of the residence are analyzed for three variations
of insulation placement and combustion air source.
Uninsulated interior surfaces with all combustion air from the conditioned
space
Uninsulated interior surfaces with all combustion air from outside
Insulated interior wall and floor with all combustion air from outside
The net thermal effect of the equipment room on the heating and cooling costs of the
conditioned space includes thermal conduction through adjoining walls and increases in
infiltration to the conditioned space associated with the use of air from the conditioned
space for combustion. The comparison of energy use for these three cases provides the
basis for evaluating the benefits and costs of adding insulation to interior surfaces and
using outdoor air for combustion and ventilation.
Six variations of gas fired equipment were considered as follows:
Mid-efficiency water heater with conventional draft hood vent system

Side-wall vent water heater using room air for combustion
12
High-efficiency water heater with fan assisted draft

Mid-efficiency furnace with fan assisted draft
High-efficiency furnace with fan assisted side-wall vent
The combination of a mid-efficiency water heater and furnace
The performance of the various equipment and equipment room configurations was
evaluated for climate data from six U.S. cities including:
Atlanta, Georgia
Baltimore, Maryland
Chicago, Illinois
Houston, Texas
Seattle, Washington.
SUMMARY OF ENERGY ANALYSIS RESULTS

The results for a variety of equipment combinations and climate data show that
temperatures in equipment rooms with outside combustion air are maintained above 50oF
in most cases. Equipment room temperatures below 50oF were calculated only with the
side-wall vent water heater for the outdoor design heating temperatures of Baltimore and
Chicago. This is because the side-wall vent water heater considered in this analysis uses
a large quantity of outside for the dilution and cooling of the flue gas to allow sidewall
venting. A temperature of greater than 50oF was maintained for all the other equipment
configurations and climate data that were evaluated.
The maintenance of equipment room temperatures at or above 50oF is an important code
criterion allowing the equipment room to be considered as a conditioned space that need
not be insulated from other conditioned spaces. For example, the analysis shows that an
equipment room with a mid-efficiency fan-assisted draft furnace and a draft hood water
heater maintains a temperature above 50oF with outdoor temperatures as low as -12oF.
This is for an equipment room with well-insulated exterior walls, uninsulated interior
walls and combustion air from outside. Figure1 illustrates the temperatures and balance
of heat flows for this example.
13
On-Cycle Temperatures and Heat Flows
Conditioned Space
70 oF
Equipment Space
50.3 oF
1,047 Btu/hr
3,072 Btu/hr
On-Cycle
Equip. Heat Gain
2025
Btu/hr
45 Btu/hr
1.17 cfm
Exterior
-12 oF
2.3 cfm
48.8 cfm
Scenario 17: Mid. Eff. Water Heater and Furnace, outside air, uninsulated
Figure 1. Equipment Room Temperature and Thermal Balance
The figure shows a total heat release from the equipment, in this case a mid-efficiency
water heater and furnace, of 2025 Btu/hr. Because the temperature of the equipment
room, at 50.3oF, is cooler that the adjoining 70oF conditioned space, the total heat gain to
the equipment room includes an additional 1047 Btu/hr for a total heat gain of 3072
Btu/hr, which balances the total heat loss. This figure also shows that most of the air
flow into the equipment room is from the outside at a rate of 48.8 cfm with some
infiltration from the conditioned space at a rate of 2.3 cfm. The analysis assumes that the
air flow from the conditioned space to the equipment room causes small net increase of
1.17 cfm to the total outside air infiltration into the conditioned space.3
Estimates of seasonal energy consumption use a modified bin-temperature method4 to
calculate the impact of the equipment room on the heating and cooling loads of the
adjoining conditioned spaces. For comparison, the analysis is repeated assuming
combustion air from the conditioned space and combustion air from outside both with
and without insulation in the walls and other surfaces separating the equipment room
from conditioned spaces. In all cases, it is assumed that the exterior surfaces of the
equipment room were insulated.
It is assumed that air flow from a conditioned space to an equipment room is

balanced in equal parts by a net increase in infiltration to the conditioned space and a net
reduction in exfiltration by other leakage paths from the conditioned space to the exterior.
Thus the net gain in infiltration to the conditioned space is assumed to be equal to half the
flow rate of air from the conditioned space to an equipment room.
4 See ASHRAE Fundamentals, Chapter 28.
3
14
Table 1 summarizes the annual savings or cost for the addition of insulation for
equipment rooms provided with combustion air from outside. The table provides results
for six configurations of gas-fired equipment and weather data from five cities. Increased
annual energy costs are shown as negative numbers indicated by parenthesis.
As shown by the table, the addition of insulation to the interior walls of equipment rooms
increases energy consumption and operating costs for 20 out of the 30 combinations of
equipment and climate. For these combinations the additional insulation reduces the flow
of useful heat from the equipment room to conditioned spaces during the heating season.
Note that the addition of insulation to equipment rooms with mid or high-efficiency
furnaces increases energy costs for all cities and in particular for Seattle, which has a
prolonged, but generally mild, heating season.
Table 1. Annual Energy Savings/Costs for Additional Insulation
Equipment Room Description
Mid-efficiency water heater
Side-wall vent water heater
High-efficiency water heater
Mid-efficiency furnace
High-efficiency furnace
Mid-efficiency water heater and furnace
Atlanta Baltimore Chicago Houston Seattle

$0.87
$0.54
$0.60
$3.08 $(2.74)
$0.34
$0.28
$0.32
$0.99 $(0.72)
$(0.07)
$(0.17)
$(0.22)
$0.21 $(0.52)
$(3.49)
$(3.38)
$(2.40) $(2.56) $(6.87)
$(1.57)
$(1.25)
$(0.54) $(1.24) $(3.30)
$(2.22)
$(2.21)
$(0.88)
$1.02 $(9.49)
Energy costs are reduced by the addition of insulation in only 10 of the thirty
combinations of equipment and climate shown on the table. Energy cost savings are
noted for equipment room with a mid-efficiency or side-wall vent water heaters for all
cities except Seattle. Energy cost savings are also noted for the climate of Houston for
several types of water heaters and for the combination of a mid-efficiency water heater
and furnace.
Additional insulation saves energy primarily during the cooling season by reducing the
flow of heat from the equipment room to conditioned spaces. For those combinations of
equipment and climate where additional insulation provides some energy cost savings,
the cost savings are small. It appears that insulating the walls between the equipment
room and the conditioned space may be justified in climates dominated by cooling loads.
In this case, locating water heater outside the thermal envelope in an unconditioned space
such as a well-ventilated garage or attached shed should be considered. However, it is
more energy efficient to locate furnaces within the thermal envelope for all the climate
data considered in this study.
Table 2 summarizes the benefits and costs associated with providing confined equipment
rooms with outside air for combustion and ventilation as compared to the use of air from
the conditioned space. Energy cost savings are shown as positive numbers while
increased annual energy costs are shown as negative numbers indicated by parenthesis.
15
The results are for equipment rooms with uninsulated interior walls. As shown by the
table, the use of outside air increases annual energy costs in most cases.
The table shows that the use of outside air for combustion increases total heating and
cooling costs in most cases. Some savings are achieved for the use of outside with sidewall vent water heaters in Atlanta, Baltimore and for all water heaters in Houston. In all
other cases the use of outside air for combustion increases energy costs compared to the
use of air from the conditioned space.
Table 2. Annual Energy Benefits and Costs for Outside Combustion Air
Mid. Eff. Water Heater and Furnace
Atlanta Baltimore Chicago Houston Seattle

$(0.62)
$(2.93)
$(5.03)
$3.91 $(5.15)
$0.73
$0.28
$(0.17)
$2.15 $(0.50)
$(0.13)
$(0.32)
$(0.50)
$0.22 $(0.49)
$(0.55)
$(0.91)
$(1.17) $(0.09) $(1.10)
$(0.91)
$(1.43)
$(1.72) $(0.33) $(1.64)
$0.41
$(1.51)
$(3.54)
$4.73 $(3.71)
While it is true that the use of air from the conditioned space for combustion increases
heating and cooling loads, the alternative of providing outside air to a confined
equipment space is not without energy costs. The use of outside air reduces the
temperature in the equipment room and on average may reduce the useful flow of heat
from an equipment room to the occupied space during the heating season. In effect, the
use of indoor air for combustion enhances the recovery of heat from the surfaces of the
gas fired equipment while the use of outdoor air tends to vent the heat from the surfaces
of equipment to the outside.
The use of indoor air for combustion increases the temperature in the equipment room
and increases the useful heat flow from the equipment room to the conditioned space
during the heating season. The gain in heat flow through the uninsulated walls of the
confined equipment space to the conditioned space provides a net benefit in most cases.
Exceptions include the cooling load dominated climate of Houston and side-wall vent
water heaters that use relatively high volumes of outside air.
In summary, the findings of the analysis can be stated as three generalizations:
Equipment rooms provided with outside air for combustion and ventilation
will maintain a temperature above 50oF at the outside design heating
temperature of most climates and for most common type of gas-fired
equipment.
Adding insulation to the walls and other surfaces that separate a ventilated
equipment room from adjoining conditioned spaces will increase annual
energy costs in most cases except for water heaters in cooling dominated
climates
16
The use of outside air for combustion and ventilation of confined equipment
rooms does not reduce energy consumption relative to the use of air from the
conditioned space except in climates dominated by cooling loads.
SCENARIO DEVELOPMENT
This section provides a detailed development of the types of equipment and equipment
room configurations that have been considered. Detailed equipment characteristics are
also provided here.
Six combinations of space heating and water heating equipment were considered for
further analysis. For each type or combination of equipment, heating and cooling loads
have been evaluated for three cases:
1. combustion air from the conditioned space provided to an equipment room,
2. combustion air from outside provided to an equipment room,
3. the equipment room provided with exterior levels of insulation for surfaces
and doors adjoining conditioned spaces.
It is assumed for all cases that the exterior surfaces of the any equipment space are
provided with exterior levels of insulation. This analysis has been repeated with weather
data for five locations including Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Seattle and Baltimore.
Water Heater Categories
Four types of water heaters were considered for further study. These are: (1) older
standard-efficiency water heaters, (2)mid-efficiency water heaters, (3)side-wall vent
water heaters and; (4)high-efficiency water heaters.
Older standard-efficiency units typically having an energy factor of less than 50% were
designed to operate with relatively high rates of excess combustion air. Relatively few of
these systems are remaining in service. No further consideration of standard-efficiency
water heaters is included in this report.
Mid-efficiency water heaters, having and an efficiency factor of approximately 57%, are
characteristic of typical new water heaters. Recovery efficiency is improved and standby
losses are reduced relative to older standard-efficiency water heaters within the
constraints of the same basic reliable natural draft design. This type of water heater is
analyzed by itself and combined in an equipment with a mid-efficiency furnace.
Side-wall vent water heaters are essentially equivalent to the conventional mid-efficiency
water heaters, having and efficiency factor of approximately 57%, but with the addition
of a power vent fan providing increased dilution air during the on-cycle to allow the use
of low-temperature plastics pipe with sidewall venting. Note that the dilution air required
17
by the fan must be provided with the combustion air required by this type of water heater.
Further analysis of this type of water heater investigates the impact of its increased total
air requirements There are similar design water heaters using ducted outside air to
provide both the combustion and dilution air required by the system. This type of sealedcombustion system is outside the scope of this study.
High-efficiency water heaters having an efficiency factor of 65% or better use a small
induced draft fan to assist the venting of relatively cool (near condensing) flue gasses
without additional dilution air. This approach can provide improved efficiency but it has
not been widely accepted. The total air requirement for this type of appliance is
minimized with low excess air and the elimination of dilution air. Further analysis of
high-efficiency, fan assisted water heaters has been done to investigate the impact of their
reduced total air flow requirements.
Furnace and Space Heating Equipment Categories
Three types of gas-fired space heating systems were considered for further analysis:
1. Standard-efficiency systems characteristic of existing gravity vented systems
with draft diverters,
2. Mid-efficiency systems using a fan assisted draft with normal venting and;
3. High-efficiency systems with the side-wall power venting of vent gasses at
near-condensing temperatures.
These three types, with nominal AFUE efficiencies of 70%, 80% and 90% respectively,
characterize the range of available equipment. Also the characteristics of these furnace
categories nearly match the characteristics of comparable boilers and may be considered
as representing boilers as well as furnaces.
Standard-efficiency, gravity-vent, space heating systems were not considered for further
analysis in this report since they are most likely to be found in existing residences that
are not overly tight. Mid-efficiency furnaces were considered as a more representative
type of heating system. The further analysis of this type of system combined in an
equipment space with a mid-efficiency type water heater is also included.
Further analysis of a high-efficiency furnace is included. However, combinations of
high-efficiency furnaces with mid-efficiency or high-efficiency water heaters are not
included at this time as a means to limit the total number of scenarios to six equipment
configurations.
Equipment Room Thermal Characteristics
18
Table 3 shows the thermal properties, R values, and U values for the materials and
surfaces of the equipment room. Insulation levels have been selected to meet or exceed
code requirements for the exterior surfaces of the equipment room. Interior surfaces
including walls, floor and a door are analyzed with and without insulation. Equipment
room configurations containing a single water heater or furnace assume an interior room
with a 3 foot by 3 foot floor area with an exterior ceiling and all other surfaces adjoining
conditioned spaces. Equipment room configurations containing both a water heater and a
furnace assume a room with a 3 foot by 6 foot floor area with an exterior ceiling and one
3-foor exterior wall. The equipment room has an insulated metal door with an insulated
U value of 0.35 Btuh/ft2 or an uninsulated hollow core wood door with a U value of 0.46
Btuh/ft.2
Table 3. Equipment Room Thermal Properties
Thermal Properties of
Materials and Components
Outside surface
Wood beveled lap siding
Insulated foam sheathing
0.5" GWB
Plywood 3/4"
Wall or floor cavity
Mineral fiber batt insulation
Loose fill insulation
0.5" GWB
interior surface
R-values
U-Values
Interior
Wall
Insulated Insulated Insulated

Interior
Exterior
Ceiling
Wall
Wall
0.68
0.68
0.45
0.45
0.17
0.81
4.00
0.61
0.85
0.45
0.68
3.11
0.322
13.00
13.00
0.45
0.68
15.26
0.066
0.45
0.68
19.11
0.052
38.00
0.45
0.61
39.67
0.025
Interior
Floor
Insulated
Floor
0.92
0.92
0.93
1.00
0.93
1.00
21.00
0.45
0.92
4.22
0.237
0.45
0.92
25.22
0.040
Appliance Characteristics
Table 4 summarizes the characteristics of four types of water heaters and three types of
furnaces considered to represent the range of existing and current high efficiency
equipment. For each listed appliance type, the table provides the nominal capacity and
19
Table 4. Equipment Characteristics and Combinations Considered for Further Study

Notes
1,2
3
3,4
3,5
Description
Capacity
Efficiency
Vent type
Water Heaters
Btu/hr
Recovery
EF
Standby
Standard-eff. water heater

35,000
35,000
35,000
35,000
70%
78%
78%
84%
50.0%
57.0%
57.0%
65.0%
2.0%
1.5%
1.0%
0.5%
Excess Air Dilution Air
draft hood
draft hood
power vent (side wall)
50%
30%
54%
20%
Oncycle
150%
150%
300%
0%
Offcycle
45%
45%
90%
0%
draft diverter
fan assisted gravity vent
50%
30%
20%
150% 45%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Surface Losses
Furnaces
2
3
3
Standard-eff. furnace
Btu/hr
AFUE
100,000
100,000
100,000
70%
80%
90%
On-cycle Off-cycle
2.5%
2.0%
1.0%
1.0%
0.0%
0.0%
3
Mid-efficient water heater and furnace
6
Mid-efficient water heater, high-efficiency furnace
7
High-efficiency water heater and furnace
Notes
1
Not recommended for further analysis
Standard-efficiency water heaters and furnaces are becoming rare and are unlikely to be located in houses with over tight construction (OTC
3
4
Recommended for further analysis of scenarios and weather data.

This mid-efficiency side-wall water heater uses significant dilution air to allow a plastic
sidewall vent
High-efficiency (greater than 85% recovery efficiency) water heaters are relatively rare although they present a very interesting case for
this analysis.
Mid-efficiency and high-efficiency furnaces are significantly different in combustion air requirements. Not recommended for detailed
analysis in this study.
This configuration is not recommended for detailed analysis because of the relative rarity of very high efficiency
water heaters.
5
6
7
20
efficiency. For water heaters, the nominal efficiency is listed in terms of energy factor and
recovery efficiency. For furnace efficiency the AFUE value is listed. Estimated off-cycle losses
are listed for water heaters, and for boilers, both on-cycle and off-cycle losses are listed. These
on-cycle and off-cycle losses represent the heat release from the appliances and venting that goes
directly to the equipment room expressed as a percentage of the heating capacity.
The table continues with the vent type, being either gravity vent with a draft hood or diverter or
being fan assisted. Excess air is shown as a percentage of the stoichiometric minimum air
requirement which is approximately 10 ft3 per 1000 Btu/hr input capacity for all types of gasfired appliances. In general, minimizing excess air is associated with increased combustion
efficiency. However, with minimum excess air, problems of incomplete combustion and
condensation are more likely.
Dilution air is shown as a percentage of the total combustion and excess air. Off-cycle dilution
air flow is estimated to be 30% of the on-cycle flow as a conservative value (tending to increase
energy use). Dilution air may also be used by side-wall vent water to cool the products of
combustion to allow sidewall venting using plastic pipe.
The analysis has shown that the results are sensitive to assumed values of combustion and
dilution air requirements and the rate of heat release from appliance surfaces to the equipment
space during both on and off cycles of operation. The equipment characteristics as shown on the
table represent engineering estimates for typical types of equipment rather than data for specific
manufacturer or model of equipment. Some of the data required for this analysis is not readily
available from manufacturers or other testing organizations in particular, on-cycle and off-cycle
air flow rates and standby or surface losses. On-cycle and off-cycle air flow rates are also
treated as constants as a simplifying assumption for this analysis although it is understood that
actual rates vary as a function of stack characteristics and local weather conditions particularly
for natural draft system. However the six equipment configurations considered in this analysis
were developed to provide a range of reasonable values that taken as a whole is intended to
provide an unbiased characterization of typical residential gas-fired equipment.
Climate Data
Five cities were selected as sources of climate data for further analysis. They are: Atlanta,
Baltimore, Chicago, Houston and Seattle. BinMaker software from InterEnergy Software Inc.5
was used as the source of climate data for this analysis. Table 4 provides a summary of average
January temperatures and ASHRAE winter design temperatures for the five selected cities.
ASHRAE design temperatures are provided for 99.6% and 99% percentiles indicating the
percentage of time that temperatures are above the design values. The 99th percentile values are
used to evaluate the equipment room temperatures at design heating conditions below.
A joint venture of GRI and IGT/SMP, 8600 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, IL,
January 1999. This program provides summaries of TMY-2 files.
5
21
Table 5. Average January and ASHRAE Heating Design

Temperatures
City
Heating
Degree Days
(65)
2991
4707
6176
1371
4611
Atlanta
Chicago
Baltimore
Houston
Seattle
Cooling
Average January ASHRAE Heating Design
Degree Days
Temperature
99.6%
99%
(65)
1667
40.8
18
23
1137
24.1
-6
-1
940
30.9
11
15
3012
53.7
29
34
167
40.0
23
28
Energy Costs
To simplify the analysis and facilitate comparisons, the same electrical energy and gas costs are
assumed for all the cases in this analysis. These costs are:
Natural Gas $1.00 per Therm

Electrical Energy $0.10 per kWh
This simplified cost basis provides a reasonable basis for the comparisons and conclusions in this
report and can be easily adjusted as necessary where actual costs are known. Similarly the
cooling system efficiency is assumed to be 10 SEER which provide a reasonable basis for
existing systems and can be easily adjusted as necessary to consider the effect of new more
efficient systems.
EQUIPMENT ROOM TEMPERATURES AND ANNUAL ENERGY COSTS FOR SIX
CITIES
This section provides the detailed results of the analysis of equipment room temperatures and
energy use for climate data from six cities. Detailed data is presented in two tables for each city.
1. Equipment Room Design Heating Temperatures
2. Annual Energy Costs
The Equipment Room Design Heating Temperatures tables show the equipment room
temperatures during on-cycles and off cycles for each of the six equipment configurations.
These tables also show the temperature in the conditioned space and the ASHRAE 99% design
heating temperature outside. A review of these temperature data for each of the six cities shows
that equipment room temperatures are maintained above 50 oF except for sidewall vent heaters in
Chicago and Baltimore.
The Annual Energy Cost Tables provide a detailed summary of annual energy costs with a
separate table for each city. Each table shows impact of equipment room insulation and
22
ventilation on the heating and cooling cost of the conditioned space. Energy cost savings are
shown as negative numbers indicated by parenthesis.
The three variations of equipment space insulation and ventilation include (1) inside combustion
air with uninsulated interior walls, (2) outside combustion air with uninsulated interior walls and
(3) outside combustion air with insulated interior walls. For each of these three variations, the
tables show the energy cost for six combinations of gas-fired equipment.
However it important to keep in mind that the analysis was designed to evaluate the effect of
changes in insulation and the source of combustion air not to provide a comparison of different
types or efficiencies of equipment. The tables do not show the total cost of energy consumed by
the equipment but rather only the energy costs associated with the equipment room.
For example, Table 8 shows the annual heating, cooling and total energy costs for Baltimore.
The results of this table show that the addition of insulation and the use of outside air for
combustion increases the cost of operation by reducing useful heat gains from the equipment
room. The first three rows of this table show the energy costs associated with three variation of
insulation and ventilation for an equipment room containing a mid-efficiency water heater. With
indoor combustion air and no insulation the equipment room provides a net reduction in heating
cost of $9.41 and a net increase in cooling cost of $8.64 for a net total cost savings of $0.77. A
net cost savings is provided because the net heat gain from the equipment room to the
conditioned space exceeds the additional infiltration losses from the use interior air for
combustion. Cooling energy costs are increased both be heat transfer through adjoining walls
and increases in infiltration. In comparison, an equipment room, with insulated interior walls
and outside combustion air, provides a net reduction in heating cost of $3.07 and a net increase
in cooling cost of $4.81 for a total cost increase of $1.74. Thus the combination of insulation
and outside combustion air increase the cost of heating and cooling the conditioned space
because they reduce beneficial heat gains to the conditioned space.
Again referring to Table 8, the result of this table will be used to show that although a more
efficient furnace will reduce total heating costs, the heating and cooling costs associated with the
equipment room may increase. This will occur if the characteristics of the more efficient furnace
result in a reduction of the temperature in the equipment room. As shown by the table an
equipment room with a mid-efficiency furnace using outside air and having uninsulated interior
walls reduces total heating and cooling costs by $5.90 while a comparable equipment room with
a high-efficiency furnace reduces total heating and cooling costs by only $1.90. The more
efficient furnace increases the cost of operation associated with the equipment room. However,
as shown by Table 7, the on-cycle temperature in the equipment room is reduced from 67.9oF to
64.2oF by changing from a mid-efficiency furnace to a high-efficiency furnace. The reduction in
equipment room temperatures reduces the net heat gain to the conditioned space during the
heating season.
A detailed examination of the analysis was made to investigate how the total cost of operation
could be increased by the use of a more efficient furnace. This examination showed that the
equipment characteristics used in the analysis assume a reduction (from 2% to 1% of capacity)
in the rate of heat loss from the surface of the high-efficiency furnace compared to the mid23
efficiency furnace. The reduction equipment heat loss is responsible for the reduced equipment
room temperatures. Excess air was also reduced from 30% to 20% for the high-efficiency
furnace relative to the mid-efficiency furnace. This reduction in air flow that would tend to
increase equipment room temperatures. However, in this case, the reduction in equipment losses
was more significant than the reduction of air flow. The above example shows the sensitivity of
the analysis to the heat losses from the surfaces of equipment and venting systems.
24
Atlanta
Table 6. Equipment Room Design Heating Temperatures -- Atlanta
Inside
Conditioned
Space
Outside
Heating
Design
Equipment Room
On-cycle
Off-cycle
Mid-efficiency water heater, outside air, 70.0

uninsulated
23.0
63.2
67.7
Side-wall vent water heater, outside air, 70.0

uninsulated
23.0
53.5
78.2
High-efficiency water heater, outside

air, uninsulated
70.0
23.0
69.5
74.3
Mid-efficiency furnace, outside air,

uninsulated
70.0
23.0
71.4
69.0
High-efficiency furnace, outside air,

uninsulated
70.0
23.0
67.5
69.1
Mid. Eff. Water Heater and Furnace,

outside air, uninsulated
70.0
23.0
66.5
66.5
Table 7. Annual Energy Costs -- Atlanta

Mid-efficiency water heater, inside air, uninsulated
Mid-efficiency water heater, outside air, uninsulated
Mid-efficiency water heater, outside air, insulated
Side-wall vent water heater, inside air, uninsulated
Side-wall vent water heater, outside air, uninsulated
Side-wall vent water heater, outside air, insulated
High-efficiency water heater, inside air, uninsulated
High-efficiency water heater, outside air, uninsulated
High-efficiency water heater, outside air insulated
Mid-efficiency furnace, inside air, uninsulated
Mid-efficiency furnace, outside air, uninsulated
Mid-efficiency furnace, outside air, insulated
High-efficiency furnace, inside air, uninsulated
High-efficiency furnace, outside air, uninsulated
High-efficiency furnace, outside air, insulated
Mid. Eff. Water Heater and Furnace, inside air, uninsulated
Mid. Eff. Water Heater and Furnace, outside air, uninsulated
Mid. Eff. Water Heater and Furnace, outside air, insulated
Heating
$(9.31)
$(6.15)
$(4.22)
$(16.96)
$(16.67)
$(16.16)
$(10.06)
$(9.76)
$(9.41)
$(7.27)
$(6.59)
$(3.10)
$(3.91)
$(2.89)
$(1.31)
$(13.38)
$(11.12)
$(5.82)
Cooling
$11.97
$9.42
$6.64
$11.59
$10.57
$9.71
$5.88
$5.71
$5.43
$0.21
$0.07
$0.07
$0.18
$0.06
$0.06
$12.39
$9.71
$6.63
Total
$2.65
$3.28
$2.41
$(5.37)
$(6.10)
$(6.44)
$(4.18)
$(4.05)
$(3.98)
$(7.06)
$(6.51)
$(3.03)
$(3.73)
$(2.82)
$(1.25)
$(0.99)
$(1.40)
$0.81
25
Baltimore
Table 8. Equipment Room Design Heating Temperatures -- Baltimore
Inside
Conditioned
Space
Outside
Heating
Design
Equipment Room
On-cycle
Off-cycle

uninsulated
15.0
60.5
66.0

uninsulated
15.0
49.5
78.0

air, uninsulated
70.0
15.0
68.1
74.2

uninsulated
70.0
15.0
67.8
68.8

uninsulated
70.0
15.0
64.3
68.9

70.0
15.0
62.4
64.8
Table 9. Annual Energy Costs -- Baltimore

Heating
$(9.40)
$(4.74)
$(3.20)
$(19.80)
$(19.37)
$(19.01)
$(11.99)
$(11.55)
$(11.17)
$(6.92)
$(5.91)
$(2.53)
$(3.31)
$(1.81)
$(0.55)
$(12.14)
$(8.80)
$(4.30)
Cooling
$8.73
$7.00
$4.93
$8.47
$7.76
$7.12
$4.30
$4.18
$3.98
$0.16
$0.06
$0.06
$0.13
$0.06
$0.05
$9.06
$7.23
$4.94
Total
$(0.66)
$2.26
$1.72
$(11.33)
$(11.61)
$(11.89)
$(7.69)
$(7.36)
$(7.19)
$(6.76)
$(5.84)
$(2.46)
$(3.18)
$(1.75)
$(0.50)
$(3.08)
$(1.57)
$0.64
26
Chicago
Table 10. Equipment Room Design Heating Temperatures -- Chicago
Inside
Conditioned
Space
Outside
Heating
Design
Equipment Room
On-cycle
Off-cycle
Mid-efficiency water heater,

70.0
15.0
60.5
66.0
Side-wall vent water heater,

70.0
15.0
49.5
78.0
High-efficiency water heater,

70.0
15.0
68.1
74.2
Mid-efficiency furnace,
70.0
15.0
67.8
68.8
High-efficiency furnace,
70.0
-1.0
57.9
68.6

70.0
-1.0
54.2
61.6
Table 11. Annual Energy Costs -- Chicago

Heating
$(8.71)
$(2.80)
$(1.82)
$(21.29)
$(20.75)
$(20.59)
$(13.12)
$(12.56)
$(12.18)
$(4.62)
$(3.41)
$(1.01)
$(1.64)
$0.12
$0.66
$(8.85)
$(4.38)
$(1.75)
Cooling
$6.19
$5.30
$3.73
$6.32
$5.95
$5.47
$3.28
$3.22
$3.06
$0.09
$0.04
$0.04
$0.07
$0.04
$0.04
$6.40
$5.47
$3.73
Total
$(2.53)
$2.50
$1.90
$(14.97)
$(14.79)
$(15.12)
$(9.84)
$(9.34)
$(9.12)
$(4.54)
$(3.37)
$(0.97)
$(1.57)
$0.16
$0.69
$(2.45)
$1.09
$1.97
27
Houston
Table 12. Equipment Room Design Heating Temperatures -- Houston
Inside
Conditioned
Space
Outside
Heating
Design
Equipment Room
On-cycle
Off-cycle

uninsulated
28.0
64.9
68.7

uninsulated
28.0
56.0
78.4

air, uninsulated
70.0
28.0
70.4
74.4

uninsulated
70.0
28.0
73.6
69.1

uninsulated
70.0
28.0
69.5
69.2

70.0
28.0
69.0
67.5
Table 13. Annual Energy Costs -- Houston

Heating
$(6.62)
$(4.82)
$(3.32)
$(11.25)
$(11.08)
$(10.67)
$(6.60)
$(6.43)
$(6.19)
$(5.40)
$(5.01)
$(2.44)
$(3.04)
$(2.45)
$(1.21)
$(10.01)
$(8.72)
$(4.65)
Cooling
$21.29
$15.56
$10.99
$19.14
$16.82
$15.42
$9.41
$9.03
$8.58
$0.49
$0.19
$0.18
$0.41
$0.16
$0.16
$22.19
$16.17
$11.08
Total
$14.66
$10.75
$7.67
$7.89
$5.74
$4.75
$2.82
$2.60
$2.40
$(4.91)
$(4.82)
$(2.26)
$(2.62)
$(2.29)
$(1.05)
$12.18
$7.45
$6.43
28
Seattle
Table 14. Equipment Room Design Heating Temperatures -- Seattle
Inside
Conditioned
Space
Outside
Heating
Design
Equipment Room
On-Cycle
Off-Cycle
Mid-efficiency water heater,

70.0
28.0
64.9
68.7
Side-wall vent water heater,

70.0
28.0
56.0
78.4
High-efficiency water heater,

70.0
28.0
70.4
74.4
Mid-efficiency furnace,
70.0
28.0
73.6
69.1
High-efficiency furnace,
70.0
28.0
69.5
69.2

70.0
28.0
69.0
67.5
Table 15. Annual Energy Costs -- Seattle

Heating
$(15.41)
$(10.35)
$(7.12)
$(27.73)
$(27.26)
$(26.40)
$(16.42)
$(15.94)
$(15.37)
$(14.42)
$(13.32)
$(6.46)
$(8.05)
$(6.42)
$(3.12)
$(24.26)
$(20.65)
$(10.63)
Cooling
$1.52
$1.61
$1.13
$1.88
$1.92
$1.77
$1.04
$1.05
$1.00
$(0.00)
$0.00
$0.00
$(0.00)
$0.00
$0.00
$1.55
$1.64
$1.11
Total
$(13.89)
$(8.73)
$(5.99)
$(25.84)
$(25.35)
$(24.63)
$(15.38)
$(14.89)
$(14.37)
$(14.42)
$(13.32)
$(6.46)
$(8.05)
$(6.41)
$(3.12)
$(22.72)
$(19.01)
$(9.52)
29
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

CONCLUSIONS
From the review of code and standards and engineering analysis of typical equipment insulation
and ventilation it appears that the addition of insulation to walls and other surface separating
equipment rooms from conditioned spaces is neither required or cost-effective in most cases.
Significantly, the energy analysis shows that total heating costs are increased by the addition of
insulation in most cases. Although the addition of insulation reduces cooling costs, it appears
that the total costs of heating and cooling will be reduced for most types of equipment in
temperate climates by avoiding the use of insulation in walls and other surfaces of separating
equipment rooms from conditioned spaces.
The energy analysis also shows that providing confined equipment spaces with combustion air
from outside, rather than air from the conditioned space, does not necessarily reduce energy
consumption. Although the use of outside air for combustion reduces infiltration losses to the
conditioned space, this outside air also reduces the equipment room temperature and the net flow
of useful heat from the equipment room to the conditioned space during the heating season. The
analysis shows that for a variety of equipment and climate data there is a net increase in energy
costs associated with the use of outside air for combustion
.
Existing gas and energy codes do not directly address all the issues related to the ventilation and
insulation of equipment rooms. In general, insulation requirements related to the interior walls
of equipment room do not directly consider the use of outside air for combustion and ventilation.
Rather, the effect of outside air is considered indirectly in both the International Energy
Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE Standard 90.2 by temperature-based criteria. These
ctiteria that would require insulation unless the temperature in the equipment room is maintained
above 50oF by the heat from the surfaces of the fuel-burning equipment located in the equipment
room. The energy analysis of this study shows that equipment room temperatures of 50oF are
maintained for most combination of equipment and climate data.
Although the existing gas, energy, and ventilation codes and standards recognize the need to
provide adequate combustion air, particularly where the construction has been tightened to
reduce infiltration, the terminology and criteria that define unusually tight construction in the
International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) and National Fuel Gas Code (NFGC) are not consistent with
the terminology and criteria of the IECC or ASHRAE 90.2. Although compliance with energy
codes or standards does not require unusually tight construction as defined by the gas codes there
appears to be an opportunity to ensure the energy efficiency and indoor air quality of residential
construction by providing a more consistent and easily applied set of criteria.
30
RECOMMENDATIONS
The following are provided as suggestions for further research as may be needed to verify and
expand upon the conclusions of this report and as appropriate to disseminate its findings:
Dual approach for dissemination:

(1) technical audience for model code acceptance
(2) grass roots
Additional installations and monitoring
Peer review of energy model
Publication/presentation of technical results
Dissemination of simplified spreadsheet to practitioners/code officials
Integration of energy, infiltration, ventilation, vent system performance issues
In general, while the various gas, energy, and ventilation codes and standards acknowledge that
tight construction, mechanical exhaust systems and fireplaces may require the introduction of
additional makeup air to avoid interference with fuel burning appliances, these codes and
standards do not provide a consistent approach to determine such a requirement or how best to
satisfy it. One problem to development of a simple solution is the complexity and difficulty of
reliably measuring or predicting the interaction of infiltration, ventilation and venting system.
One obvious solution is to isolate fuel burning appliances to confined equipment rooms provided
with outside air for combustion and ventilation. However, such an obvious mechanical solution
may prelude the development of more comprehensive and reliable solutions that integrate
ventilation and combustion air requirements with natural ventilation and infiltration.
31
APPENDIX A -- INFILTRATION AND VENTILATION CODES

AND STANDARDS
This appendix provides a review and excerpts of the IECC and ASHRAE Standards related
infiltration and ventilation. Similarities and differences related to the treatment of infiltration and
ventilation as presented in various codes and standards are discussed here. This section also
provides a review of the energy codes and standards relative to gas code definitions of unusually
tight construction.
International Energy Conservation Code (IECC 2000)
The IECC 2000 provides both proscriptive and performance related provisions. Chapter 4
provides a whole-building performance based methodology based on the comparison of
calculated energy use for a Standard design and a Proposed design where the standard design
complies with proscriptive standards. The Proposed design need not comply with the
proscriptive standards as long as the calculated energy use of the Proposed design is less than the
that of the Standard design.
Chapter 5 provides a component performance approach providing flexibility in the design so
long as equivalent component level performance is maintained. For example widow and wall
areas and U values can be varied so long as the overall thermal transmittance of the gross wall
area is less than or equal to the code specified minimum overall thermal transmittance. Note that
only Chapter 5 contains moisture control criteria specifying the use of a vapor retarder.
Chapter 6 provides simplified proscriptive requirements. For example the maximum area of
windows is specified and tables are provided with the minimum U values for walls, floors,
ceilings, and glazing.
IECC 2000 Chapter 4 -- Residential Building Design by Systems Analysis and Design of
Buildings Utilizing Renewable Energy Sources
Air leakage criteria in Chapter 4 are limited to the specification of a Standard design air leakage
rate for comparison with a Proposed design. While not explicitly stated it is implied that the
Standard design leakage rate is representative of the air leakage that would occur for a house that
was built in compliance with the more proscriptive criteria of Chapters 5 or 6.
402.1.3.10 Air Infiltration. Annual average air changes per hour (ACH) for the Standard
design shall be determined using the following equation:
ACH = Normalized Leakage x Weather Factor
where: Normalized leakage = 0.57
and
Weather factor is determined in accordance with the weather
factors (W) given by ASHRAE 1366, as taken from the weather station
nearest the building site.
Where the Proposed design takes credit for the reduced ACH levels, documentation of
measures providing such reductions, and results of a post-construction blower door test
shall be provided to the code official using ASTM E 779. No energy credit shall be
granted for ACH levels below 0.35.
The Weather factors from ASHRAE 136-93 for the various cities are listed below with the ACH
using a Normalized leakage of 0.57 and the equations from Section 402.1.3.10 above. Note that
the ACH is above the 0.35 minimum for the NFGC definition of unusually tight construction.
City
Atlanta
Baltimore
Chicago
Houston
Seattle
Weather Factor
0.75
0.82
0.93
0.81
0.85
ACH
0.43
0.47
0.53
0.46
0.48
IECC Chapter 5 Residential Building Design by Component Performance Approach

502.1.1 Moisture control. The design shall not create conditions of accelerated
deterioration from moisture condensation. Frame walls floors and ceilings not ventilated
to allow moisture to escape shall be provided with an approved vapor retarder having a
maximum permeance of 1.0 perm (5.72 x 10-8 g/Pa-s-m2) when tested in accordance with
procedure A of ASTM E 96. The vapor retarder shall be installed on the warm-in-winter
side of the thermal insulation.
Exceptions:
1. In construction where moisture or its freezing will not damage the materials.
2. Where the county in which the building is being constructed is considered a hot and
humid climate area and identified as such in Figures 302.1(1) through 302.1(51).
3. Where other approved means to avoid condensation in unventilated framed wall,
floor, floor, roof and ceiling cavities are provided.
Note that in conventional construction there is typically a ventilated attic space above the ceiling.
In this case Section 502.1.1 would not require a vapor retarder and the construction would not be
unusually tight as defined by either the NFGC or IFGC.
502.1.4 Air leakage. Provisions for air leakage shall be in accordance with Sections
502.1.4.1 and 502.1.4.2.
ASHRAE Standard 136-93, Method of Determining Air Change Rates in Detached

Dwellings, American Society of Heating , Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.
6
A-33
502.1.4.1 Window and door assemblies. Window and door assemblies installed in the
building envelope shall comply with the maximum allowable infiltration rates in Table
502.1.4.1
Exception: Site constructed windows and doors sealed in accordance with Section
502.1.4.2
Table 502.1.4.1
Allowable Air Infiltration Ratesa
Windows
(cfm per square foot of window area)
0.3bc
Doors
(cfm per square foot of door area)
Sliders
Swinging
0.3
0.5d
For SI: 1cfm/ft2 = 0.00508 m3/(s-m2)

a. When tested in accordance with ASTM E 283
b. See AAMA/WDMA 101/I.S.2
c. See ASTM D 4099
d. Requirement based on assembly area
502.1.4.2 Caulking and sealants. Exterior joints, seams, or penetrations in the building
envelope, that are sources of air leakage, shall be sealed with durable caulking
materials, closed with gasketing systems, taped or covered with moisture vapor
permeable house wrap. Sealing materials spanning joints between dissimilar
construction materials shall allow for differential expansion and contraction of the
construction material.
This includes sealing around tubs and showers, at the attic and crawl space panels, at
recessed lights and around all plumbing and electrical penetrations. These are openings
located in the building envelope between conditioned space and unconditioned space or
between the conditioned space and outside.
IECC Chapter 6 Simplified Prescriptive Requirements

601.3.2.1 Air leakage. The air leakage of prefabricated fenestration shall be determined
in accordance with AAMA/WDMA101/I.S.2 by an accredited independent laboratory, and
labeled and certified by the manufacturer. Alternately, the manufacturer shall certify that
the fenestration is installed with accordance with Section 502.1.4.
602.1.10 Caulking, sealants and gasketing. All joints seams penetrations (site built
windows, doors, and skylights), openings between window and door assemblies and
their respective jambs and framing and other sources of air leakage (infiltration and
exfiltration) through the building envelope shall be caulked, gasketed, weatherstripped,
wrapped, or otherwise sealed to limit uncontrolled air movement.
ASHRAE Standard 90.2 - 1993

5.6 Air leakage All Buildings
A-34
The requirements of this subsection are limited to portions of the building envelope that separate
heated or mechanically cooled spaces (or both) from the outdoor environment or unconditioned
space. The requirements are not applicable to building components that separate conditioned
spaces from each other.
These requirements are intended to be used to reduce the energy use associated uncontrolled air
leakage (infiltration) through the building envelope of structures subject to the scope of this
standard. The requirements are not intended to be used to adversely impact indoor air quality.
They are not deemed to supply adequate air supply for combustion and ventilation or provide
adequate fresh air supply. Consideration of uses other than reducing unwanted air leakage is not
covered in this standard.
For detached single-family residential buildings, this subsection provides two different paths by
which compliance can be determined. Compliance is achieved either by meeting the specific
prescriptive requirements of 5.6 or by demonstrating compliance with ASHRAE Standard 11919987. (ASHRAE Standard 90.2 proceeds with a detailed specification of maximum air leakage
rates for various types of windows and doors):
5.6.3 Caulking and Sealants. Joints in the buildings conditioned envelope that are
sources of air leakage (such as cracks around window and door frames, between walls
and foundations, between walls and roofs, between separate wall panels, and at utility or
other service penetrations through any envelope sections) shall be properly sealed with
compatible durable caulking, gasketing, weatherstripping, or other materials. Joints
between dissimilar materials, such as concrete and metal frames, shall allow for
differential expansion and contraction so as to provide a permanent seal.
5.6.4 Air Infiltration Retarders. Air infiltration retarders are recommended for use on
the exterior walls of buildings in all climates. When installed, air retarder materials used
toward the exterior surfaces of buildings should be continuous and have a water vapor
permeance of greater than or equal to 5.0 perm and not significantly less that of any
other membrane in the building section. All joints and penetrations of an air retarder
should be properly sealed against air leakage.
5.7 Water Vapor Retarders and Moisture Barriers
5.7.1 General. Water vapor retarders and moisture barriers shall be used to avoid
moisture buildup and mold and mildew growth in energy efficient, low-air-leakage, spaceconditioned buildings except as set forth below. Vapor retarders and moisture barriers
shall of a durable nature to resist tearing under normal construction conditions. For more
information, refer to chapters 20 and 21 of the 1989 ASHRAE Handbook of
Fundamentals.
Exception: The use of vapor retarders is neither required or recommended in humid
climates as defined in section 3.
(ASHRAE Standard 90.2 Section 5.7 proceeds with detailed requirements and applications
specific to walls sections, crawl spaces and radiant slabs.
ASHRAE Standard 119-1988, Air leakage performance for detached single-family
residential buildings. Atlanta: American Society of Heating , Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers, Inc.
7
A-35
ASHRAE Standard 90.2 Ventilation Requirements

6.3.3 Ventilation For the purposes of this standard, ventilation requirements consist of
three components: outdoor air, combustion air, and exhaust air.
6.3.3.1 Outdoor Air If the design infiltration calculations based on item 1 or 2 from Table
6-18 indicate that the summer infiltration rate is less than 0.35 air changes per hour
(ACH), mechanical ventilation shall be provided. When mechanical ventilation is
indicated, a minimum of 50 cfm of outdoor air shall be provided. See ASHRAE Standard
62-198915 or local regulations for indoor air quality or other requirements.
Mechanical ventilation for any residence shall be calculated as follows:
Mechanical ventilation = (0.35 - Summer) X Volume
60
where
Mechanical ventilation = required mechanical ventilation rate to supplement summer
infiltration (cfm)
Volume = volume of conditioned space (ft3), and
Summer = summer design infiltration rate, (ACH).
If the mechanical ventilation rate is less than 50 cfm, use 50 cfm. The mechanical
ventilation requirement in this paragraph may be satisfied by the exhaust requirements of
6.3.3.3 and the use of opened window(s).
6.3.3.2 Combustion Air When fossil fuel heating equipment obtains combustion air from
within the building envelope, and the winter design infiltration rate based on item 1 or 2
from Table 6-l is less than 0.5 cfm/(1000Btu/h) of the equipment input rating, additional
combustion air shall be provided to achieve 0.5 cfm/(l000 Btu/h).
6.3.3.3 Exhaust Air Kitchens and baths shall be provided with intermittent mechanical
exhaust to the outside atmosphere at the following rates: kitchens-100 cfm and baths-50
cfm.
ASHRAE Standard 62-1999, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality

Table 2.3 of ASHRAE 62 provides the outdoor air requirements for the ventilation of residential
facilities. This table states that living areas should have 0.35 air changes per hour but not less
than 15 cfm (7.5 L/s) per person. The table also notes:
The ventilation is normally satisfied by infiltration and natural ventilation. Dwellings with
tight enclosures may require supplemental ventilation supply for fuel-burning appliances,
including fireplaces and mechanically exhausted appliances.
The referenced items 1 and 2 are: (1.) Residential Load Calculation, Manual J, 7th Edition,
Air-Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), and (2.) Cooling and Heating, Load Calculation
Manual, GRP 15S2s, American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers
(ASHRAE)
8
A-36
Kitchen and bath exhaust requirements shown in Table 2 are consistent with ASHRAE 90.2 with
100 cfm for kitchens and 50 cfm for baths of installed mechanical exhaust capacity.
Paragraph 5.1 requires mechanical ventilation if infiltration and natural ventilation are not
adequate.
5.1 Ventilating systems may be mechanical or natural. When mechanical ventilation is
used, provision for air flow measurement should be included. When natural ventilation
and infiltration are relied upon, sufficient ventilation shall be demonstrable. When
infiltration and natural ventilation are insufficient to meet ventilation air requirements,
mechanical ventilation shall be provided. The use of energy recovery ventilation systems
should be considered for energy conservation purposes in meeting ventilation
requirements.
An interpretation of the standard dated September 22, 1993 provides the following comment this
paragraph providing some guidance on determining the adequacy of infiltration and natural
ventilation.
Demonstration of ventilation rates specified in Table 2 is only one of the acceptable
methods. Acceptable means of demonstrating natural ventilation include the infiltration
methods described in Chapter 23 "Infiltration and Ventilation" of the 1993 ASHRAE
Handbook - Fundamentals. Acceptable means of demonstrating openable areas to the
outdoors for natural ventilation are given in the model building codes. Documentation of a
background of successful natural ventilation experience in similar buildings and building
uses could also be considered suitable demonstration.
Paragraph 5.7 notes the importance of adequate combustion air and refers to Appendix B which
provides a method for determining the adequacy of infiltration in this regard.
5.7 Fuel-burning appliances, including fireplaces located indoors, shall be provided with
sufficient air for combustion and adequate removal of combustion products. When
infiltration supplies all or part of the combustion air, the supply rate of air shall be
demonstrable (Appendix B shows one method of demonstrating adequate combustion
air). The operation of clothes dryers and exhaust fans may require introduction of
additional makeup air to avoid interference with fuel-burning appliances. Combustion
system, kitchen, bathroom, and clothes dryer vents shall not be exhausted into attics,
crawl-spaces, or basements.
APPENDIX B -- POSITIVE COMBUSTION AIR SUPPLY
Fuel-fired appliances equipped with an open draft hood for control of combustion
chamber draft must exhibit a positive flow of air into the draft hood whenever combustion
is present. Measurements are made when building infiltration is low, i.e., the insideoutside temperature difference should be no more than 30F (18C) and wind velocity is
no more than 5 mph (2.2 m/s). Commonly used exhaust fans, such as kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans, should be turned on, and fireplaces that have no dedicated
combustion air supply should be operated simultaneously with all external doors and
windows closed. Flow of room air into the draft hood under these conditions must
indicate a 40% dilution of the products of combustion going up the stack.
Appendix B of Standard 62 continues with an approach for determining the dilution ratio based
on a calculation using measured temperatures in the room and in the flue before and after the
draft hood.
A-37

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ASHRAE Standard 90.2 Ventilation Requirements.....................................................36

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

GAS AND ENERGY CODES AND STANDARDS

Equipment room insulation

condensation in unvented building cavities and are specifically not recommended or

Mid-efficiency water heater with conventional draft hood vent system

High-efficiency water heater with fan assisted draft

SUMMARY OF ENERGY ANALYSIS RESULTS

On-Cycle Temperatures and Heat Flows

Figure 1. Equipment Room Temperature and Thermal Balance

It is assumed that air flow from a conditioned space to an equipment room is

Atlanta Baltimore Chicago Houston Seattle

Atlanta Baltimore Chicago Houston Seattle

Insulated Insulated Insulated

Table 4. Equipment Characteristics and Combinations Considered for Further Study

Standard-eff. water heater

Excess Air Dilution Air

Not recommended for further analysis

Recommended for further analysis of scenarios and weather data.

Table 5. Average January and ASHRAE Heating Design

Natural Gas $1.00 per Therm

Mid-efficiency water heater, outside air, 70.0

Side-wall vent water heater, outside air, 70.0

High-efficiency water heater, outside

Mid-efficiency furnace, outside air,

High-efficiency furnace, outside air,

Mid. Eff. Water Heater and Furnace,

Table 7. Annual Energy Costs -- Atlanta

Mid-efficiency water heater, outside air, 70.0

Side-wall vent water heater, outside air, 70.0

High-efficiency water heater, outside

Mid-efficiency furnace, outside air,

High-efficiency furnace, outside air,

Mid. Eff. Water Heater and Furnace,

Table 9. Annual Energy Costs -- Baltimore

Equipment Room Description

Mid-efficiency water heater,

Side-wall vent water heater,

High-efficiency water heater,

Mid. Eff. Water Heater and Furnace,

Table 11. Annual Energy Costs -- Chicago

Equipment Room Description

Mid-efficiency water heater, outside air, 70.0

Side-wall vent water heater, outside air, 70.0

High-efficiency water heater, outside

Mid-efficiency furnace, outside air,

High-efficiency furnace, outside air,

Mid. Eff. Water Heater and Furnace,

Table 13. Annual Energy Costs -- Houston

Equipment Room Description

Mid-efficiency water heater,

Side-wall vent water heater,

High-efficiency water heater,

Mid. Eff. Water Heater and Furnace,

Table 15. Annual Energy Costs -- Seattle

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Dual approach for dissemination:

APPENDIX A -- INFILTRATION AND VENTILATION CODES

IECC Chapter 5 Residential Building Design by Component Performance Approach

ASHRAE Standard 136-93, Method of Determining Air Change Rates in Detached

For SI: 1cfm/ft2 = 0.00508 m3/(s-m2)

IECC Chapter 6 Simplified Prescriptive Requirements