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Pressure Relief Discharge to Garage Slab

Nope! We feel that this would be in a manner that would cause personal injury.

Now we do allow the drain pans to dump into the lower section of the garage.
 
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How many of you require the discharge line to discharge through an air gap located in the same

room as the water heater?

It's required by code!

We don't!
 
I am still twisted on this. These are SFR with 3' foundation wall and joists dropped so garage and entry have no steps to house.

Water heater in alcove accessed from the garage. If PR drain to outside by the time it gets there it is below outside grade.

I have required hub drain with trap primer in the past but we have seen a few trap primers fail and trap dry out and stink. I have allowed pan to dump to garage floor.

If PR dumps to garage it would certainly be noticed when there is problem. My highly fuel efficient and "green machine" (Ford Expedition) brings more white water daily into garage than the PR will probably ever dump.
 
yes.. garage slab is observable.. does not (usually) do damage to the structure.. pretty common application
 
I agree with the peach, I would allow it, most garage floors these days are pitched to the front door, would have to be a min 6" from the floor. I think its visable and don't think much water damage would occur.
 
Pcinspector1 said:
I agree with the peach, I would allow it, most garage floors these days are pitched to the front door, would have to be a min 6" from the floor. I think its visable and don't think much water damage would occur.
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Also water heater would need to be 18" off of garage floor.
 
Even if it's gas it could possibly still be on the garage floor.

I'm making you think now aren't I! :)

Let me know when you give up.
 
Hey!!!!! I was trying to get Bootleg to do some research!! :eek:

You done went and spoiled my fun! :(
 
But Mule, Everyone knows that it's best to raise the WH up as high as you can... cuz hot water rises, and the higher you place the WH, the less you have to heat it... So if you have to heat it 18" less, then you save money! Maybe I better get my thermodynamics book out and review it. Been too long since I Boyle'd (sic) water!
 
Mule said:
Hey!!!!! I was trying to get Bootleg to do some research!! :eek:You done went and spoiled my fun! :(
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Mule,

If the water heater is electric would you approved it on the floor?

What about the code people that say an electric water heater is a source of ignition.
 
No. We had a sit down discussion and determined that electric water heaters with their contact's, elements and wiring have the potential for being a souce of ignition by arcing or shorting out.

From the 2006 IRC

M1307.3 Elevation of ignition source. Appliances having an

ignition source shall be elevated such that the source of ignition

is not less than 18 inches (457 mm) above the floor in garages.

For the purpose of this section, rooms or spaces that are not part

of the living space of a dwelling unit and that communicate

with a private garage through openings shall be considered to

be part of the garage.

From the definitions section of the 2006 IRC

IGNITION SOURCE. A flame spark or hot surface capable

of igniting flammable vapors or fumes. Such sources include

appliance burners, burner ignitors and electrical switching

devices.
 
Mule,

I guess that would make a refrigerator, freezer, washer and drier a source of ignition and need to be elevated also?

At this time I only required electric and gas water heaters if not flammable vapor ignition resistant.
 
Bootleg said:
Mule,I guess that would make a refrigerator, freezer, washer and drier a source of ignition and need to be elevated also?
Click to expand...
Yep! Crazy but I believe they would be an ignition source.

And we require the same as you.
 
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Gotta kinda go with Mule on this... the appliance is not the only thing in a garage that can produce flammable vapors... unless you never store a car or lawnmower in your garage.
 
We're in the UPC. Electrical devices are not included in the verbage in what needs to be elevated (as far as water heaters are concerned). 508.14 states that "all burners and burner ignition devices" shall be elevated min 18" above the floor. It does state however, in 506.1, that water heaters deriving heat from other sources shall be installed in accordance with approved standards. There may be other sources that require elevation of electric water heaters, but in our state the IRC is not one of them, at least the way I understand it. Even ch 24 covers only fuel gas equipment, therefore, the "ignition source" there would only include gas flames. Food for thought.
 
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