E9 THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF FINLAND

Fire safety of boiler rooms and fuel storages

Guidelines 2005









Decree of the Ministry of the Environment

on fire safety of boiler rooms and fuel storages

Adopted in Helsinki, 22 March 2005



Pursuant to the Decision of the Ministry of the Environment, the following guidelines on fire
safety of boiler rooms and fuel storages to be applied for building works are enacted pursuant to Section 13
of the Land Use and Building Act (132/1999) adopted on 5 February 1999.

The guidelines have been notified in accordance with Directive 98/34/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council as amended by Directive 98/48/EC laying down a procedure for the provision
of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and on rules on Information Society
services.

This Decree shall enter into force on 1 October 2005 and it shall repeal the Decision of the
Ministry of the Environment adopted on 19 June 1997 on fire safety of boiler rooms and fuel storages. The
former guidelines may be applied to applications for permit initiated before this Decree entered into force.

Classes concerning reaction to fire performance of building materials referred to in paragraphs
2.2, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2 and 4.3 of the former guidelines may nonetheless be applied to building works for which
permit is sought before 1 January 2007.


Helsinki, 22 March 2005


Minister of the Environment Jan-Erik Enestam




Director, Head of the Building Division Helena Steri

2
THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF FINLAND
MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT,
Housing and Building Department





Fire safety of boiler rooms and fuel
storages

Guidelines 2005






Contents

TERMINOLOGY

1 SCOPE

2 GENERAL GUIDELINES
2.1 Location of and space requirements for a boiler
2.2 Fuel in a boiler room
2.3 Combustion air and ventilation
2.4 Surfaces

3 A BOILER ROOM AND A FUEL STORAGE AS PART OF A BUILDING
3.1 Compartmentation of a boiler room
3.2 Compartmentation of a fuel storage

4 SEPARATE BOILER UNIT BUILDINGS
4.1 General
4.2 Fire class of a building
4.3 Compartmentation

APPENDIX INFORMATION FOR GUIDANCE

E9
E9
3
GLOSSARY


Boiler room
A room specifically designed for a heating boiler

Central heating unit
Equipment designed for heating a building. Fuel is converted into thermal energy by using a heating boiler. This energy
is then transferred within the pipes contained in the equipment on to the location to be heated.

Heating boiler
A fireplace where thermal energy generated by burning fuel is transferred to a medium.

Fuel storage
A space designed for storing fuel.

Feeder room
A space separated from a boiler room designed for replenishing solid fuel.

Space for an oil tank
A storage designed to store fuel oil.


1
SCOPE

These guidelines concern the fire safety of spaces intended for the location of central heating equipment used
for heating buildings and for the storage of its fuel.

In addition to these guidelines, the fire safety guidelines for production and warehouse buildings E2 of the
National Building Code of Finland apply to boiler units and fuel stores constructed as separate buildings.

Regulations and general guidelines concerning fire safety of buildings are included in Part E1 of the Building
Code.

The statutes concerning oil-fired heating equipment are provided by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.


2
GENERAL GUIDELINES

2.1 Location of and space requirements for a boiler

A boiler is generally located in a separate compartmented boiler room. A boiler suitable for the purpose may
be located, without any compartmentation, in a living space.

An adequate space is allocated for a boiler and its accessories taking into account the space required by the
boiler itself and its accessories and the space required for safety distances, use and service of a boiler.

The safety distances of a boiler and its accessories are determined in accordance with the installation
instructions for each boiler type.

4
The space required for the use and service is determined depending on the boiler size and model. A space of
at least the depth of the fireplace should exist in front of the fireplace door, however, at least 1000 mm. An
unobstructed space of at least 600 mm is required in front of cleanout doors intended for chimney sweeping.

The space required for the safety distances may be included in the space required for the use and service.

2.2 Fuel in a boiler room

The following maximum quantities of fuel may be located in a boiler room compartmented with building
elements of Class EI 30 and Class EI 60:

3 m
3
of fuel oil in a steel tank in a steel bund or
3 m
3
of fuel oil in a plastic tank in a steel bund with its upper edge reaching the uppermost permitted
oil level (Fig. 1) or
0.5 m
3
of logs in a defined area or
0.5 m
3
of any other solid fuel in a separate steel storage silo with a fitting lid (Fig. 2).

The following quantities or those referred to above may be located in a boiler room compartmented with
building elements of Class EI 60 and made of materials of at least Class A2s1, d0:

0.5 m
3
in total of solid fuel in a steel storage silo and storage chamber with a fitting lid (Fig. 3) or
2 m
3
of solid fuel in a steel storage silo with a fitting lid located in a feeder room separated with an
insulated wall which prevents dust spreading from a boiler room (Fig. 4).

The decision by the Ministry of Trade and Industry on oil-fired heating equipment defines the distance
between an oil tank and a boiler. Generally, it is a minimum of 1 metre. According to the decision, the
distance may be shortened if the condition regarding the surface temperature of the oil tank is met. The
decision also deals with matters relating to the volume and construction of the bund.

When the fuel quantity exceeds the amounts referred to above, the fuel is located in a compartmented fuel
storage in accordance with paragraph 3.2.



Fig. 1
An example of locating fuel oil tanks in a boiler room. The tanks are of plastic, the bund of steel.
Generally, the distance to a boiler is at least a metre.

5

Fig. 2
An example of storing solid fuel in a steel silo in a boiler room compartmented with building
elements of Class EI 30.


Fig. 3
An example of storing solid fuel in a boiler room compartmented with building elements of Class EI
60 made of materials of at least Class A2s1, d0.



Fig. 4
An example of storing solid fuel in a steel silo in a boiler room compartmented with building
elements of Class EI 60 made of materials of at least Class A2-s1, d0.


2.3 Combustion air and ventilation
6

The ducting of combustion air to a boiler room and the ventilation of a boiler room are arranged so that the
operation of the heating boiler is not disturbed and that there are no other drawbacks. Combustion air for the
boiler is ducted directly from outside. If the combustion air duct passes through another fire compartment,
the duct is insulated in this area.

When using solid fuel, the area of the cross-section of the combustion air duct or valve is at least 1.5 times
the area of the cross-section of the flue.

The requirement on the quantity of supply air in the space where an oil burner is located is included in the
decision by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

When a boiler is located in a living space, care should be taken that the boiler receives an adequate quantity
of combustion air without causing draughts in accordance with the instructions of its manufacturer.

2.4 Surfaces

Internal surfaces of a boiler room and a fuel storage are provided in Table 1.


TABLE 1 INTERNAL SURFACES OF A BOILER ROOM AND A FUEL STORAGE
Fire class of a building
Purpose Location P1 P2 * P3
Boiler room walls and ceilings
floors
Bs1, d0
A2
FL
s1
Bs1, d0
A2
FL
s1
Bs1, d0
A2
FL
s1
Feeder room walls and ceilings
floors
Bs1, d0
A2
FL
s1
Bs1, d0
A2
FL
s1
Bs1, d0
A2
FL
s1
Fuel storage
- space for an oil tank

walls and ceilings
floors

Bs1, d0
A2
FL
-s1 and sealed
1)


Bs1, d0
A2
FL
s1 and sealed
1)


Bs1, d0
A2
FL
s1 and
sealed
1)

- storage for solid fuel walls and ceilings
floors
Bs1, d0
A2
FL
s1
Bs1, d0
A2
FL
s1
Ds2, d2

Living spaces walls and ceilings
floors
In accordance wi t h Tabl e 8. 2. 2 i n Part E1 of t he
Bui l di ng Code
In accordance wi t h Tabl e 8. 2. 2 i n Part E1 of t he
Bui l di ng Code

Notes to the table:
1)
A flooring of Class D
FL
s1 on a backing of at least Class A2
FL
s1 may be used to seal a floor.
Symbols in the table: = No Class requirement
* When a protective covering in accordance with paragraph 8.2.3 of E1 is required, the surface
requirement is A2s1, d0.

3
A BOILER ROOM AND A FUEL STORAGE AS PART OF A
BUILDING

3.1 Compartmentation of a boiler room

A boiler room is set up as its own fire compartment. The classes of the building elements enclosing a boiler
room based on the fire class of the building, the boiler output and the location of the boiler room are shown
in Table 2. In addition, locating any fuel in a boiler room influences the fire-separating building elements in
accordance with paragraph 2.2.

7
TABLE 2 THE CLASS OF BUILDING
ELEMENTS
*
ENCLOSING A BOILER ROOM
P1 P2 P3

Boiler over 30 kW




Boiler not exceeding 30
kW
on a storey level

EI 60

EI 30

EI 30

in a basement


Symbols in the table:
= building materials of at least Class A2s1,
d0 are used

*
these also include external walls

When a feeder room or an ash room is linked to a boiler room, they are considered as being part of the boiler
room fire compartment. Feeder and ash rooms are separated from a boiler room with building elements
which prevent the spread of dust (Fig. 4).

The fire resistance time of a fire door is at least a half of the fire resistance time required for a fire-separating
building element.

A door in an external wall does not need to be a fire door. A thermally insulated front door may be regarded
as being adequately safe.

External walls of Class EI 30 may include single windows without fire resistance requirements not exceeding
0.2 m
2
, however, with a maximum total of 1.0 m
2
.

3.2 Compartmentation of a fuel storage

A space for an oil tank and a storage for any other fuel are both set up as their own fire compartments. Fire-
separating building elements are implemented in accordance with Table 3.


TABLE 3 THE CLASS OF FIRE-
SEPARATING BUILDING ELEMENTS IN A
FUEL STORAGE
P1 P2 P3
On a storey level
EI 120 EI 30 EI 30
In a basement



Symbols in the table:
= building materials of at least Class
A2s1, d0 are used


The fire resistance time of a fire door is at least a half of the fire resistance time required for a separating
building element.

The feeding equipment for solid fuel must not endanger any compartmentation.


4
SEPARATE BOILER UNIT BUILDINGS
EI 60 EI 60 EI 60
EI 60 EI 60 EI 30
EI 120 EI 60 EI 30
8

4.1 General

A boiler unit building which is at least 8 metres from the nearest building is considered in fire technical sense
as a separate boiler unit building. A boiler unit building which is at a distance of less than 8 metres is
considered as part of a building in accordance with Chapter 3.

A boiler unit building may only accommodate facilities associated with the operations of the unit. However,
it may accommodate compartmented small storage facilities or similar.

4.2 Fire class of a building

A boiler unit building with more than two storeys is always of Class P1.

If fine dust is formed from the fuel being used and from its handling in such quantities that it can form an
explosive or highly inflammable and vigorously burning mixture, a separate boiler unit building is
constructed; a building with two storeys is constructed as Class P1 and a single storey building at least as
Class P2.

A separate two-storey boiler unit building of Class P2 may be a maximum of 9 m high. A single storey
building of Class P2 may be higher than this.

A separate boiler unit building of Class P3 may only be single storey and a maximum of 9 m high.

4.3 Compartmentation

A boiler room and different fuel storages are separated from each other in accordance with Table 4.

TABLE 4 THE CLASS OF FIRE-
SEPARATING BUILDING ELEMENTS IN A
SEPARATE BOILER UNIT BUILDING
P1 P2 P3
Mainly above the
ground

EI 120

EI 30

1)

Mainly below the
ground

1)


Symbols in the table:
= building materials of at least Class A2s1,
d0 are used
= no Class requirement
1)
= a building element which prevents the
spread of dust


EI 120 EI 60
9
APPENDIX
Information for guidance



Contents

1 Correspondence of fire classes
2 Safety systems for solid fuel feeder equipment


1 Correspondence of fire classes

The correspondence of the classes concerning reaction to fire of building materials referred to in paragraphs 2.2, 2.4,
3.1, 3.2 and 4.3 to the classes in the former guidelines is shown in the Table.

CORRESPONDENCE OF CLASSES
A2s1, d0
Bs1, d0
Ds2, d2
A2
FL
s1
D
FL
s1
non-combustible
1/I
2/
non-combustible
L


2 Safety systems for solid fuel feeder equipment

Taking a solid fuel feeder equipment through a fire-separating building element must not essentially weaken any
compartmentation (E1 7.4.1).

Guidelines on safety systems which prevent the spread of back fire from a boiler to a fuel storage through a fuel feeder
system are provided in the publications "Kiinteit polttoaineita kyttvt pienehkt lmpkeskukset, Ohje 2001" (Small
heating plants using solid fuels, Guidelines 2001) and "Pellettilmpkeskusten paloturvallisuus, Ohje 2002" (Fire safety
of pellet heating plants, Guidelines 2002) of the Federation of Finnish Insurance Companies (SVK). The guidelines of
SVK require that the equipment is also fitted with safety systems in cases where a boiler room and a fuel storage are in
the same fire compartment.