Look at photo...is this a correct application ? - InspectionNews

Gene South · #1 (**permalink**) 08-27-2008, 06:50 AM

Look at photo...is this a correct application ? Water heater TPRV valve line connecting to the pan drain line. Both using the same termination line.

Rick Cantrell · #2 (**permalink**) 08-27-2008, 07:00 AM

2006 IRC
Bold added

P2803.6.1 Requirements for discharge pipe. The discharge
piping serving a pressure-relief valve, temperaturerelief
valve or combination valve shall:
1. Not be directly connected to the drainage system.
2. Discharge through an air gap located in the same
room as the water heater.
3. Not be smaller than the diameter of the outlet of the
valve served and shall discharge full size to the air
gap. ( is that 1/2 or 3/4 pipe)
4. Serve a single relief device and shall not connect to
piping serving any other relief device or equipment.
5. Discharge to the floor, to an indirect waste receptor
or to the outdoors. Where discharging to the outdoors
in areas subject to freezing, discharge piping
shall be first piped to an indirect waste receptor
through an air gap located in a conditioned area.
6. Discharge in a manner that does not cause personal
injury or structural damage.
7. Discharge to a termination point that is readily
observable by the building occupants.
8. Not be trapped.
9. Be installed to flow by gravity.
10. Not terminate more than 6 inches (152 mm) above
the floor or waste receptor.
11. Not have a threaded connection at the end of the piping.
12. Not have valves or tee fittings.
13. Be constructed of those materials listed in Section
P2904.5 or materials tested, rated and approved for

such use in accordance with ASME A112.4.1.

Jerry Peck · #3 (**permalink**) 08-27-2008, 09:10 AM

Gene,

If you read through the code Rick posted, you will find many more things wrong in your photo than just the ones Rick highlighted with bold.

Jim Luttrall · #4 (**permalink**) 08-27-2008, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Cantrell

2006 IRC

Bold added

P2803.6.1 Requirements for discharge pipe. The discharge
piping serving a pressure-relief valve, temperaturerelief
valve or combination valve shall:
1. Not be directly connected to the drainage system.
2. Discharge through an air gap located in the same
room as the water heater.
3. Not be smaller than the diameter of the outlet of the
valve served and shall discharge full size to the air
gap. ( is that 1/2 or 3/4 pipe)
4. Serve a single relief device and shall not connect to
piping serving any other relief device or equipment.
5. Discharge to the floor, to an indirect waste receptor
or to the outdoors. Where discharging to the outdoors
in areas subject to freezing, discharge piping
shall be first piped to an indirect waste receptor
through an air gap located in a conditioned area.
6. Discharge in a manner that does not cause personal
injury or structural damage.
7. Discharge to a termination point that is readily
observable by the building occupants.
8. Not be trapped.
9. Be installed to flow by gravity.
10. Not terminate more than 6 inches (152 mm) above
the floor or waste receptor.
11. Not have a threaded connection at the end of the piping.
12. Not have valves or tee fittings.
13. Be constructed of those materials listed in Section
P2904.5 or materials tested, rated and approved for

such use in accordance with ASME A112.4.1.

Added bold and red to another item that directly applies.

Jim Luttrall · #5 (**permalink**) 08-27-2008, 09:26 AM

Lots of changes in the 2006 IRC that still do not apply until the municipalities adopt. Here is the 2003 IRC wording:

P2803.6.1 Requirements of discharge pipe. The outlet of a pressure relief valve, temperature relief valve or combination thereof, shall not be directly connected to the drainage system. The discharge from the relief valve shall be piped full size separately to the floor, to the outside of the building or to an indirect waste receptor located inside the building... ... readily observable by the building occupants... ...shall not be trapped.

Gene South · #6 (**permalink**) 08-27-2008, 09:58 AM

Guys, thanks for the feedback.

Gene

Rick Cantrell · #7 (**permalink**) 08-27-2008, 12:52 PM

"4. Serve a single relief device and shall not connect to
piping serving any other relief device or equipment."

Jim, I don't think that applies to this setup/Photo.

Also
"The discharge from the relief valve shall be piped full size separately to the floor, to the outside of the building "

It is piped to the wall, maybe it does not go to the outside, who knows, I can't tell from the photo.

"If you read through the code Rick posted, you will find many more things wrong in your photo than just the ones Rick highlighted with bold."

Yes I did overlook something

2. Discharge through an air gap located in the same
room as the water heater.
And maybe
7. Discharge to a termination point that is readily
observable by the building occupants.

Something else I now see:
no sediment trap on gas line
No handle on gas shutoff valve
Looking at the photo. Is the WH blocking the doorway?
Is there venting? Working room?
I cannot see any evidence of tape or sealant on the gas fitting to the control valve.
And as Jerry points out, should the WH be sitting in the pan (not elevated)?

Rick Cantrell · #8 (**permalink**) 08-27-2008, 01:08 PM

Something locked up before I finished, and I could not do anything but hit "Submit".

"2. Discharge through an air gap located in the same
room as the water heater.
And maybe
7. Discharge to a termination point that is readily
observable by the building occupants."

When I read these two requirments, somehow I was thinking one or the other. With the other being readily observable from outside.

Jim Luttrall · #9 (**permalink**) 08-27-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

4. Serve a single relief device and shall not connect to
piping serving any other relief device or equipment."

Jim, I don't think that applies to this setup/Photo.

I count the pan under the heater as other equipment. If you connect the tpr and the pan together as in that picture, the drain line is connected to piping serving "other equipment"

Regardless, it is wrong on several counts based on the 2006 IRC.

That is an "or" in the 2003 IRC concerning the discharge.

Rick Cantrell · #10 (**permalink**) 08-27-2008, 05:06 PM

"I count the pan under the heater as other equipment"

The pan does not produce water, in fact the TPR does not produce water. The water comes from the tank, so the tank is the equipment, not the pan.

Have you seen a setup where the TPR drained straight down into the pan, and the pan drained to someplace?
Lets see what the code is:
1. Not be directly connected to the drainage system.
Ok on this one

2. Discharge through an air gap located in the same
room as the water heater.
Ok on this one

3. Not be smaller than the diameter of the outlet of the
valve served and shall discharge full size to the air
gap.
Ok if the pipe is 3/4 or larger

This is where you have a concern
4. Serve a single relief device and shall not connect to
piping serving any other relief device or equipment.
The Heading reads
"P2803.6.1 Requirements for discharge pipe. The discharge
piping serving a pressure-relief valve, temperaturerelief
valve or combination valve shall"
This is about the Drain line for the TPR Valve, not the drain line for the pan

5. Discharge to the floor, to an indirect waste receptor
or to the outdoors. Where discharging to the outdoors
in areas subject to freezing, discharge piping
shall be first piped to an indirect waste receptor
through an air gap located in a conditioned area.
Here the pan is an indirect waste receptor

6. Discharge in a manner that does not cause personal
injury or structural damage.
OK

7. Discharge to a termination point that is readily
observable by the building occupants.
As long as it can be seen then it OK

8. Not be trapped
OK

9. Be installed to flow by gravity

10. Not terminate more than 6 inches (152 mm) above
the floor or waste receptor.
Gotta watch for this one

11. Not have a threaded connection at the end of the piping.
And this one

12. Not have valves or tee fittings
No valves or tees needed if it drains straight down into the pan.

13. Be constructed of those materials listed in Section
P2904.5 or materials tested, rated and approved forsuch use in accordance with ASME A112.4.1.
Looks like they used copper so OK there

So if the drain line for the TPR valve goes straight down to the WH pan, looks like that meets the requirments.

Rick Cantrell · #11 (**permalink**) 08-27-2008, 05:23 PM

Jim
After making the post, I read it again. It sounds like I'm talking down to you. I apologize to you for it sounding that way, it was not intended to be.

Jim Luttrall · #12 (**permalink**) 08-27-2008, 06:26 PM

No problem Rick,
but the picture shows the tpr drain connected to the drain pipe which also serves the pan, the pipe does not dump into the pan. This would disguise where the water would come from, the heater or the tpr valve. That is in addition to the other items about no Tees or valves that you posted.

Michael Thomas · #13 (**permalink**) 08-27-2008, 08:10 PM

Wadda' all think: should I recommend it be corrected, or bronzed?