Brain Tease: Commercial Water Heater

[jar546]

What thickness insulation is required for automatic-circulating domestic hot water piping if the entire system is within the thermal envelope and in conditioned space?

 

[mtlogcabin]

504.5 Pipe insulation.

For automatic-circulating hot water systems, piping shall be insulated with 1 inch (25 mm) of insulation having a conductivity not exceeding 0.27 Btu per inch/h × ft2 × °F (1.53 W per 25 mm/m2 × K). The first 8 feet (2438 mm) of piping in noncirculating systems served by equipment without integral heat traps shall be insulated with 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) of material having a conductivity not exceeding 0.27 Btu per inch/h × ft2 × °F (1.53 W per 25 mm/m2 × K).

 

[jar546]

504.5 Pipe insulation.For automatic-circulating hot water systems, piping shall be insulated with 1 inch (25 mm) of insulation having a conductivity not exceeding 0.27 Btu per inch/h × ft2 × °F (1.53 W per 25 mm/m2 × K). The first 8 feet (2438 mm) of piping in noncirculating systems served by equipment without integral heat traps shall be insulated with 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) of material having a conductivity not exceeding 0.27 Btu per inch/h × ft2 × °F (1.53 W per 25 mm/m2 × K).

So what is your answer?

 

[mtlogcabin]

1 inch would be the answer to your post. However the tempature of the water would need to be known to determine if a paticular type/brand of insulation meets the second part of the code requirement.

 

[jar546]

Beautiful!