Gas Vent Systems

NYC Admin. Code tit. 27, ch. 1, subch. 15, art. 5

in effect

NYC Admin. Code § 27-879 General.

§ 27-879 General. (a) Vent systems of gas-fired equipment shall be so designed and constructed as to completely exhaust the products of combustion to the outdoor air. (b) When required by the commissioner, gas vents shall be tested to determine fire safety and the adequate exhausting of the products of combustion. (c) Vents shall be installed if required, in accordance with the applicable standards for gas-fired equipment. See reference standard RS 15-2 for a tabulation of these standards.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-880 Equipment not required to be vented.

§ 27-880 Equipment not required to be vented. (a) Ranges for which a vent is not required by reference standard RS 15-2. (b) Built-in domestic cooking units for which a vent is not required by reference standard RS 15-2. (c) Hot plates and laundry stoves. (d) Type 1 clothes dryers. (*e) Water heaters with inputs not over five thousand Btu/hr. (See note below.) (*f) Automatically controlled instantaneous water heaters that supply water to a single faucet which is attached to and made a part of the equipment. (*g) A single booster type (automatic instantaneous) water heater when designed and used solely for the sanitizing rinse requirements of a national sanitation foundation class one, two or three dishwashing machine, provided that the input is limited to fifty thousand Btu/hr. the storage capacity is limited to twelve and one-half gallons and the heater is installed in a commercial kitchen having a mechanical exhaust system. (*h) Refrigerators. (*i) Counter equipment. (*j) Room heaters for which a vent is not required by reference standard RS 15.0. (*k) Other equipment for which a vent is not required and which are not provided with flue collars. (*l) Specialized equipment of limited input such as laboratory burners or gas lights. * Note: When any, or all, of the equipment marked with an asterisk (*) is installed so that the aggregate input rating exceeds thirty Btu/hr. per cubic foot of room or space in which it is installed, one or more pieces of the equipment shall be provided with a venting system or other equivalent means for removing the vent gases to the outdoor air so that the aggregate input rating of the remaining unvented equipment does not exceed the thirty Btu/hr. per cubic foot figure. When the room or space in which such equipment is installed is directly connected to another room or space by a doorway, archway, or other opening of comparable size, which cannot be closed, the volume of such adjacent room or space may be included in the calculations.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-881 Draft hoods.

§ 27-881 Draft hoods. (a) All vented equipment, except dual oven type combination ranges, equipment with sealed combustion chambers, and units designed for power burners or forced venting, shall be installed with a draft hood or with a barometric damper. (b) The draft hood supplied with, or forming a part of, vented equipment shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of the applicable standard in reference standard 15-2. The draft hood shall be located in the same room as the combustion air opening of the equipment.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-882 Chimneys for venting gas-fired equipment.

§ 27-882 Chimneys for venting gas-fired equipment. When venting of gas-fired equipment is provided for by the use of chimneys, such chimneys shall be constructed in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-883 Gas equipment connected to chimneys.

§ 27-883 Gas equipment connected to chimneys. Automatically controlled gas-fired equipment connected to a chimney that also serves equipment for the combustion of solid or liquid fuel shall be equipped with an automatic pilot. A gas-fired equipment vent connector and a chimney connector from equipment burning another fuel, located on the same floor, may be connected into the same chimney through separate openings, or may be connected through a single opening if joined by a suitable fitting located as close as practicable to the chimney. If two or more openings are provided into one chimney, they shall be at different levels.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-884 Types of gas vents.

§ 27-884 Types of gas vents. (a) Type B gas vents. Type B gas vents conforming to the requirements of section 27-855 of article one of this subchapter may be used to vent gas-fired equipment. Type B gas vents may be used for single-story or multi-story installations when they conform to the requirements of section 27-855 of article one of this subchapter and the gas equipment used in multi-story installations shall be accepted for such use. Type B gas vents shall be used to vent only listed gas appliances with draft hoods and other gas appliances listed for use with Type B gas vents. However, Type B gas vents shall not be used for venting: (1) vented wall furnaces listed for use with Type BW gas vents only; (2) incinerators; (3) appliances which may be converted readily to the use of solid or liquid fuels; (4) combination gas-oil burning appliances; (5) appliances listed for use with chimneys only. (b) Type B-W gas vents. Type B-W gas vents conforming to the requirements of section 27-855 of article one of this subchapter shall be used to vent gas-fired vented recessed heaters. Type B-W gas vents may be used with single-story or multi-story installations when they conform to the requirements of section 27-855 of article one of this subchapter and the gas equipment used in multi-story installations shall be accepted for such use. Type BW vents shall be used with listed vented gas wall furnaces having a capacity not greater than that of the listed Type BW gas vent. (c) Single-wall metal vents. Single-wall metal vents may be used to vent gas-fired equipment and shall be constructed of not less than 16 oz. sheet copper, or No. 20 galvanized sheet gauge steel, or of other equivalent noncombustible corrosion-resistive material. Single-wall metal gas vents may pass through the roof or exterior wall to the outdoor air, but shall not pass through any attic or other concealed space nor through any intermediate floor construction. (d) Connection to a common vent. Connection of gas-fired equipment on more than one floor level to a common vent, except as provided for in subdivisions (a) and (b) of this section, shall be prohibited. (e) Ventilating hoods. Ventilating hoods and exhaust systems may be used to vent kitchen, laboratory, and commercial equipment.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-885 Labeling gas vents.

§ 27-885 Labeling gas vents. Gas vents for use with gas-fired equipment, and which are not designed for use with solid or liquid fuel-fired equipment, shall be plainly and permanently identified by a metal label etched or embossed to read: "This gas vent is for equipment which burns gas only. Do not connect to incinerator or solid or liquid fuel-burning equipment." This label shall be attached to the vent at a point near where the gas vent system enters the wall, ceiling, or chimney.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-886 Special venting arrangements.

§ 27-886 Special venting arrangements. (a) Equipment with sealed combustion chambers. The vent requirements contained in this subchapter do not apply to equipment having sealed combustion chambers and which are so constructed and installed that all air for combustion is derived from outside the space being heated and all flue gases are discharged by integral vent to the outdoors. Such equipment, having integral venting, shall be installed in accordance with the conditions of the applicable standard governing their use. (b) Gas-vent exhausters and chimney exhausters. Gas-vent exhausters and chimney exhausters may be used with gas appliances in lieu of natural draft vents. Where an exhauster is used with gas-burning equipment requiring venting, provisions shall be made to prevent the flow of gas to the main burner in the event of failure of the exhaust system. A vent connector serving gas equipment vented by natural draft shall not be connected into the discharge side of a power exhauster. (c) Ventilating hoods and exhaust systems. Ventilating hoods and exhaust systems may be used to vent gas equipment installed in commercial applications. When automatically operated equipment, such as water heaters, are vented through natural-draft ventilating hoods, dampers shall not be installed in the ventilating system. When the ventilating hood or exhaust system is equipped with a power-driven exhaust fan, the equipment control system shall be so interlocked as to permit equipment operation only when the power exhaust is in operation. When used, ventilating hoods shall be built and installed in accordance with the provisions of subchapter thirteen of this chapter.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-887 Installation requirements.

§ 27-887 Installation requirements. (a) The gas vent connected to equipment with a single vent shall not be less than the size of the draft hood outlet, and in no case less than two inches in diameter. (b) When more than one piece of equipment is connected to a gas vent, the area shall be not less than the area of the largest vent connector plus fifty percent of the areas of additional vent connectors or in accordance with the provisions of reference standard RS 15-1. (c) Where two or more vent connectors enter a common vertical gas vent or chimney, the smaller connector shall enter at the highest level consistent with available headroom or clearance to combustible material. Two or more items of gas equipment may be vented through a common vent connector or manifold located at the highest level consistent with available headroom or clearance to combustible material. The manifold, all junction fittings, and the common vent connector shall be of a size adequate for the combined volume of the vent gases. (d) Gas vents shall be enclosed as provided in subdivision (c) of section 27-861 of article two of this subchapter.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-888 Gas vent height and locations.

§ 27-888 Gas vent height and locations. Gas vents shall extend at least two feet above the highest construction, such as a roof ridge, parapet wall, or penthouse, within ten feet of the vent outlet whether the construction is on the same building as the chimney or on another building. However, such constructions do not include chimneys or other vents, or open structural framing. The vent shall be as high as such construction which is located beyond ten feet from the vent and up to and including the distance determined by the following formula: D = 2 √ A where: D = Distance in ft., measured from the center of the vent outlet to the nearest edge of the construction. A = Free area, in sq. in., of vent flue space. Vents shall be subject to the following additional requirements: (a) No gas vent shall terminate less than five feet in vertical height above the highest connected equipment draft hood outlet or flue collar. (b) No type B-W gas vent serving a vented recessed heater shall terminate less than twelve feet in vertical height above the bottom of the heater. (c) All gas vents shall terminate in an approved vent or cowl, which shall prevent down drafts and prevent rain and debris from entering the vent.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-889 Adjoining gas vents.

§ 27-889 Adjoining gas vents. (a) Responsibility of owner of taller building. Whenever a building is erected, enlarged, or increased in height so that any portion of such building, except chimneys or vents, extends above the top of a previously constructed gas vent within fifty feet, the owner of the new or altered building shall have the responsibility of altering such gas vents that have their outlets within fifty feet measured horizontally, of any part of the newly erected building. Such alterations shall be at the expense of the owner of the new or altered building and shall be accomplished by one of the following means or a combination thereof: (1) Carry up such previously constructed vents from gas-fired equipment to the height required in section 27-888 of this article. (2) Offset such gas vents to a distance of more than fifty feet from the new or altered building, provided that the new location of the outlet of the offset gas vent shall comply with the requirements of this subchapter. (b) Protection of draft. After the alteration of a gas vent as described in subdivision (a) of this section, it shall be the responsibility of the owner of the new or altered building to provide any mechanical devices or equipment necessary to maintain the proper draft in the equipment. (c) Written notification. The owner of the new or altered building shall notify the owner of the building affected in writing at least forty-five days before starting the work and request written consent to do such work. Such notice shall be accompanied by a written description or a plan showing how the proposed alterations are to be made. (d) Approval. The method of correction shall be subject to the approval of the commissioner. (e) Refusal of consent. If consent is not granted by the owner of the previously constructed or altered building to do the alteration work required by paragraph one of subdivision (a) of this section, such owner shall signify his or her refusal in writing to the owner of the new or altered building and to the commissioner, and the owner of the new or altered building has submitted plans that conform to the requirements of this section, he or she shall thereupon be released from any responsibility for the operation of his or her equipment and for any health hazard or nuisance that may occur as a result of the newly erected or modified building. Such responsibilities shall then be assumed by the owner of the previously constructed building. Likewise, should such owner neglect to grant consent within forty-five days from the date of written request or fail to signify his or her refusal, he or she shall then assume all responsibilities as prescribed above. (f) Procedures. It shall be the obligation of the owner of the new or altered building to: (1) Schedule this work so as to create a minimum of disturbance to the occupants of the affected building. (2) Provide such essential services as are normally supplied by the equipment while it is out of service. (3) Where necessary, support such extended gas vents from his or her building or carry up such vents within his or her building. (4) Provide for the maintenance, repair, and/or replacement of such alterations. (5) Make such alterations of the same material as the original gas vent except where the owner of the vent affected shall give his or her consent to do otherwise. All work shall be done in such fashion as to maintain the architectural esthetics of the existing building. (g) Existing violations. Any existing violations on the previously constructed equipment shall be corrected by the owner of the equipment before any equipment is added or alterations made at the expense of the owner of the new or altered building. (h) The commissioner may grant a variance in accordance with the provisions of section 27-107 of article one of subchapter one of this chapter.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-890 Support of gas vents.

§ 27-890 Support of gas vents. All portions of gas vents shall be adequately supported for the weight of the material used and for the applied loads on the vent.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-891 Prohibited termination.

§ 27-891 Prohibited termination. Gas vents extending through outside walls shall not terminate below eaves or parapets.

Source: City of New York, Charter, Administrative Code and Rules (American Legal Publishing XML export, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCadmin/0-0-0-52800Fetched: 10/24/2026