Requirements for Operating a Lodging Establishment: Heating, Venting and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Equipment

Air conditioning, heating, ventilating ductwork and related equipment shall be installed using acceptable procedures in a safe manner and be in good operating condition.

1. Unvented fuel-fired heaters, fireplaces or other appliances and portable electrical space heaters shall be prohibited from use in all areas of the lodging establishment unless approved in writing by the manufacturer for commercial use.
2. Existing unvented fireplace installations may continue to be used, upon approval of the administrative authority, if the following conditions are met:
   1. The appliance and installation meet the National Fire Protection Association 54 ANSI 223.1-2002, 2002 Edition National Fuel Gas Code requirements for residential use;
   2. The local gas company conducts an inspection to assure the appliance and installation meet the National Fire Protection Association 54 ANSI 223.1-2002, 2002 Edition National Fuel Gas Code requirements for residential use;
   3. A carbon monoxide detector is installed in accordance with (3)(D)1.I.(III) (V); and
   4. The unvented fireplace is not the primary source of heat.
3. Gas and electric heating equipment shall be equipped with thermostatic controls.
4. Gas water heaters, gas furnaces and other gas appliances shall be properly vented to the outside, and the flue pipe shall be constructed of galvanized pipe or material recommended by the manufacturer. All galvanized pipe shall be secured by screws at every joint in the pipe.
5. Joints in gas supply pipes shall be located outside the furnace cabinet housing.
6. Gas shutoff valves shall be located next to all gas appliances, gas furnaces and gas water heaters.
7. Rooms containing gas water heaters and/or gas furnaces shall have an automatic sprinkler head installed off the domestic water system with a hardwired smoke detector located directly outside the room or shall be protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system or designed in a manner to be fire resistant.
   1. The sprinkler head should be rated for one hundred sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit (165°F) or appropriately rated for the specific location and installed according to manufacturer’s specifications or approved by the administrative authority. Existing installations may continue to be used upon approval of the administrative authority.
   2. The sprinkler head should be installed in a manner so the water spray will encompass the gas water heater and/or furnace.
   3. Pipes tying into the domestic water line shall be one-half inch (1/2") or three-fourths inch (3/4") copper pipe or chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) pipe. Existing installations may continue to be used upon approval of the administrative authority.
   4. CPVC pipe must meet National Fire Protection Association 13 Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems 2002 Edition and National Fire Protection Association 13R Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies up to and Including Four Stories in Height 2002 Edition.
   5. A smoke detector is not required to be located directly outside the room if the door to the gas water heater and/or furnace room opens directly to the outside.
   6. A smoke detector is not required to be located directly outside the room if another smoke detector is already located within ten feet (10') of the door.
   7. A fire resistant room shall consist of walls and ceilings designed to be fire resistant for a minimum of one (1) hour, with a one (1)-hour fire rated door and doorjamb. All openings into this room shall be designed with one (1)-hour fire rated materials.
   8. If a gas furnace or gas water heater is located inside a garage, it shall be at least eighteen inches (18") above the finished floor and enclosed inside a fire resistant room.
   9. Furnaces shall be equipped with an electrical fused switch to protect the unit from electrical overloading and to disconnect the electrical supply.
   10. Furnace rooms and rooms containing gas water heaters or any other fuel-fired appliance shall be provided with vents or other approved means to supply adequate combustion air for the units.
       1. Except as specified in (3)(H)10.D. below, there shall be two (2) combustion air vent openings in each room containing gas or fuel-fired appliances.
          1. One (1) shall be located at the lower level and the other at the upper level.
          2. One (1) combustion air vent opening shall be permitted if the vent opening extends directly to the outside of the structure. This opening shall be one (1) square inch per three thousand (3,000) Btu input of the total gas appliances located in the room.
       2. The vent size openings for the combustion air shall be:
          1. Measured at one (1) square inch per one thousand (1,000) Btu input if the combustion air is drawn from inside the structure;
          2. Measured at one (1) square inch per four thousand (4,000) Btu input if the air is drawn from outside the structure.
       3. Other means of venting furnace rooms and rooms containing gas water heaters or any other fuel-fired appliance may be subject to approval from the administrative authority; and
       4. Furnace rooms and/or rooms containing gas or fuel burning appliances having a volume of fifty (50) cubic feet per one thousand (1,000) Btu/hour shall not be required to have additional venting.
          1. The sum of the required volume shall be calculated for all the gas appliances located within the space.
          2. Rooms communicating directly with the space in which the appliances are installed through openings not furnished with doors, and through combustion air openings sized and located appropriately shall be considered a part of the required volume.
   11. Gas appliances shall have a clearance around them of one inch (1") from the sides and back and six inches (6") from the front of the unit or be installed to manufacturer’s specifications.

Authority: sections 192.006 and 315.005–315.065, RSMo 2000 and Supp. 2004.* This rule was previously filed as 13 CSR 50-66.010. Original rule filed as Missouri Division of Health E 9.01 on Sept. 4, 1957, effective Sept. 14, 1957. Rescinded and readopted: Filed June 28, 2001, effective Feb. 28, 2002. Rescinded and readopted: Filed May 2, 2005, effective Oct. 30, 2005.

*Original authority 192.006, RSMo 1993, amended 1995, 315.005–315.065, please see Revised Statutes of Missouri and Revised Statutes of Missouri Supp. 2004.

Contact Information

If you have questions regarding lodging establishments, please contact the appropriate local health office or:

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Environmental Regulation and Licensure Unit
PO Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570
(573) 751-6095