AskCodeMan

Are flexible water connections required on the water heater in California?

I have contacted my California Codeman for him to answer your question.

I suspect the answer is 'no' because the water heater is required to be strapped in place, and if strapped in place properly, the water heater should move with the structure and the piping supplying it.

Hi RedBob

The California Building Codes do not require a water heater’s gas and water supply piping to be flexible. However, it would be a very good idea for residents to seriously consider having flexible supply connectors installed when you consider the majority of the population resides in the highest seismic zones in the state. The California Health & Safety Code does require all water heaters to be seismically secured. For those interested here are some web sites worth reviewing:

http://www.anacalifornia.org/Preliminar ... nddata.pdf
http://www.oes.ca.gov/Operational/OESHo ... heater.pdf
http://www.earthquakecountry.info/daret ... eater.html