Block C – Oil-Fired Heating Systems

Trends

Consumers are increasingly demanding a more comfortable and costeffective heating system. The industry is answering with high efficiency appliances and heating system designs such as radiant floor heating, integrated combination systems and energy management systems (EMS).

Related Components

Appliances: boilers, water heaters, wood/oil combination appliances, forced air furnaces, condensing furnaces, incinerators, oil stoves, space heaters, combo systems (water/air heating).

Components: Indirect water heaters, condensate pumps, circulating pumps, manifolds, valves (zone, pressure reducing, check, flow, pressure relief, back flow preventing, low water cut-off), relays, expansion tanks, auto vents, air scoops, limit controls, smoke pipe, ducting, plenums, dampers, thermostats, draft controls, draft inducers, registers, grilles, piping, tubing, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air cleaning devices, heat recovery ventilators.

Tools and Equipment

Hand tools, power tools, powder-actuated tools, measuring and testing equipment, hoisting, lifting and rigging equipment, soldering, flaring and threading equipment, PPE and safety equipment.

Task 5 Installs and retrofits oil-fired and wood/oil appliances and components.

Context

The appliance provides the heat for all heating systems. Oil heat system technicians must assemble and position the appliance and complete all connections to fuel and electrical supply and to venting and distribution systems.

Sub-task C-5.01 Selects appliances.

Supporting Knowledge & Abilities

• C-5.01.01 knowledge of relevant sections of codes such as building, plumbing, electrical and safety codes
• C-5.01.02 knowledge of system requirements
• C-5.01.03 knowledge of local regulations
• C-5.01.04 knowledge of types of appliances such as front and rear breech, and multiposition
• C-5.01.05 knowledge of manufacturers’ specifications
• C-5.01.06 knowledge of customer needs
• C-5.01.07 knowledge of desired appliance location
• C-5.01.08 knowledge of types of hydronic heating appliances
• C-5.01.09 knowledge of location of other appliances such as clothes dryer, heat recovery ventilator and water heater

Sub-task C-5.02 Positions appliance.

Supporting Knowledge & Abilities

• C-5.02.01 knowledge of relevant sections of codes such as building, plumbing, electrical and safety codes
• C-5.02.02 knowledge of local regulations
• C-5.02.03 knowledge of types of appliances such as front and rear breech, and multiposition
• C-5.02.04 knowledge of manufacturers’ specifications
• C-5.02.05 knowledge of desired appliance location
• C-5.02.06 knowledge of types of hydronic heating appliances
• C-5.02.07 knowledge of location of other appliances such as clothes dryer, heat recovery ventilator and water heater
• C-5.02.08 knowledge of types of fasteners
• C-5.02.09 ability to level appliance
• C-5.02.10 ability to mount appliance
• C-5.02.11 ability to secure appliance using fasteners

Sub-task C-5.03 Installs components on appliance.

Supporting Knowledge & Abilities

• C-5.03.01 knowledge of appliance components such as burners, appliance jackets and controls
• C-5.03.02 knowledge of sequence of assembly
• C-5.03.03 knowledge of location of controls
• C-5.03.04 ability to apply sealing compounds
• C-5.03.05 ability to attach fittings and adapters
• C-5.03.06 ability to connect water supply to the appliance
• C-5.03.07 ability to assemble and mount burners

Sub-task C-5.04 Connects fuel supply to appliance.

Supporting Knowledge & Abilities

• C-5.04.01 knowledge of types of fuel lines such as steel, flexible and coated copper
• C-5.04.02 knowledge of types of adapters and fittings
• C-5.04.03 knowledge of relevant sections of codes such as building, plumbing, electrical and safety codes
• C-5.04.04 ability to apply sealing compounds
• C-5.04.05 ability to flare fuel line
• C-5.04.06 ability to support fuel line
• C-5.04.07 ability to protect fuel line
• C-5.04.08 ability to determine termination point

Sub-task C-5.05 Connects electrical supply to appliance.

Supporting Knowledge & Abilities

• C-5.05.01 knowledge of relevant sections of electrical codes
• C-5.05.02 knowledge of types of connectors and fasteners
• C-5.05.03 ability to select wire for specific load requirements
• C-5.05.04 ability to strip and fasten wire
• C-5.05.05 ability to secure wire to building structure
• C-5.05.06 ability to seal electrical connectors

Sub-task C-5.06 Connects vent/exhaust piping to appliance.

Supporting Knowledge & Abilities

• C-5.06.01 knowledge of vent/exhaust piping components
• C-5.06.02 knowledge of types of fasteners
• C-5.06.03 knowledge of sequence of application of sealants
• C-5.06.04 knowledge of relevant sections of codes such as building, plumbing, electrical and safety codes
• C-5.06.05 ability to cut and crimp piping
• C-5.06.06 ability to fasten piping to appliance
• C-5.06.07 ability to apply sealants on balanced flue and direct vent applications

Sub-task C-5.07 Installs dump zones for wood/oil systems.

Supporting Knowledge & Abilities

• C-5.07.01 knowledge of application of dump zones
• C-5.07.02 knowledge of appropriate location of dump zones
• C-5.07.03 ability to assemble dump zone components
• C-5.07.04 ability to solder connections on hydronic systems
• C-5.07.05 ability to fabricate emergency access panel on forced air heating system
• C-5.07.06 ability to connect wiring to dump zones

Sub-task C-5.08 Connects drain to appliance.

Supporting Knowledge & Abilities

• C-5.08.01 knowledge of relevant sections of plumbing codes
• C-5.08.02 knowledge of liquids to be drained
• C-5.08.03 knowledge of termination point of drain
• C-5.08.04 knowledge of drain pipe materials
• C-5.08.05 ability to fasten drain pipe to appliance
• C-5.08.06 ability to protect drain pipe
• C-5.08.07 ability to apply sealant

Task 6 Installs forced-air heating systems.

Context

Warm air is delivered to all points of the building through the ducts. Oil heat system technicians install the furnace, the distribution system and related components.

Sub-task C-6.01 Assembles ductwork.

Supporting Knowledge & Abilities

• C-6.01.01 knowledge of ductwork material
• C-6.01.02 knowledge of components installed during assembly such as zone dampers and fire dampers
• C-6.01.03 knowledge of sequence of assembly
• C-6.01.04 knowledge of hangers and supports
• C-6.01.05 ability to join ducting
• C-6.01.06 ability to modify ductwork by using methods such as cutting, forming and flanging
• C-6.01.07 ability to size supply and return ducts

Sub-task C-6.02 Installs ductwork.

Supporting Knowledge & Abilities

• C-6.02.01 knowledge of relevant sections of codes such as building, plumbing, electrical and safety codes
• C-6.02.02 knowledge of types of sealants such as duct sealer, foil tape and vinyl duct tape
• C-6.02.03 ability to connect plenums to appliance
• C-6.02.04 ability to connect starting collars and takeoffs
• C-6.02.05 ability to install hangers
• C-6.02.06 ability to seal joints
• C-6.02.07 ability to connect trunk lines and branch lines
• C-6.02.08 ability to install dampers such as manual and motorized
• C-6.02.09 ability to install finish components such as registers and return air grilles

Task 7 Installs hydronic heating systems.

Context

Hydronic heating systems heat buildings through the circulation of liquids. Oil heat system technicians install the boilers, the distribution systems and related components.

Sub-task C-7.01 Assembles boilers.

Supporting Knowledge & Abilities

• C-7.01.01 knowledge of types of boilers such as horizontal and vertical tube, cast iron and sectional
• C-7.01.02 knowledge of applications of boilers such as residential and commercial
• C-7.01.03 knowledge of sequence of assembly
• C-7.01.04 knowledge of boiler components
• C-7.01.05 ability to join sections of boilers
• C-7.01.06 ability to fasten jacket
• C-7.01.07 ability to apply sealants
• C-7.01.08 ability to install boiler components such as aquastat well, controls and boiler drain

Sub-task C-7.02 Installs hydronic distribution system.

Supporting Knowledge & Abilities

• C-7.02.01 knowledge of types of distribution systems such as radiant floor, cast iron and fin tube convector
• C-7.02.02 knowledge of piping and tubing materials
• C-7.02.03 knowledge of piping and tubing size
• C-7.02.04 knowledge of relevant plumbing codes
• C-7.02.05 ability to prepare rough-in to accept distribution systems
• C-7.02.06 ability to install fasteners and supports
• C-7.02.07 ability to join and fit piping and fittings using methods such as crimping, soldering, threading and using compression fittings
• C-7.02.08 ability to fasten piping and tubing

Sub-task C-7.03 Installs indirect water heater.

Supporting Knowledge & Abilities

• C-7.03.01 knowledge of types of indirect water heaters such as stainless steel and glass lined heaters
• C-7.03.02 knowledge of relevant sections of plumbing and electrical codes
• C-7.03.03 knowledge of water requirements of building occupants
• C-7.03.04 ability to level heater
• C-7.03.05 ability to wire heater
• C-7.03.06 ability to connect heater to appliance
• C-7.03.07 ability to install heater components such as circulating pump, check valves and temperature controls

Sub-task C-7.04 Installs oil-fired water heater.

Supporting Knowledge & Abilities

• C-7.04.01 knowledge of water heater components such as venting, controls, drains, vacuum relief valves, pressure reducing valves and anti-scald valves
• C-7.04.02 knowledge of water heater sizes
• C-7.04.03 knowledge of types of burners
• C-7.04.04 knowledge of flooring materials
• C-7.04.05 knowledge of manufacturers’ specifications and recommendations
• C-7.04.06 ability to size burner
• C-7.04.07 ability to install components such as burners
• C-7.04.08 ability to connect appliance to fuel, electrical and water supply
• C-7.04.09 ability to connect to distribution system
• C-7.04.10 ability to level heater

Sub-task C-7.05 Installs hydronic heating system components.

Supporting Knowledge & Abilities

• C-7.05.01 knowledge of hydronic heating system components such as expansion tanks, air scoops and backflow preventers
• C-7.05.02 knowledge of types of valves
• C-7.05.03 knowledge of low-water cut-offs
• C-7.05.04 ability to locate and fasten components
• C-7.05.05 ability to join components using methods such as crimping, expanding, soldering and threading
• C-7.05.06 ability to seal components
• C-7.05.07 ability to connect components to electrical supply