Safety investigation of gas appliance energy saving devices and automatic vent dampers for oil furnaces. Final report

Technical Report · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:6346714

Adams, D E; Bullerdiek, W A

Analytical and experimental investigations were conducted of the safety of various energy saving devices for use with gas-fired appliances and automatic vent dampers for oil-fired furnaces. The devices for gas-fired appliances consisted of automatic vent dampers, flue gas heat extractors, an extended draft hood, a commercial dryer exhaust recirculator, residential dryer exhaust diverters, a water heater insulation kit, and alternative ignition systems. The applicable voluntary standards for these devices were also evaluated. Devices from 25 manufacturers were investigated with some manufacturers supplying more than one device or model. Only safety was specifically evaluated, not energy saving potential nor reliability-related problems unrelated to safety. The gas-fired appliances on which the energy saving devices were installed consisted of furnaces, water heaters, ranges, and clothes dryers. Although some of the devices were found to meet criteria of reasonable levels of safety, a number of devices were found to have safety deficiencies at various levels ranging up to those indicating imminent risk of life to the user.

• Research Organization: Calspan Corp., Buffalo, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6346714
• Report Number(s): PB-283788; CALSPAN-NR-6023-X-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320100* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Buildings
42 ENGINEERING
420600 -- Engineering-- Safety Engineering-- (-1987)
APPLIANCES
DRAFT CONTROL SYSTEMS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
FURNACES
GAS APPLIANCES
OIL FURNACES
SAFETY
STANDARDS