Where a storage tank-type water heater or a hot water storage tank is installed in a location where water leakage from the tank will cause damage, the tank shall be installed in a pan constructed of one of the following:
- Galvanized steel or aluminum of not less than 0.0236 inch (0.6010 mm) in thickness.
- Plastic not less than 0.036 inch (0.9 mm) in thickness.
- Other approved materials.
A plastic pan shall not be installed beneath a gas-fired water heater.
Water heaters having an ignition source shall be elevated such that the source of ignition is not less than 18 inches (457 mm) above the garage floor.
Exception: Elevation of the ignition source is not required for appliances that are listed as flammable vapor ignition-resistant.
In Seismic Design Categories D0, D1 and D2 and townhouses in Seismic Design Category C, water heaters shall be anchored or strapped in the upper one-third and in the lower one-third of the appliance to resist a horizontal force equal to one-third of the operating weight of the water heater, acting in any horizontal direction, or in accordance with the appliance manufacturer's recommendations.
Appliances and equipment used for heating water or storing hot water shall be protected by one of the following:
- A separate pressure-relief valve and a separate temperature-relief valve.
- A combination pressure-and-temperature relief valve.
A check or shutoff valve shall not be installed in any of the following locations:
- Between a relief valve and the termination point of the relief valve discharge pipe.
- Between a relief valve and a tank.
- Between a relief valve and heating appliances or equipment.
The discharge piping serving a pressure-relief valve, temperature relief valve or combination valve shall:
- Not be directly connected to the drainage system.
- Discharge through an air gap located in the same room as the water heater.
- Not be smaller than the diameter of the outlet of the valve served and shall discharge full size to the air gap.
- Serve a single relief device and shall not connect to piping serving any other relief device or equipment.
- Discharge to the floor, to the pan serving the water heater or storage tank, to a waste receptor or to the outdoors.
- Discharge in a manner that does not cause personal injury or structural damage.
- Discharge to a termination point that is readily observable by the building occupants.
- Not be trapped.
- Be installed to flow by gravity.
- Terminate not more than 6 inches (152 mm) and not less than two times the discharge pipe diameter above the floor or waste receptor flood level rim.
- Not have a threaded connection at the end of the piping.
- Not have valves or tee fittings.
- Be constructed of those materials indicated in Section P2906.5 or materials tested, rated and approved for such use in accordance with ASME A112.4.1.
- Be one nominal size larger than the size of the relief-valve outlet, where the relief-valve discharge piping is constructed of PEX or PE-RT tubing. The outlet end of such tubing shall be fastened in place.