Unprotected water heater

[Charles L. Harper]

Do you guys write up electric water heaters in garages in new construction that are not protected?

[wsiegel]

Absolutely

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

If by protection, you mean protection from collision damage, no. It isn't required.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by charper

Do you guys write up electric water heaters in garages in new construction that are not protected?

No, but if I see that it's possible that the water heater can be crushed by a vehicle, then it absolutely gets annotated in the report as "recommending a protective barrier to prevent a vehicle from crushing tank".

[Emmanuel J. Scanlan]

2003 IRC:

M1307.3.1 Protection from impact.
Appliances located in a garage or carport shall be protected from impact by automobiles.

Check the Florida Building Codes to see if they require this.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

I stand corrected. Electric water heaters should be protected from impact. State, a leading manufacturer of electric water heaters requires protection from vehicle damage in their installation manuals:

“Also, the water heater must be located and/or protected so it is not subject to physical damage by a moving vehicle.”

http://www.statewaterheaters.com/lit...184671-000.pdf

[Tim Spargo]

Electric/Gas WH's .... dryers too