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watts 210 valve no longer allowed in Los Angeles City, Ca

New postPosted: Wed May 27, 2009 12:18 am
by andybwell
I have been informed that the Watts gas shut off 210 valve are longer allowed in the City of Los Angeles because water has contaminated some gas lines. What would you recommend as an alternative in a basement? As a home inspector how would you write this up?

Re: watts 210 valve no longer allowed in Los Angeles City, Ca

New postPosted: Wed May 27, 2009 8:57 am
by Jerry Peck - Codeman
Hi Andy,

First, I would confirm that what you heard was correct. I am contacting Watts to find out what they have heard and will post their response here.

Second, and based on what has been found out from the first step, would be to recommend a plumbing contractor install an appropriate valve. Whether that means the plumber leaves the Watts 210 in place or installs something else, possibly like this Taco valve (NOTE - right click over link and select 'Open in New Window': http://www.taco-hvac.com/en/products/WA ... ategory=65 ) which sets in the pan below the water heater and, when water gets in the pan, shuts the water off as well as shutting the gas off.

The discharge from a standard T&P relief valve would discharge into the pan. When the pan starts to fill with water, the valve shuts the water supply off.

A valve like this is a recommended valve to have installed at any water heater in the pan.

Another thing to remember is that water heaters are designed to be installed high and dry, not in any water, and that any water heater setting in any pan will have that water heater setting in water - water heaters are not designed to be partially submerged, which is what that would be. The easy solution is to install some method of raising the water heater above the overflow level of the pan.

You can use the stand which is raising the water heater 18 inches and place the pan under the stand, you can place concrete pavers in the pan to raise the water heater up, there are several options. The pan under my water heater is aluminum, so I laid a 20 inch diameter piece of shower pan material in the bottom of the pan, set in a 20 inch diameter concrete stepping stone, then set my water heater on top of the stepping stone - my water heater is now no longer in the water.

Re: watts 210 valve no longer allowed in Los Angeles City, Ca

New postPosted: Wed May 27, 2009 10:47 am
by andybwell
Thanks Jerry for such a comprehensive and thoughtful response to my question. I have been trying to verify this myself and have only been able to obtain hearsay information from one plumber and online. I have never heard of the Taco valve (I hope its approved by LA city!). Thanks again for the prompt reply.

Re: watts 210 valve no longer allowed in Los Angeles City, Ca

New postPosted: Fri May 29, 2009 8:25 am
by Jerry Peck - Codeman
Hi Andy,

It's only been two days, but I still have not received a response back from Watts, so I am sending another inquiry. It is quite possible that they had not heard of it either and are checking with the City of Los Angeles for information and verification.

I'll let you know what I find out when they respond.

I'm also contacting the City of Los Angeles Building Department to see what they say about it.

Hopefully between Watts and the Los Angeles Building Department I will have information and an answer for you.

Re: watts 210 valve no longer allowed in Los Angeles City, Ca

New postPosted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:34 pm
by Jerry Peck - Codeman
Hi Andy,

Below is the response I received back from Watts. I am still waiting on a response back from the City of Los Angeles Building Department.

Dear Jerry,

Thank you for your inquiry. I am unaware of code changes in Los Angeles that would prohibit the use of a Watts Model 210.

We appreciate your interest in Watts products.

Sincerely,
Watts Technical Support Team


I am hoping Watts will be contacting the City of Los Angeles to find out what is going on and to verify any changes, and I hope they advise me of what they find out, which I will post here when that happens.

I will post the reply I receive from the City of Los Angeles when I receive one.

Stay tuned.

Re: watts 210 valve no longer allowed in Los Angeles City, Ca

New postPosted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:35 pm
by Jerry Peck - Codeman
Hi Andy,

Below is the response I received back from Watts. I am still waiting on a response back from the City of Los Angeles Building Department.

Dear Jerry,

Thank you for your inquiry. I am unaware of code changes in Los Angeles that would prohibit the use of a Watts Model 210.

We appreciate your interest in Watts products.

Sincerely,
Watts Technical Support Team


I am *presuming* that Watts will be contacting the City of Los Angeles to find out what is going on and to verify any changes, that would be my expectation for them to follow through, whether they will or not I do not know, and if they do, I would hope they would advise me of what they find out, which I will post here if that happens.

I will post the reply I receive from the City of Los Angeles when I receive one.

Stay tuned.

Re: watts 210 valve no longer allowed in Los Angeles City, Ca

New postPosted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 6:03 pm
by Jerry Peck - Codeman
Hi Andy,

Received another update from Watts, shown below.

Dear Jerry:

Thank you for the inquiry. I've asked the code expert in our rep. office in LA to look into this. The sales people were unaware of the situation you described. I'll respond when I hear something back. Thanks again for the inquiry and for your interest in Watts products.

Sincerely,
Watts Technical Service Team

Re: watts 210 valve no longer allowed in Los Angeles City, Ca

New postPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 1:06 pm
by Jerry Peck - Codeman
Hi Andy,

I received another update from Watts, shown below.

Dear Jerry:

The National Product Manager for the 210-5 tells us he's going to explore submitting the valve to LADBS Test Lab.

Watts Technical Service Team


Looks like whatever questions the City of Los Angeles has had with the Watts 210 valve are going to be addressed by submitting the 210 valve to the Los Angeles Department of Building Safety Test Lab.

Hopefully that will all be resolved in the near future.

What it now looks like to me, reading between the lines, is that the Los Angeles DBS wants all products used in LADBS coverage area to be LADBS Approved and not accept other third-party approvals. In tough economic times one way to generate money is to not allow products to be used with 'payment of funds' for approval for use.

Re: watts 210 valve no longer allowed in Los Angeles City, Ca

New postPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 12:26 am
by andybwell
Thanks Jerry, for all your help.

Re: watts 210 valve no longer allowed in Los Angeles City, Ca

New postPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:18 am
by Jerry Peck - Codeman
Hi Andy,

You are welcome, and when - if - I hear from LADBS I will post their response here too.