Water Heaters in garage

[Dallas Miller]

Hi everyone,
Quick question for you? Do you call out the fact that a W/H is not up off the floor if the W/H is in a Closet in the Garage? It is getting combustion air from the attic or venting.

I know Code(we are not code inspectors, I know) calls for it to be up off the floor in the garage, but the closet makes me question that. Especially the fact that it is getting air from a vent/attic.

[Steven E. Wiegner]

for electric hwh on floor is fine, i suggest pan and drain
for gas hwh must be off floor and protected by driveway block, and flow of air

[waksell]

The reason it is required to be 18" above the floor is that gasoline fumes hover down near the floor.

Even if it gets its combustion air directly from somewhere else I believe it still needs to be up 18".

[William E. Siegel]

If it is in the garage on the floor (electric) it must be guarded from a car hitting it.

[Ted Allen]

Me thinks electric WH's should be elevated.

[Ted Allen]

Or, you could look here

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

"IRC 2006 M1307.3 Elevation of ignition source. Appliances having an
ignition source shall be elevated such that the source of ignition
is not less than 18 inches (457 mm) above the floor in garages.
For the purpose of this section, rooms or spaces that are not part
of the living space of a dwelling unit and that communicate
with a private garage through openings shall be considered to
be part of the garage."

[ekartal6]

Thanks Joe. Gas or electric it must be at least 18'' no exceptions.
I run into many inspectors that think electronic ignition is an exception.

[Joe Hugenroth]

Originally Posted by ekartal6

Thanks Joe. Gas or electric it must be at least 18'' no exceptions.
I run into many inspectors that think electronic ignition is an exception.

Agreed. Worth repeating.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

There's been lots of debate about electric water heaters needing elevation. The c*de references the "ignition source" and where is that with an electric water heater?

[waksell]

Per Florida Building Code


P2801.6 Water heaters installed in garages.

Water heaters shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions which shall be available on the job site at the time of inspection

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

read the code - element or burner.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by swiegner

for electric hwh on floor is fine

In most jurisdictions, that's not true. Some AHJs do take a different view.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by dbowers

read the code - element or burner.

You are mistaken. The code refers to "source of ignition". It does NOT say "element or burner". IMHO, a wall outlet is more of a hazard than an electric water heater.

""IRC 2006 M1307.3 Elevation of ignition source. Appliances having an
ignition source shall be elevated such that the source of ignition
is not less than 18 inches (457 mm) above the floor in garages.
For the purpose of this section, rooms or spaces that are not part
of the living space of a dwelling unit and that communicate
with a private garage through openings shall be considered to
be part of the garage."

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by jfunderburk

The code refers to "source of ignition". It does NOT say "element or burner".

Both an element and a burner can be sources of ignition. Hold an electric element that is heating water to 125°F (which logically means that the element itself is at least 125°F) up against some clothes, and I can guarantee you that they will catch on fire. Source of ignition. Now get a small jar of gas from your car and stick the electric element in it. I can guarantee you that you'll get a small fire. Source of ignition. Now fill up a jug with gas from your gas range and stick the electric element in it. Boom! Source of ignition.

Originally Posted by jfunderburk

IMHO, a wall outlet is more of a hazard than an electric water heater.

Mine, too. But when we've got lemons, we must make margaritas.