Chapter 10 — BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS
1014.1 General.
California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4) · 2022 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
Boilers and pressure vessels shall be operated and maintained in accordance with requirements for protection of the public established by the Authority Having Jurisdiction in accordance with nationally recognized standards.
The Authority Having Jurisdiction shall notify the owner or authorized representative of defects or deficiencies and properly corrected. Where such corrections are not made, or where the operation of the boiler or pressure vessel is deemed unsafe by the Authority Having Jurisdiction, they shall have the authority to revoke the permit to operate the boiler or pressure vessel. Where the operation of a boiler or pressure vessel is deemed by the Authority Having Jurisdiction to constitute an immediate danger, the pressure on such boiler or pressure vessel shall be permitted to be relieved at the owner’s cost and the boiler or pressure vessel shall not thereafter be operated without the approval of the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
2022 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE 209
BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS
| CONTROL AND LIMIT DEVICE SYSTEM DESIGN11 | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Per NFPA 85 | Per NFPA 85 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APPROVED FUEL SHUT- OFF10 |
APPROVED FUEL SHUT- OFF10 |
APPROVED FUEL SHUT- OFF10 |
Not Required |
Not Required |
Required | Required | Not Required |
Not Required |
Not Required |
Required | Not Required |
Per NFPA 85 |
Per NFPA 85 |
| STEAM PRESSURE AND LOW WATER LIMIT CON- TROLS9 |
STEAM PRESSURE AND LOW WATER LIMIT CON- TROLS9 |
STEAM PRESSURE AND LOW WATER LIMIT CON- TROLS9 |
Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Per ASME Power Boiler Code, Section 1 and NFPA 85 |
Per ASME Boiler & Pressure Code & NFPA 85 |
| HOT WATER TEMPERA- TURE AND LOW WATER LIMIT CON- TROLS8 |
HOT WATER TEMPERA- TURE AND LOW WATER LIMIT CON- TROLS8 |
HOT WATER TEMPERA- TURE AND LOW WATER LIMIT CON- TROLS8 |
Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Per ASME Power Boiler Code, Section 1 and NFPA 85 |
Per ASME Boiler & Pressure Code & NFPA 85 |
| PRE- PURGING CONTROL7 |
PRE- PURGING CONTROL7 |
PRE- PURGING CONTROL7 |
Not Required |
Not Required |
Required | Required | Not Required |
Not Required |
Not Required |
Required | Not Required |
Per NFPA 85 |
Per NFPA 85 |
| LOW FIRE START UP CONTROL6 |
LOW FIRE START UP CONTROL6 |
LOW FIRE START UP CONTROL6 |
Not Required |
Not Required |
Required | Required | Not Required |
Not Required |
Not Required |
Required | Not Required |
Per NFPA 85 |
Per NFPA 85 |
| ASSURED AIR SUP- PLY CON- TROL5 |
ASSURED AIR SUP- PLY CON- TROL5 |
ASSURED AIR SUP- PLY CON- TROL5 |
Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required | Not Required |
Per NFPA 85 |
Per NFPA 85 |
| ASSURED FUEL SUP- PLY CON- TROL4 |
ASSURED FUEL SUP- PLY CON- TROL4 |
ASSURED FUEL SUP- PLY CON- TROL4 |
Not Required |
Not Required |
Required | Required | Not Required |
Required | Required | Required | Not Required |
Per NFPA 85 |
Per NFPA 85 |
| SAFETY CONTROL TIMING (NOMINAL MAXIMUM TIME IN SECONDS) |
MAIN BURNER FLAME FAILURE3 |
MAIN BURNER FLAME FAILURE3 |
90 | 2-4 | 2-4 | 2-4 | 90 | 2-4 | 2-4 | 2-4 | Not Required |
Per NFPA 85 |
Per NFPA 85 |
| SAFETY CONTROL TIMING (NOMINAL MAXIMUM TIME IN SECONDS) |
TRIAL FOR MAIN BURNER FRAME |
FLAME PILOT |
90 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 90 | 30 | 15 | 60 | Not Required |
Per NFPA 85 |
Per NFPA 85 |
| SAFETY CONTROL TIMING (NOMINAL MAXIMUM TIME IN SECONDS) |
TRIAL FOR MAIN BURNER FRAME |
DIRECT ELECTRIC IGNITION |
Not Required |
15 | 15 | 15 | 90 | 30 | 15 | 15 | Not Required |
Per NFPA 85 |
Per NFPA 85 |
| SAFETY CONTROL TIMING (NOMINAL MAXIMUM TIME IN SECONDS) |
TRIAL FOR PILOT |
TRIAL FOR PILOT |
90 | 15 | 15 | 15 | Not Required |
Not Required |
Not Required |
15 | Not Required |
10 sec Per NFPA 85 |
Per NFPA 85 |
| TYPE OF PILOT2 |
TYPE OF PILOT2 |
TYPE OF PILOT2 |
Any type | Interrupted or Intermittent |
Interrupted or Intermittent |
Interrupted | Any type | Interrupted | Interrupted | Interrupted | Not required | Any | None |
| FUEL INPUT RANGE1 (INCLUSIVE), BTU/H |
FUEL INPUT RANGE1 (INCLUSIVE), BTU/H |
FUEL INPUT RANGE1 (INCLUSIVE), BTU/H |
0 - 400 000 | 400 001 - 2 500 000 |
2 500 001 - 5 000 000 |
Over 5 000 000 |
0 - 400 000 | 400 001 - 1 000 000 |
1 000 001 - 3 000 000 |
Over 3 000 000 |
All | 12 500 000 or more |
Any |
FUEL |
FUEL |
FUEL |
Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Oil | Oil | Oil | Oil | Electric | Gas, Oil and/or Coal |
Heat Recovery Steam Generator |
| BOILER GROUP |
BOILER GROUP |
BOILER GROUP |
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | K | L | M |
210 2022 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE
BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS
FOOTNOTES FOR TABLE 1003.2.1 (continued)
1 Fuel input shall be determined by one of the following: The burner input shall not exceed the input shown on the burner nameplate or as otherwise identified by the manufacturer. The nominal boiler rating, as determined by the building official, plus 25 percent.
2 Automatic boilers shall have one flame failure device on each burner, which shall prove the presence of an ignition source at the point where it will ignite the main burner, except that boiler groups A, B, E, F, and G, which are equipped with direct electric ignition, shall monitor the main burner, and boiler groups using interrupted pilots shall monitor the main burner after the prescribed limited trial and ignition periods. Boiler group A, equipped with continuous pilot, shall accomplish 100 percent shutoff within 90 seconds upon pilot flame failure. The use of intermittent pilots in boiler group C is limited to approved burner units.
3 In boiler groups B, C, and D a 90 second main burner flame failure limit shall be permitted to be applied where continuous pilots are provided on manufacturer assembled boiler-burner units that have been approved by an approved testing agency in accordance with nationally recognized standards approved by the building official. Boiler groups F and G equipped to re-energize their ignition systems within 0.8 second after main burner flame failure will be permitted 30 seconds for group F or 15 seconds for group G to re-establish their main burner flames.
4 Boiler groups C and D shall have controls interlocked to accomplish a non-recycling fuel shutoff upon high or low gas pressure, and boiler groups F, G, and H using steam or air for fuel atomization shall have controls interlocked to accomplish a nonrecycling fuel shutoff upon low atomizing steam or air pressure. Boiler groups F, G, and H equipped with a preheated oil system shall have controls interlocked to provide fuel shutoff upon low oil temperature.
5 Automatic boilers shall have controls interlocked to shut off the fuel supply in the event of draft failure where forced or induced draft fans are used or, in the event of low combustion airflow, where a gas power burner is used. Where a single motor directly driving both the fan and the oil pump is used, a separate control is not required.
6 Boiler groups C, D, and H, where firing in excess of 400 000 Btu/h (117 kW) per combustion chamber, shall be provided with low fire start of its main burner system to permit smooth light-off. This will normally be a rate of one-third of its maximum firing rate.
7 Boiler groups C, D, and H shall not permit pilot or main burner trial for ignition operation before a purging operation of sufficient duration to permit not less than four complete air changes through the furnace, including a combustion chamber and the boiler passes. Where this is not readily determinable, five complete air changes of the furnace, including combustion chamber up to the first pass, will be considered equivalent. An atmospheric gas burner with no mechanical means of creating air movement or an oil burner that obtains two-thirds or more of the air required for combustion without mechanical means of creating air movement shall not require purge by means of four air changes, so long as its secondary air openings are not provided with means of closing. Where such burners have means of closing secondary air openings, a time delay shall be provided that puts these closures in a normally open position for four minutes before an attempt for ignition. An installation with a trapped combustion chamber shall, in every case, be provided with a mechanical means of creating air movement for purging. 8 An automatic hot-water-heating boiler, low-pressure hot-water-heating boiler, and power hot water boiler shall be equipped with two high-temperature limit controls with a manual reset on the control, with the higher setting interlocked to shut off the main fuel supply, except that manual reset on the high-temperature limit control shall not be required on an automatic package boiler not exceeding 400 000 Btu/h (117 kW) input and that has been approved by an approved testing agency. An automatic hot-water heating, power boiler, and package hot-water supply boiler shall be equipped with one low-water level limit control with a manual reset interlocked to shut off the fuel supply, so installed as to prevent damage to the boiler and to permit testing of the control without draining the heating system, except on boilers used in Group R Occupancies of less than six units and in Group U Occupancies and further, except that the low-water level limit control is not required on package hot-water supply boilers approved by a nationally recognized testing agency. However, a lowwater flow limit control installed in the circulating water line shall be permitted to be used instead of the low-water level limit control for the same purpose on coil-type boilers. 9 An automatic low-pressure steam-heating boiler, small power boiler, and power steam boiler shall be equipped with two high-steam pressure limit controls interlocked to shut off the fuel supply to the main burner with manual reset on the control, with the higher setting and two low-water-level limit controls, one of which shall be provided with a manual reset device and independent of the feed water controller. Coil-type flash steam boilers shall be permitted to use two high-temperature limit controls, one of which shall be manually reset in the hot water coil section of the boiler instead of the low-water level limit control.
the control, with the higher setting and two low-water-level limit controls, one of which shall be provided with a manual reset device and independent of the feed water controller. Coil-type flash steam boilers shall be permitted to use two high-temperature limit controls, one of which shall be manually reset in the hot water coil section of the boiler instead of the low-water level limit control.
10 Boiler groups C, D, and H shall use an approved automatic reset safety shutoff valve for the main burner fuel shutoff, which shall be interlocked to the programming control devices required. On oil burners where the safety shutoff valve will be subjected to pressures in excess of 10 psi (69 kPa) where the burner is not firing, a second safety shutoff valve shall be provided in series with the first. Boiler groups C and D using gas in excess of 1 psi (7 kPa) pressure or having a trapped combustion chamber or employing horizontal fire tubes shall be equipped with two approved safety shutoff valves, one of which shall be an automatic reset type, one of which shall be permitted to be used as an operating control, and both of which shall be interlocked to the limit-control devices required. Boiler groups C and D using gas in excess of 1 psi (7 kPa) pressure shall be provided with a permanent and ready means for making periodic tightness checks of the main fuel safety shutoff valves.
11 Control and limit device systems shall be grounded with operating voltage not to exceed 150 volts, except that, upon approval by the building official, existing control equipment to be reused in an altered boiler control system shall be permitted to use 220 volts single phase with one side grounded, provided such voltage is used for all controls. Control and limit devices shall interrupt the ungrounded side of the circuit. A readily accessible means of manually disconnecting the control circuit shall be provided with controls so arranged that where they are de-energized, the burner shall be inoperative.
2022 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE 211
212 2022 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE
CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE
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Ask AI about this code▸Contents — California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4)
- Chapter 1 — GENERAL CODE PROVISIONS
- Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
- Chapter 3 — GENERAL REGULATIONS
- Chapter 4 — VENTILATION AIR
- Chapter 5 — EXHAUST SYSTEMS
- Chapter 6 — DUCT SYSTEMS
- Chapter 7 — COMBUSTION AIR
- Chapter 8 — CHIMNEYS AND VENTS
- Chapter 9 — INSTALLATION OF SPECIFIC APPLIANCES
▸Chapter 10 — BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS
Overview- 1001.1 Applicability. The requirements of this chapter shall
- 1001.2 Boiler Rooms and Enclosures. Boiler rooms and
- 1001.3 Air for Combustion and Ventilation. Air for
- 1001.4 Drainage. For heating or hot-water-supply boiler
- 1001.5 Mounting. Equipment shall be set or mounted on a
- 1001.6 Chimneys or Vents. Boilers shall be connected to
- 1002.1 General. Pressure vessels shall be constructed and
- 1002.2 Oil-Burning Boilers. Oil-burning boilers shall
- 1002.3 Electric Boilers. Electric boilers shall be listed and
- 1002.4 Solid-Fuel-Fired Boilers. Solid-fuel-fired boilers
- 1002.5 Dual Purpose Water Heater. Water heaters utilized for c…
- 1003.1 Safety Requirements. The construction of boilers and pr…
- 1003.2 Controls. Required electrical, mechanical, safety,
- 1003.3 Gauges. Steam boilers shall be provided with a
- 1003.4 Stack Dampers. Stack dampers on boilers fired
- 1003.5 Welding. Welding on pressure vessels shall be done
- 1004.1 General. An expansion tank shall be installed in a
- 1004.2 Open-Type Expansion Tanks. Open type expansion tanks sh…
- 1004.3 Closed-Type Systems. Closed-type systems shall
- 1004.4 Minimum Capacity of Closed-Type Tank. The
- 1005.1 General. Pressurized vessels or boilers shall be provid…
- 1005.2 Discharge Piping. The discharge piping serving a
- 1005.3 Splash Shield. Where the operating temperature
- 1005.4 Hazardous Discharge. Where the discharge from
- 1005.5 Vacuum Relief Valve. Hot-water heating systems
- 1006.1 General. An approved manual shutoff valve shall
- 1007.1 General. An approved gas-pressure regulator shall
- 1008.1 General. Hot water boilers and steam boilers shall
- 1009.1 General. The following requirements shall be
- 1010.1 General. Where boilers are installed or replaced,
- 1010.2 Power Boilers. Power boilers having a steam-generating …
- 1010.3 Steam-Heating Boilers, Hot Water Boilers, and
- 1010.4 Package Boilers, Steam-Heating Boilers, and
- 1011.1 General. The design, installation, and operation of
- 1012.1 General. Hot water boiler installations, upon completio…
- 1013.1 General. An installation for which a permit is
- 1013.2 Operating Permit. It shall be unlawful to operate a
- 1013.3 Maintenance Inspection. The Authority Having
- 1013.4 Power and Miniature Boilers. Power boilers and
- 1013.5 Steam-Heating and Water-Heating Boilers.
- 1013.6 Automatic Steam-Heating Boilers. Automatic
- 1013.7 Unfired Pressure Vessels. Unfired pressure vessels shal…
- 1014.1 General. Boilers and pressure vessels shall be operated…
- Chapter 11 — REFRIGERATION
- Chapter 12 — HYDRONICS
- Chapter 13 — FUEL GAS PIPING
- Chapter 14 — PROCESS PIPING
- Chapter 15 — SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
- Chapter 16 — STATIONARY POWER PLANTS
- Chapter 17 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
- Appendix A — RESIDENTIAL PLAN EXAMINER REVIEW FORM FOR HVAC SY…
- Appendix B — PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED TO PLACE GAS EQUIPMENT …
- Appendix C — INSTALLATION AND TESTING OF OIL (LIQUID) FUEL-FIR…
- Appendix D — FUEL SUPPLY: MANUFACTURED/MOBILE HOME PARKS AND R…
- Appendix E — SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
- Appendix F — GEOTHERMAL ENERGY SYSTEMS
- Appendix G — SIZING OF VENTING SYSTEMS AND OUTDOOR COMBUSTION …
- Appendix H — EXAMPLE CALCULATION OF OUTDOOR AIR RATE