AskCodeMan

Electrical water heater, no impact protection.

Hi Richard,

All water heaters, appliances, and equipment installed in a garage require protection from vehicle impact.

This could be by installing bollard, raising the water heater/appliance/etc. on a structural platform (typically concrete blocks filled with concrete, to a minimum height of 24 inches is used for this) or supported from above at a height of at least 6 feet.

From the 2004 Florida Building Code - Residential, with 2006 Revisions: (bold and underlining are mine)
- P2801.2 Installation.
- - Water heaters shall be installed in accordance with this chapter and Chapters 20 and 24.
- 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.
- M2005.1 General.
- - Water heaters shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions and the requirements of this code. Water heaters installed in an attic shall conform to the requirements of Section M1305.1.3. Gas-fired water heaters shall conform to the requirements in Chapter 24. Domestic electric water heaters shall conform to UL 174 or UL 1453. Commercial electric water heaters shall conform to UL 1453. Oiled-fired water heaters shall conform to UL 732.

In reading any water heater manufacturer's installation instructions, one of the cautions listed with regard to installation in a garage is protection from vehicle damage. Below is just one example from a manufacturer's installation instructions (note - place cursor over link, right click, select 'Open in New Window' http://www.statewaterheaters.com/lit/im ... 71-000.pdf ).
- From the State Instruction Manual, Residential Electric Water Heaters. (Note that many manuals look like duplicates of each other with only the manufacturer's name changing.)
- - From page 8
- - - Locating The New Water Heater
- - - - second paragraph at top of right hand column
- - - - - Also, the water heater must be located and/or protected so it is not subject to physical damage by a moving vehicle.

The Florida Building Code - Residential, refers to the installation instructions and the installation instruction state that the water heater "must be located and/or protected so it is not subject to physical damage by a moving vehicle."

Hope that information helps.

Codeman

Hi Jerry,

Is there a specific code just for the appliance protection?

RICHARD TAN wrote:Is there a specific code just for the appliance protection?

Hi Richard,

There used to be, now it is referenced to the manufacturer's installation instructions, referenced in the various code section, not the least of which is the NEC and 110.3(B) as anything connected to the electrical system is also under the NEC, such as air conditioning units, electric water heaters, electric clothes washers, etc., - if it is supplied by or connected to the, or an, electrical system in any way, then it is also "electrical equipment" and 110.3(B) requires all electrical equipment to be installed and used in accordance with its listing, labeling and manufacturer's instructions:
From the 2005 NEC. (underlining and bold are mine)
- 110.3 Examination, Identification, Installation, and Use of Equipment.
- - (B) Installation and Use. Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling.

That pretty much covers everything, and those items not covered there will also state (with few, if any, exceptions) protection from damage, protection from physical damage, and protection from vehicle damage, as applicable to the appliance/equipment.