Unvented Bedroom Heater and an Unprotected Garage Unit Heater
A gas technician responds to a no-heat call at a tenant-occupied duplex. In a bedroom, the tenant is using a 30,000 BTU/h unvented blue-flame space heater connected to a wall with a flexible connector that passes through the wall. There is no sediment trap. The bedroom CO alarm reads 35 ppm and the tenant reports headaches. In the attached garage, a 45,000 BTU/h unit heater with a standing pilot is mounted 12 in above the floor on a shelf; there is no bollard or barrier. The garage heater is vented through a single-wall connector into the garage attic; the connector has a 12 in horizontal run with no rise. The tenant says the landlord installed both last year and did not obtain a permit. The technician holds a G1 licence and works for a registered contractor. The gas meter is outside; the shutoff at the meter is accessible. The technician has a CO analyzer, manometer, and hand tools.
1. Identify the immediate hazards and state your first actions on site.
Read the worked answer
First actions: treat the 35 ppm CO as an emergency. Evacuate the bedroom, ventilate, and call the fire department or utility if anyone has symptoms. Shut off the gas at the meter or at the appliance valves. Do not operate either heater. Tag both appliances and document the readings. The unvented heater in a bedroom is prohibited and is the likely CO source. The flexible connector through a wall is a concealed, unprotected gas path. The missing sediment trap can allow debris into the controls. The garage unit heater has a standing pilot only 12 in above the floor and no vehicle protection; gasoline vapors are heavier than air and can be ignited. These are immediate hazards, not maintenance items.
2. For each defect, cite the applicable code requirement and explain the risk.
Read the worked answer
Unvented gas appliances are not permitted in bedrooms or bathrooms under B149.1 because they release all products of combustion into the room. The flexible appliance connector must not pass through a wall, floor, or ceiling. A sediment trap is required at the appliance inlet. In a garage, an appliance with an automatic ignition or standing pilot must have the ignition source at least 18 in above the floor unless it is listed for garage installation, and it must be protected from vehicle impact. The 12 in pilot height and the shelf mounting fail both requirements. The lack of a permit means the installation was not inspected. Risks include CO poisoning, fire, and explosion from gasoline vapors.
3. What are the technician's regulatory obligations regarding the unauthorized installation and the landlord?
Read the worked answer
The technician must not reconnect or repair these appliances for continued use. Under Ontario gas regulations, unsafe gas work must be tagged and shut off, and the owner and tenant must be notified in writing. The contractor should notify TSSA of the unsafe installation as required, and the landlord should be told that a permit and inspection are required before any reinstallation. The technician should recommend removing the bedroom heater and replacing it with a direct-vent or properly vented appliance, or another approved heating method. The garage heater must be relocated or replaced with a listed garage unit, with the ignition source at least 18 in above the floor and impact protection. A CO alarm is not a substitute for correction. Keep records, photos, and test results.