Water Heater Pipe Insulation Code

Bottom board electric water heaters require insulation when placed in an unheated area to prevent heat loss.

Water heater pipe insulation code. Code expert glenn mathewson describes 10 common water heater code issues including confusion about drip pans and drains unsupported expansion tanks and plastic vents lack of combustion air and more. If the water heater thermostat fails to turn off at its temperature setting and continues to heat the water indefinitely the tpr valve will open and let the overheated water out. Gas fired water heater chimney codes in the u s. The california water heater code is part of a larger statewide california plumbing code and has.

Piping from the water heater to kitchen outlets. Piping larger than 3 4 inch nominal diameter. Water pipe insulation the following piping shall be insulated to levels shown in section 6 table 6 8 3. 2 the first 2 5 m of hot water outlet piping of a hot water storage tank serving a non recirculating system shall be insulated to provide a thermal resistance of not less than rsi 0 62.

Installing a tank water heater might seem easy but homeowners who refinish their basements often create a number of code violations with respect to the water heater. All hot water pipes between the heating source and kitchen fixtures must be insulated the 2016 plumbing code section 609 11 requires domestic hot water pipes to be insulated. Bottom boards are a buffer made of r 10 or better thermal resistant material that increase the efficiency of your electric heater. It also specifies that pipe insulation must be at least the thickness of the pipe diameter while pipes larger than two inches must have at least two inches of pipe insulation.

But if the termination of the piping is not readily visible such as if it is located under the house the water will continue to drain until the homeowner gets an amazing electric or gas bill and goes searching. Table 6 8 3a minimum pipe insulation thickness. Assuming that the temperature of most domestic hot water is 105 f 140 f the required insulation thickness is 1 for pipes below 1 1 2 diameter and 1 5 thickness for pipes 1 1 2 and above. The same table that is used for hvac piping.

2 this code specifies the minimum requirements for a drainage systems for water borne wastes and storm water for buildings to the point of connection with public services b venting systems c water service pipes and d water distribution systems. 2012 iecc section r403 4 2 hot water pipe insulation prescriptive insulation for hot water pipe with a minimum thermal resistance r value of r 3 shall be applied to the following. 360 venting of equipment cited at the end of this page. The hot water pipes must be insulated according to table c403 2 10.

G2427 3 503 3 design and construction. See the national fuel gas code chapter 24 fuel gas that includes discussion of venting requirements in section g2427 p.