access clearance needed for Furnace ??

assuming that you physically have room to do whatever needs to be done, the code here in Calgary says you need 6" from the furnace to the wall. of course you need a 32" pathway from your furnace to outside incase it ever needs to be replaced. this means you must have at least 32" doors and hallways etc.
as for the HWT, mine has specifications in it listing what the clearance needed is. from memory, i need 1 foot on top, 6 inches on the control side, and it can be touching the wall on the sides and back.

but as a disclaimer, check your local codes and fuirnace/HWT specs

Posted this last week:

this is from our county code, but I'm pretty sure it is based on the International Building Code.


MECHANICAL REQUIREMENTS

APPLIANCE ACCESS: Furnaces, hot water heaters and other appliances must be accessible without removing permanent construction and shall meet the following minimum criteria.
• 30"x30" clear floor space at front/control side.
• Doors to furnace rooms shall be 24" minimum and be of sufficient size to remove the largest appliance.

COMBUSTION AIR: Furnace rooms with fuel-burning appliances must be provided with two permanent openings to adjacent spaces: one within 12" of the top and one within 12" from the bottom of the adjoining wall. Each opening must have a minimum free area equal to 1 in sq per 1,000 Btu/h input rating of all appliances in the furnace room, but not less than 100 in sq. The openings are not required if a louvered door is provided or the furnace room area is greater than 50 ft cu per 1,000 Btu/h input rating of all appliances installed in the room.

awesome!!
thanks a ton!
I have been looking for the minimum code on a furnace room door width for hours on the net and have read nothing but fire ratings vent code size and every thing I do not need but your info was rite to the point with out all the extra stuff I did not need.
I was just wondering if I could put in a smaller door so it sticks out into the hall a little less because you have to go threw the laundry room to get to the furnace room and its the laundry room door that would be better if it was smaller but I guess I will have to stay with the 32 inch door that is already there.
once again thank you.

And the Grammy for resurrecting an old forgotten thread goes to............................... Mort.