What You Need to Know About Georgia Plumbing Code for Water Heaters

Water heaters are supposed to be environmentally conscious, and the environmentally friendly standards are meant to increase the Energy Factor. For this grounds, the Department of Energy has been enforcing new energy standards for water heaters in residential buildings over time.

The Georgia plumbing code is basically meant to govern the design, installation, and materials of water heaters as well as the linked safety devices and appurtenances. In accordance with the code, the drain valves used in emptying water heater or hot water are supposed to be placed at the bottom of each and every tank.

In addition, the location and connection of any water heater or storage tank should be done in a way that it’ll allow access for observation, servicing, maintenance and replacement and the water heaters also need to be certified by a third party. Both water heaters and storage tanks installed for domestic hot water need to have the maximum permissible working pressure.

The permissible working pressure should be clearly and indelibly marked on a plate that is welded on it or stamped on the metal or be permanently attached and should also be installed in an accessible position that can be seen outside the tank for ease of inspection and reinspection. The water temperature intended for domestic use from a tankless water heater should also not exceed 140°F or 60°C.

When it comes to temperature controls, each hot water supply system needs to be equipped with an automatic temperature control that can be adjusted from the lowest acceptable temperature settings to the highest for the desired temperature operating range.

Installation of Water Heaters

Most appliances if not all always need to be installed in accordance with the given installation instructions from the manufacturer. The case isn’t different when it comes to water heaters as the Georgia plumbing code requires the same. Because water heaters utilize either gas, oil or electricity in order to heat the potable water in demand for use, they all conform to the Georgia plumbing code as well as additional codes.

This means that all oil-fired water heaters, electric water heaters, and gas-fired water heaters need to conform to the requirements of the Georgia plumbing code as well as other codes namely the International Mechanical Code, provisions of NPFA 70 and International Fuel Gas Code respectively. In addition, any water heater that uses gas, solid or liquid fuel should not be installed in a room that contains air-handling machinery especially if the room is also being used as a plenum.

If the water heater is set up in an attic, it should have an opening, or an unobstructed passageway that is large enough to allow for the removal of the water heater should need to arise. And if you dwell in an area that is prone to earthquake loads as is observed with the International Building Code, then your water heater supports should be designed and installed for the seismic forces that comply with the

International Building Code.

The installed appliances need to have access for inspection, repair, service, and replacement without the need to remove a permanent construction or have a fire-resistance-rated assembly function disabled or interfere with any other appliances or ducts or piping that are not connected to the appliance when being inspected, repaired, serviced or replaced.