IFGC Section 304.6.1 and 304.6.2 (Outdoor combustion air)

What it means on the job

The free AREA is what fails here, not the opening count — and that distinction matters in front of an inspector. IFGC 304.6 permits outdoor combustion air by EITHER method: 304.6.2 (One-permanent-opening) allows a SINGLE opening near the enclosure top at 1 in² per 3,000 Btu/h given 1 in. side/back and 6 in. front appliance clearances, which for 2,000,000 Btu/h needs 667 in². 304.6.1 (Two-permanent-openings) uses one opening within 12 in. of the top and one within 12 in. of the bottom, each at 1 in² per 4,000 Btu/h = 500 in² (or 1 in² per 2,000 Btu/h = 1,000 in² each if horizontal ducts are used). The 144 in² provided fails every one of those paths by a wide margin. Note these are FREE areas — per IFGC 304.10 louver and grille blockage is deducted, so the gross wall opening is larger still. So "only one opening" is NOT by itself a violation; the undersizing is.

Tested in 1 CraftIQ puzzle

  • code-checkBoiler Room Combustion Air Opening
Practice this code — free

Related IFGC sections

CraftIQ explanations are original educational commentary written in trade language and verified against the cited standards. Always confirm requirements against the code edition adopted by your jurisdiction — this is training material, not a substitute for the code book or your AHJ.