Floor registers

[JimmyTreeX]

After researching codes on floor registers, I found everything other than the two questions I was trying to answer:

Do they need to be flush (or is there a requirement on their on their installation regarding being a tripping hazard)?
If the furnace was removed and there is no longer any use for the vent openings, do they have to close them up?

During an inspection today I found that wall registers were being used for the floor. They weren’t recessed or anything, just registers laid over the whole, probably a half inch thick (posing a tripping hazard I assume?). They also switched to electric baseboard heat, so there are no ducts or anything connected to them anymore.

How would you address these scenarios (or wouldn’t)? Thank you.

 

[ICE]

What was the purpose of your inspection? The misused wall registers will not support sufficient weight to be used on a floor..

 

[mark handler]

Per Code install per manufacturer's instructions.
NYMC 603.18 Registers, Grilles and Diffusers
Duct registers, grilles and diffusers shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Volume dampers or other means of supply air adjustment shall be provided in the branch ducts or at each individual duct register, grille or diffuser. Each volume damper or other means of supply air adjustment used in balancing shall be provided with access.

603.18.1 Floor Registers​

Floor registers shall resist, without structural failure, a 200-pound (90.8 kg) concentrated load on a 2-inch-diameter (51 mm) disc applied to the most critical area of the exposed face.

603.18.2 Prohibited Locations​

Diffusers, registers and grilles shall be prohibited in the floor or its upward extension within toilet and bathing rooms required by the Building Code of New York State to have smooth, hard, nonabsorbent surfaces.
Exception: Dwelling units.

 

[JimmyTreeX]

What was the purpose of your inspection? The misused wall registers will not support sufficient weight to be used on a floor..

It was a tenant complaint. It wasn't part of his complaint, but I couldn't overlook it. I'll def be requiring that they be installed per manufacturers instructions (and since they are meant for the wall, they'll have to replace them), but I'm surprised there's nothing requiring them to be flush with the flooring. Or no mention of requirements if the heating system and duct work is removed.

 

[TheCommish]

You can have raised threshold in the doorway that are higher than proper floor registers that are usually at the permiter walls out of the way.

 

[ICE]

nothing requiring them to be flush with the flooring

A floor register is by design going to bear on the flooring. The edges ar tapered to present less tripping hazard. Okay, I made that up but sometimes I have good bullshlt.

 

[klarenbeek]

A floor register is by design going to bear on the flooring. The edges ar tapered to present les tripping hazard. Okay, I made that up but sometimes I have good bullshlt.

Is it BS if its true?

 

[Paul Sweet]

Floor registers generally extend 1/4" or so above the floor, and are usually near the walls and not in the path of travel. It would take a lot of extra labor to cut the finish flooring to the exact size of the register and shim the register to make it level.

The registers should be capped to reduce air infiltration and keep bugs out, especially if the ducts were removed. Just shutting the dampers isn't adequate.