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NFPA 87, Standard for Fluid Heaters

2021 NFPA 87 Recommended Practice - Current Edition
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  • Description

    Help protect lives and better ensure safe equipment operation by using the 2021 edition of NFPA 87, Standard for Fluid Heaters.

    NFPA 87, Standard for Fluid Heaters, was originally developed in response to requests from manufacturers, insurance companies, trade associations, and users for safety guidance for fuel-fired and electric fluid heaters. The standard provides requirements for fluid heaters to minimize fire risks and explosion hazards that can endanger fluid heaters, buildings, or personnel. NFPA 87 transitioned from a recommended practice to a standard during the 2018 edition.

    Fluid heaters are used in industrial environments to heat thermal and process fluids of all types. The heated fluids are used in processes such as textile drying, pressboard manufacturing, gas sweetening, chemical synthesis, plastic molding, hot galvanizing, laminating, dry cleaning, and food processing.

    Comprehensive coverage helps ensure AHJs, engineers, building owners, and maintainers are following the latest rules for:

    • Location and construction
    • Heating systems
    • Commissioning and operations
    • Maintenance, inspection, and testing
    • Heating system safety equipment and application

    Updates and additions to the 2021 edition of NFPA 87 include the following:

    • New defined terms primary air, solid fuel backup burner, mechanical feeder, and flame arrestor were added to Chapter 3 to enhance user clarity.
    • Supplemental annex material for Chapter 8 was added to provide context to the existing purge volume requirement and cautions when these requirements may not be conservative.
    • To provide requirements and guidance for manufacturers and users of solid-fuel–fired fluid heaters, a new Chapter 10, Solid Fuel-Fired Heating Systems, was created.
    • Annex language was revised to clarify the intent against the use of ball valves, for thermal fluid applications, due to the risk of thermal expansion of trapped fluid.
    • A new annex figure was added to provide explanatory information on typical expansion tank instruments and appurtenances.

    Help prevent loss of life, property, and production due to fluid heater fires and explosions by ordering NFPA 87, Standard for Fluid Heaters, today. (Print, 59 pp., 2021)

  • Table of Contents (2021 Current Edition)

    NFPA® 87 Standard for Fluid Heaters, 2021 Edition

    Chapter 1 Administration
    1.1 Scope.
    1.2 Purpose.
    1.3 Application.
    1.4 Retroactivity.
    1.5 Equivalency.
    1.6 Units and Formulas.
    Chapter 2 Referenced Publications
    2.1 General.
    2.2 NFPA Publications.
    2.3 Other Publications.
    2.4 References for Extracts in Mandatory Sections.
    Chapter 3 Definitions
    3.1 General.
    3.2 NFPA Official Definitions.
    3.3 General Definitions.
    Chapter 4 General
    4.1 Approvals, Plans, and Specifications.
    4.2 Safety Labeling.
    4.3 Thermal Fluids and Process Fluids.
    Chapter 5 Location and Construction
    5.1 Location.
    5.2 Fluid Heater Design.
    5.3 Explosion Mitigation.
    5.4 Ventilation and Exhaust System.
    5.5 Mountings and Auxiliary Equipment.
    5.6 Heating Elements and Insulation.
    5.7 Heat Baffles and Reflectors.
    Chapter 6 Heating Systems
    6.1 General.
    6.2 Fuel Gas–Fired Units.
    6.3 Liquid Fuel–Fired Units.
    6.4 Oxygen Enhanced Fuel–Fired Units.
    6.5 Flue Product Venting.
    6.6 Electrically Heated Units.
    Chapter 7 Commissioning, Operations, Maintenance, Inspection, and Testing
    7.1 Scope.
    7.2 Commissioning.
    7.3 Training.
    7.4 Operations.
    7.5 Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance.
    7.6 Record Retention.
    7.7 Procedures.
    Chapter 8 Heating System Safety Equipment and Application
    8.1 Scope.
    8.2 General.
    8.3 Burner Management System Logic.
    8.4 Programmable Logic Controller Systems.
    8.5 Safety Control Application for Fuel-Fired Heating Systems. [86:8.5]
    8.6 Combustion Air Safety Devices.
    8.7 Safety Shutoff Valves (Fuel Gas or Liquid Fuel).
    8.8 Fuel Pressure Switches (Gas or Liquid Fuel).
    8.9 Flame Supervision.
    8.10 Liquid Fuel Atomization (Other than Mechanical Atomization).
    8.11 Liquid Fuel Temperature Limit Devices.
    8.12 Multiple Fuel Systems.
    8.13 Air–Fuel Gas Mixing Machines.
    8.14 Ignition of Main Burners — Fuel Gas or Liquid Fuel.
    8.15 Stack Excess Temperature Limit Interlock.
    8.16 Fluid Excess Temperature Limit Interlock.
    8.17 Electrical Heating Systems.
    8.18 Additional Interlocks.
    Chapter 9 Heaters
    9.1 General.
    9.2 Auxiliary Equipment.
    Chapter 10 Solid Fuel–Fired Heating Systems
    10.1 Scope.
    10.2 Air System Safeguards.
    10.3 Solid Fuel Supply System Safeguards.
    10.4 Solid Fuel Combustion Safeguards.
    10.5 Heat Transfer System Safeguards.
    10.6 Exhaust Gas System Safeguards.
    10.7 Ash-Handling System Safeguards.
    10.8 Fire Protection for Solid Fuel–Fired Fluid Heaters.
    10.9 Other Safeguards for Solid Fuel–Fired Fluid Heaters.
    Chapter 11 Fire Protection
    11.1 General.
    11.2 Types of Fire Protection Systems.
    11.3 Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Fire Protection Equipment.
    Annex A Explanatory Material
    Annex B Example Maintenance Checklist
    Annex C Steam Extinguishing Systems
    Annex D Informational References
  • Prior Editions

    2018 Edition

    Control dangers and ensure safe operation of equipment by adopting the new NFPA 87, Standard for Fluid Heaters.

    NFPA 87, Standard for Fluid Heaters was originally developed as a Recommended Practice in response to requests from manufacturers, insurance companies, trade associations, and users for safety guidance for fuel-fired and electric fluid heaters. Transitioned to a Standard for the 2018 edition, it provides adoptable, enforceable requirements for fluid heaters to minimize the fire and explosion hazards that can endanger the fluid heater, the building, or personnel.

    Fluid heaters are used in industrial environments to heat thermal and process fluids of all types; and the heated fluids are used in processes such as textile drying, pressboard manufacturing, gas sweetening, chemical synthesis, plastic molding, hot galvanizing, laminating, dry cleaning, and food processing.

    Comprehensive coverage gives AHJs, engineers, building owners, and maintainers assurance that they're following the latest rules for:

    • Location and construction
    • Heating systems
    • Commissioning and operations
    • Maintenance, inspection, and testing
    • Heating system safety equipment and application

    Updates improve safety and make NFPA 87 consistent with other NFPA® codes and standards.

    • Chapter 3 includes new definitions and other changes for consistency with NFPA 86, Standard for Ovens and Furnaces.
    • A new one-stop chapter addresses Class F, G, and H heaters.
    • Fluid mixture changes now need to be in accordance with heater manufacturers' recommendations, fluid manufacturers' recommendations, or a third-party approved by the AHJ.
    • Fluid type changes need to be in accordance with heater manufacturers' recommendations or a third-party approved by the AHJ.
    • New provisions in 8.2.9 require the use of two manual hardwired emergency switches -- one located remotely and one located locally in reference to the fluid heater.
    • Requirements in 8.5.2.5 now address the issue of false flame signal for flame sensing technologies.
    • The PLC software section has been altered to now refer to the PLC logic programming instead of the general term
    • Interlocks previously found in Chapter 9 have been moved to Chapter 8.
    • Chapter 9 now allows secondary catch/storage tanks and safety PLC requirements have been aligned with NFPA 86.
    • A new requirement addresses blanket gas low-pressure proving devices.

    Order today to prevent loss of life, property, and production due to fluid heater fires and explosions. (Print, 52 pp., 2018)

    2015 Edition

    Control dangers and ensure safe operation of equipment with updated NFPA 87, Recommended Practice for Fluid Heaters.

    NFPA 87, Recommended Practice for Fluid Heaters was created in response to requests from manufacturers, insurance companies, trade associations, and users for safety guidance for fuel-fired and electric fluid heaters. It provides guidance for fluid heaters to minimize the fire and explosion hazards that can endanger the fluid heater, the building, or personnel.

    Fluid heaters are used in industrial environments to heat thermal and process fluids of all types; and the heated fluids are used in processes such as textile drying, pressboard manufacturing, gas sweetening, chemical synthesis, plastic molding, hot galvanizing, laminating, dry cleaning, and food processing.

    Comprehensive coverage provides the current best practices for:

    • Location and construction
    • Heating systems
    • Commissioning and operations
    • Maintenance, inspection, and testing
    • Heating system safety equipment and application

    Updates make NFPA 87 consistent with other NFPA® codes and standards.

    • Added definitions for Burner Management System (BMS), Emergency Shutoff Valve (ESOV), and other revisions correlate with the 2015 NFPA 86, Standard for Ovens and Furnaces.
    • Modified Chapter 6 aligns with NFPA 86 by revising requirements for ESOV, emergency isolation valves, and overpressure protection.
    • Added procedures for placing equipment into service are based on purging practices in the 2015 NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code and the 2014 NFPA 56
    • Added requirement prohibiting manifolding vent lines from different pressure levels is based on NFPA 85.
    • Modified requirements for logic systems for both Burner Management System (BMS) logic and PLC systems
    • Revised requirements for Class F heaters in Chapter 9
    • New content for Class G and H heaters in Chapters 10 and 11

    Order today to prevent loss of life, property, and production due to fluid heater fires and explosions. (Softbound, 46 pp., 2015)

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