Are you qualified to work on fuel-fired equipment?

by jason_cramp | November 21, 2015 10:00 am

By John Marshall, BA, CIGC, CFEI

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For Ontario’s Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), when it comes to fuel-fired pool heater installation and maintenance, qualifications matter. Only those professionals with the proper technical certification may install, service, or relight a pilot light on a fuel-fired (gas or propane) pool heater. Homeowners may also relight the pilot light (using manufacturer’s certified instructions, of course).

It is not unusual for pool owners to ask unregistered landscapers or pool installation or maintenance contractors to light their pool heaters—after all, what is the harm—it is a simple task, right? It may seem simple, but there is much more to the exercise than meets the eye, which makes this task not only unsafe, but also illegal under TSSA Fuel Safety regulations, O. Reg. 212/01: Gaseous Fuels, under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000, S.O. 2000, c. 16[2].

It is important to remember a pool heater is still a fuel-fired appliance, and like a hot water heater or furnace, should only be installed and maintained by those trained and certified to do so.

Inadequately maintained heaters can develop carbon build-up, create deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gas and, if exposed to an ignition source, ignite, causing injury or death as well as extensive damage to property.

On the safe side

A pool service professional that is not also a certified gas technician can work on the ‘wet’ side of the pool heater, e.g. water lines, circulators, chlorination systems, and skimmers. The safety considerations related to the ‘gas’ side of this integrated appliance demand a pool service professional that installs or services this type of equipment be trained and certified to ensure:

• The whole installation meets all applicable codes;
• All of its operational characteristics meet its design specifications;
• Its gas input and combustion characteristics meet with design specifications/code requirements; and
• The appliance is serviced as a whole, i.e. the ‘wet’ and ‘gas’ sides work together.

Only trained and certified gas technicians are permitted to:

• Install or service gas piping;
• Install, service, or repair combustion and/or safety controls, or any other component that forms part of the ‘heating’ side of the appliance;
• Install or service venting components;
• Test for the safe operation of the appliance and its fuel-related components; and
• Inspect the installation for gas code compliance.

What Certificates are required for various activities?

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All Gaseous Fuels regulations under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000, S.O. 2000, c. 16, should be adhered to when installing or servicing
a fuel-fired pool heater. That said, Ontario Regulation 212/01 states:

• No person shall install, alter, purge, activate, repair, service, or remove any appliance, equipment or other thing employed or to be employed in the handling or use of gas unless
  the person is the holder of a certificate for that purpose. (O. Reg. 212/01, s. 6 [1]).

Initial putting into use

• Where premises are connected to a supply of gas for the first time, no person shall put an appliance in the premises into use for the first time until the distributor has examined the installation of the appliance and is satisfied the installation and use of the appliance are in compliance with this regulation. (O. Reg. 212/01, s. 7 [1]).
• An examination under subsection (1) shall include an examination of all appliances intended to be installed at the time of occupation of the premises. (O. Reg. 212/01, s. 7 [2]).

Duty to maintain in safe operating condition

• An owner or user of an appliance, equipment, a work, or any other thing employed in the handling or use of gas shall ensure the appliance, equipment, work, or thing employed in the handling or use of gas is maintained in a safe operating condition. (O. Reg. 212/01, s. 15).

Ontario Regulation 215/01 identifies the Gas Technician certificate as the certificate class required by Regulation 212/01 as the ‘certificate for that purpose:

• 20. (1) A person who is the holder of a G.1 certificate may install, inspect, alter, purge, activate, repair, service or remove a natural gas or propane appliance of any BTU input and the equipment and accessories essential to its operation. (O. Reg. 215/01, s. 20 [1]).
• 21. (1) A person who is the holder of a G.2 certificate may install, inspect, alter, purge, activate, repair, service or remove a natural gas or propane appliance that has an input of 400,000 BTUh or less and the equipment and accessories essential to its operation. (O. Reg. 215/01, s. 21 [1]).

To the code

In 2012, the TSSA’s O. Reg. 212/01: Gaseous Fuels code was amended with Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B149.1, Natural gas and propane installation code[4], which applies to the installation of:

• Appliances, equipment, components, and accessories where gas is to be used for fuel purposes;
• Piping and tubing systems;
• Vehicle-refueling appliances and associated equipment; and
• Stationary gas engines and turbines.

According to CSA, this code targets Canadian gas and propane industry workers and reflects the latest advances in technology and corresponding safety requirements. It has also been adopted into law in every Canadian province and territory. Section 7, subsection 25, specifically applies to pool heaters as follows:

7.25.1

A pool heater shall be installed on a

(a) firm and level base; and

(b) non-combustible floor or support, except where the pool heater is

(i) certified for installation on a combustible floor;

(ii) installed using the pool heater manufacturer’s certified special base; or

(iii) installed as specified in clause 4.13.3[5].

7.25.2

Except where permitted by clause 4.13.2[6], a pool heater shall be installed with the following minimum clearances from combustible material:

(a) vertical 450 mm (18 in.);

(b) sides and rear 450 mm (18 in.); and

(c) front 1200 mm (48 in.).

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7.25.3

A pool heater installed outdoors shall be located a minimum of 450 mm (18 in.) from any property line.

7.25.4

A wall-mounted pool heater shall be securely attached.

7.25.5

An outdoor pool heater shall not be installed beneath any structure, including a deck.

7.25.6

A pool heater of the finned-tube type shall be installed outdoors or in an enclosure that is not normally occupied and does not directly communicate with occupied areas. Direct-vent pool heaters of the finned-tube type are exempt from this requirement.

7.25.7

When a finned-tube indoor gas-fired pool heater that had prior approval for indoor installation that communicates with an occupied area, is being replaced with a new finned-tube-type heater, the heater shall be of the direct-vent type.

7.25.8

Where a heater is installed in accordance with clause 7.25.7, it shall be the responsibility of the owner of the heater to provide maintenance for the heater in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, but in no case less than once annually.

7.25.9

An outdoor pool heater shall be installed so that the flue discharge is in accordance with clause 8.14.10.

8.14.10

The flue gas discharge opening for an outdoor pool heater shall terminate not less than 3 m (10 ft) from any building opening.

Preventing accidents

POOL HEATER INSTALLATION CHECKLIST

• Ensure the heater is approved for use on pools. Tankless or conventional water heaters (e.g. a 150-L [40-gal] hot water heater) are not designed to heat pools. • Ensure the pool heater is approved for its installation location (i.e. indoors or outdoors). If the heater is installed inside a building, it is critical the unit is approved for this type of installation and that the venting terminates outside the building. • Ensure there is adequate combustion air to minimize the possibility of carbon monoxide (CO). • Read and comply with the manufacturer’s certified instructions and all applicable provincial codes for the installation.

Carbon monoxide is a leading cause of accidental poisoning in North America,⁵ and a good reason why swimming pool owners should have a certified fuel technician inspect and maintain their pool heaters annually.

This odourless gas is produced as a byproduct of combustion when common fuel-burning appliances and equipment that use natural gas, oil, wood, propane, and kerosene, do not get enough air for complete combustion. When this happens, CO can build-up—especially in a confined room or space—and can lead to toxic effects on humans and pets.

The best way to ensure a homeowner is not exposed to CO is to eliminate this poisonous gas at the source. Therefore, periodic inspections by certified professionals, especially at the start of the season (i.e. pool opening), are critical to keep pool heaters running safely and efficiently.

[8]John Marshall, BA, CIGC, CFEI, is director of the Technical Standards and Safety Authority’s (TSSA) Fuels Safety Program. TSSA is Ontario’s public safety regulator mandated by the Government of Ontario to enforce provincial safety regulations and enhance public safety in key sectors of the provincial economy. The organization’s vision is to be a valued advocate and recognized authority in public safety. Marshall can be contacted via e-mail at jmarshall@tssa.org[9].

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/are-you-qualified-to-work-on-fuel-fired-equipment/

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