Spot HRV distance from openable portion of window

[rossn]

I am installing some Lunos e2 Spot HRVs in a residence - they alternate between pushing and pulling of air out/in the home. Do I understand correctly that these must adhere to IRC M1506.3 “Air exhaust openings shall terminate not less than…; 3 feet from operable and nonoperable openings into the building…”?

If so, and there is a ’slider’ type window, is the requirement 3’ from the openable portion of the window, or the entire window? I wasn’t clear about ‘operable and *nonoperable* openings’.

Will code allow an extension outside the home to make the 3’?

 

[ICE]

For the purposes of the mechanical code, the fixed portion of a window is not an opening into the building.

 

[rossn]

Ok, thanks ICE - that is very helpful! I have one of the HRV holes cored in the brick next to a 3-section window that has a casement on each end with a fixed window in the center. Is it technically possible to make one of these casement windows 'fixed'?

 

[ICE]

That would require a replacement window.