Class Code 3175
Furnace Or Heater Mfg
Class Code 3175 covers on-site manufacturing of furnaces and heaters — the fabrication, assembly, welding, testing and finishing of heating units and related components. The California pure premium approved for Sept 1, 2026 is $4.872 per $100 of payroll, which reflects historical loss experience for this type of manufacturing work.
What Class Code 3175 Covers
This classification applies to shops and plants that manufacture furnaces, industrial heaters, burners, and heater components rather than performing field installation or HVAC service work. Typical operations include cutting and forming sheet and plate metal for casings, welding and brazing burner assemblies, machining parts, assembling control and combustion systems, refractory installation, and factory performance testing at elevated temperatures. It covers employees on the production floor, welders and fabricators, machinists, assembly technicians, quality/test technicians, and plant maintenance staff who work directly on furnace/heater products. Operations that primarily perform field erection, installation, HVAC ductwork, or heating system service and repair are often classified differently and should be reviewed for proper coding.
Who It Applies To
- Manufacturers of industrial furnaces, boiler components, and packaged heaters
- Shop-based fabricators who assemble burner systems and combustion chambers
- Welders, brazers, and machinists working on heater components in a plant
- Quality control and test technicians performing high-temperature testing
- In-plant maintenance mechanics servicing furnace production equipment
Common Job Duties
- Fabricating and forming metal casings, baffles and mounting brackets
- Welding, brazing, flame cutting and grinding of burner and chamber parts
- Machining and fitting shafts, bearings and control components
- Applying and installing refractory or thermal insulation materials
- Assembling burners, control panels and fuel/air delivery systems
- High-temperature performance testing, calibration and inspection
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $4.872 Rate
The approved pure premium of $4.872 per $100 of payroll is the base loss cost reflecting expected claims frequency and severity for this class. Insurers and PEOs apply their own loss cost multipliers, expense loads, state assessments, and any employer-specific experience modification or deductible to determine the final premium an employer pays.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
California employers must follow Cal/OSHA (Division of Occupational Safety and Health) Title 8 general industry standards, including maintaining an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). Key compliance areas for furnace/heater manufacturing include hot work permits and controls for welding and cutting, ventilation and respiratory protection for welding fumes and combustion gases, controls for silica/refractory dust, machine guarding, lockout/tagout for equipment maintenance, confined-space procedures when entering combustion chambers, and documented employee training.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 3175
A PEO like Key HR can centralize workers' comp administration, ensure correct classification and payroll reporting for class code 3175, and coordinate timely claims management to contain costs. Key HR also provides tailored loss-control programs, on-site or virtual safety training (hot work, welding ventilation, LOTO, confined spaces), return-to-work coordination and experience-mod reduction strategies to help lower your overall workers' comp expense.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class Code 3175 include field installation or service of furnaces at customer sites?
Typically no. Code 3175 covers plant-based manufacturing and testing of furnaces and heaters. Field installation, erection or HVAC service work is usually classified under different codes—have payroll and job duties audited to ensure proper coding.
What are the most important loss-control measures for furnace and heater manufacturing?
Implement a written hot work permit program, local exhaust ventilation and respirators for welding and combustion fumes, silica/refractory dust controls (wet methods/vacuum systems), robust machine guarding and LOTO procedures, confined-space entry protocols, and documented training for welders and test technicians.
How can I realistically lower workers' comp costs for this class?
Focus on proactive safety (hot work and ventilation), prompt claims reporting and return-to-work programs, accurate payroll classification, regular equipment maintenance, and participation in group-loss control initiatives. Partnering with a PEO like Key HR can also provide claims advocacy, safety expertise and consolidated reporting that reduce administrative errors and support experience-mod improvement.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 3175
- Classification
- Furnace Or Heater Mfg
- Pure Premium Rate
- $4.872 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
Key HR provides pay-as-you-go workers' comp for California employers — no large deposits, no audits, better rates.
Get a Quoteor call (800) 922-4133Ready to Simplify Workers' Comp for Class Code 3175?
Key HR provides California employers with pay-as-you-go workers' comp, HR compliance support, and payroll — all through one PEO partnership.