baxi boiler & ventilation

[francis123]

Hi there, hope you can give me some advice. I have a Baxi Bermuda 401 boiler behind the fire in the lounge. An engineer came to service it and after having a quick look around said there was no ventilation in the room and wanted to seal the bolier off. I asked him not to and he left, he told me I should get a 100 cm2 air vent in the wall.

After he left I had a look around the room and spotted in the floor just in front of the radiator what seems to be like an air vent grid, and it is certainly bigger than 100cm2 . The radiator in my lounge is behind a cover and I think that is why the engineer didn't see it.

My question is, does this vent comply to the requirement, or does it not because it's in the ground rather than on the wall? I don't want to look silly and ask the engineer to come round again, don't want to look like I'm telling him how to do his job so if anyone could give me some advice it'd be great thanks.

 

[lewisplumber]

Now a days it is through a wall with a sleve so nothing can fall down the cavity and block off the air. If it is in the floor it is drawing air from the floor vents but there is no guarantee they are not clogged up.It would be best to block up the floor vent and get one fitted in the wall .

 

[Blackcatgas]

floor vents are NCS nowadays (not to current standards) I cant stress how important correct ventalation is for gas apliances. putting a new one through the wall isnt a big job.

 

[Reg Man]

Inadequate ventilation is AT RISK. Turn it off (No Dont lets get into the other thread) Your floor vent must be none closable. The appetures must measure the correct area. Additional: I take it that you have a suspended wooden floor with air vents around the external walls. If they are terracotta type vents, then they may not satisfy the requirements. Measure the smallest appature of each hole. Length x Width x number of holes for all ventilation openings in the terracotta bricks, will give you the total free area. Total input is about 25kW so you will require approximately 90cm2 of free air. This is a rough guide, refer to manufacture instructions.

 

[gasmarc]

agree with above ,back boilers can get clogged up if not serviced regularly

 

[Reg Man]

Back boilers are one of the worst. Located in the main living area with your pet cats and dogs; the back boiler sucks all of the dust and hairs onto the lint filter on the burner, resulting in sooty boiler, burnt out loom or worse etc. Always get them serviced at least once a year, especialy if you have pets. Good job they are out of fashion, but they were great in their day.

 

[kirkgas]

Now a days it is through a wall with a sleve so nothing can fall down the cavity and block off the air. If it is in the floor it is drawing air from the floor vents but there is no guarantee they are not clogged up.It would be best to block up the floor vent and get one fitted in the wall .

there is nothing wrong with a properly sized floor vent, which is vented to outside

 

[Reg Man]

Nothing wrong with a floor vent, as long as the space below is properly ventilated, which on many occassions its not. Check the underfloor vents, to often are terracotta style so very restrictive and almost certainly not 300mm above the ground(blockage through leaves & snow ect)

 

[Blackcatgas]

I always thought floor vents werent acceptable nowadays, thats what Ilike about this forum you learn somthing new everyday.

 

[tamz]

Floor vents are fine in most cases but still check.

 

[kirkgas]

floor vents are NCS nowadays (not to current standards) I cant stress how important correct ventalation is for gas apliances. putting a new one through the wall isnt a big job.

where are you getting this from Blackcatgas

 

[Reg Man]

Floor vents are fine. Just don't put your foot through them or sit yout chippendale chest of draws over the top.

 

[Toddyplumb]

I think this NCS is from BG have followed them onto a couple like this

 

[Reg Man]

Don't know whereyou get NCS from, even if BG said different. The only restriction apart from the normal stuff, is the vent can not communicate with an underfloor space if that space communicates with another property.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

floor vents are fine as long as they go direct to outside and are ducted remember the old radon gas issue

 

[Reg Man]

Good point, But only in Radon gas risk area's. There are loads of underfloor vents not ducted, it don't make it wrong.

 

[stevetheplumber]

floor vents are fine ive not heard anything to the contrar yalways good to check the air bricks havent been built over

 

[GrahamM]

I think this NCS is from BG have followed them onto a couple like this

As far as I know floor vents are perfectly acceptable to BG/SG as well.