Earthquake strap for tankless water heater - InspectionNews

Ron Bishop · #1 (**permalink**) 08-21-2007, 06:43 PM

Can anyone tell me if a freestanding tankless water heater needs to have earthquake straps? (in California)
thank you kindly

Gunnar Alquist · #2 (**permalink**) 08-21-2007, 06:56 PM

Ron,

To the best of my knowledge no. At least, I do not make any recommendations regarding strapping. I check to make sure that they are well mounted to the wall.

Dom D'Agostino · #3 (**permalink**) 08-21-2007, 07:03 PM

Aren't they generally screwed to the wall? That should meet any bracing requirement.

This document says only standard water heaters need strapping.

Richard Rushing · #4 (**permalink**) 08-21-2007, 09:16 PM

What would you strap?

There is no tank...

The water heating section is secured. Nothing to strap.

rr

Joe Nernberg · #5 (**permalink**) 08-21-2007, 10:09 PM

Ron,

Tankless water heaters must be braced to the wall with the listed/approved hanger included in the box.

bruce m graham III · #6 (**permalink**) 08-22-2007, 04:54 AM

Joe,
Thats like the anti tip bracket that comes with every oven right.

brian schmitt · #7 (**permalink**) 08-22-2007, 10:48 AM

ron,
code says "anchored or strapped". some of the tankless water heaters ( monitors etc) are quite large and in a seismic event could tip or displace enough to cause problems. anchor per manufacturer or strap if no anchoring instructions are included.

Jerry Peck · #8 (**permalink**) 08-22-2007, 01:46 PM

(underlining is mine)
P2801.7 Water heater seismic bracing.

In Seismic Design Categories D

0

, 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.

"or in accordance with the appliance manufacturer’s recommendations."

Thus, no strapping is needed if the manufacturer addresses "anchoring" in their installation instructions, and they should.

It's the weight of the water in the storage tank which is to be considered, not the weight of the appliance itself, and, tankless water heaters do not have a storage tank to hold water.