I need to seek some net widom on a question a friend of mine asked me
tonight.

My friend had a new boiler (hot water heat system) installed and the
installers told him that he needed to have a "mechanical door"
installed on his utility room if there are bedrooms in the basement
(and there are).

What exactly is meant by a "mechanical door"? My friend thought this
implied a door with a closer attached to it but I've never seen a
residential utility room door with a closer. The original boiler (60
years old!) had to be replaced due to failure of some internal parts
which resulted in a CO problem in the house (thankfully he had
detectors.) I wonder if this "mechanical door" is being suggested as a
stop gap measure for future CO issues but that doesn't seem likely
because even the gap at the bottom of the door would not seal CO.

The house is in Ft. Collins CO.

I'd like to just get some net wisdom on the subject I can share with
my friend.

Next steps lacking any feedback will be to probe the HVAC installers
for more detail and/or call the city building inspector for more
insight. I assume a permit was pulled for this job and if so shouldn't
the installer finish the job to meet any inspection?

Thanks for any insight.


John Keith

"John Keith" wrote in message

What exactly is meant by a "mechanical door"? My friend thought this
implied a door with a closer attached to it but I've never seen a
residential utility room door with a closer.

Check your local code. It may require a fire rated door. The new boiler
should also have an outside air intake for combustion air.

Next steps lacking any feedback will be to probe the HVAC installers
for more detail and/or call the city building inspector for more
insight. I assume a permit was pulled for this job and if so shouldn't
the installer finish the job to meet any inspection?

Thanks for any insight.

They may have pulled a permit for the install of the boiler. That is all
they are required to do. They have no responsibility for the door, use of
adjacent area, etc. That is up to the building owner to comply with codes.
If he has bedrooms in the area he should also check the code for other
requirements, such as a means of egress.

"John Keith" wrote in message
...
I need to seek some net widom on a question a friend of mine asked me
tonight.

My friend had a new boiler (hot water heat system) installed and the
installers told him that he needed to have a "mechanical door"
installed on his utility room if there are bedrooms in the basement
(and there are).

What exactly is meant by a "mechanical door"? My friend thought this
implied a door with a closer attached to it but I've never seen a
residential utility room door with a closer. The original boiler (60
years old!) had to be replaced due to failure of some internal parts
which resulted in a CO problem in the house (thankfully he had
detectors.) I wonder if this "mechanical door" is being suggested as a
stop gap measure for future CO issues but that doesn't seem likely
because even the gap at the bottom of the door would not seal CO.

The house is in Ft. Collins CO.

I'd like to just get some net wisdom on the subject I can share with
my friend.

Next steps lacking any feedback will be to probe the HVAC installers
for more detail and/or call the city building inspector for more
insight. I assume a permit was pulled for this job and if so shouldn't
the installer finish the job to meet any inspection?

Thanks for any insight.


John Keith


Mechanical doors with closers are usually a fire code related requirement.

On Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:42:23 -0700, John Keith wrote:

Thanks for any insight.

Thank you Ed and Steve for your comments.


John Keith

"John Keith" wrote in message
...
I need to seek some net widom on a question a friend of mine asked me
tonight.

My friend had a new boiler (hot water heat system) installed and the
installers told him that he needed to have a "mechanical door"
installed on his utility room if there are bedrooms in the basement
(and there are).

What exactly is meant by a "mechanical door"? My friend thought this
implied a door with a closer attached to it but I've never seen a
residential utility room door with a closer. The original boiler (60

It may just mean that a room with a boiler is called a 'mechanical room' and
you need a door for the room.
As was mentioned , check with the local building inspector and see what he
says as he may have to pass it on inspection.

I need to seek some net widom on a question a friend of mine asked me
tonight.

My friend had a new boiler (hot water heat system) installed and the
installers told him that he needed to have a "mechanical door"
installed on his utility room if there are bedrooms in the basement
(and there are).

What exactly is meant by a "mechanical door"? My friend thought this

It means not a bifold door, not a curtain rod hung door, not a bamboo
louvered door, etc.. Only your local code enforcement office can tell
you what they requi NEC states minimums, local codes often add to
that.

implied a door with a closer attached to it but I've never seen a
residential utility room door with a closer. The original boiler (60
years old!) had to be replaced due to failure of some internal parts
which resulted in a CO problem in the house (thankfully he had
detectors.) I wonder if this "mechanical door" is being suggested as a
stop gap measure for future CO issues but that doesn't seem likely
because even the gap at the bottom of the door would not seal CO.

The house is in Ft. Collins CO.

I'd like to just get some net wisdom on the subject I can share with
my friend.

Next steps lacking any feedback will be to probe the HVAC installers
for more detail and/or call the city building inspector for more
insight. I assume a permit was pulled for this job and if so shouldn't
the installer finish the job to meet any inspection?

Depends on your contract; what does it say? What did you agree to?
Is this contracter insured, or is he operating on YOUR/their
insurance? If he's not insured and can't show proof of insurance as
required, then he's on YOUR/their insrurance!

You DON'T KNOW if a permit was pulled? You'd better find out whether
it's required and if so, GET ONE! You/he/they could be required to undo
everything, all the work, that's been done! And hope there are no
gotcha's in it. And if it's not part of our contract, the undo would be
at your expense, not the contractor's.

I know I sound a little critical, but those are important points,
especially getting the final word on your question from the relevant
code enforcement office for that location; they can differ from area to
area.


Thanks for any insight.


John Keith