Water Heater Closet Door Requirements

Closets are required to have doors when a water heater is installed in them and these doors cannot be left open.

Water heater closet door requirements.

Close off vents in door. The closet shall be for the exclusive use of the water heater. You can do this by attaching a piece of plywood on the back side of the door. Irc2012 sec r302 5 1 pc1 pcinspector1.

Apparently not applicable is this instance. No water closet or bidet shall be set closer than fifteen 15 inches 505 0 water heater requirements. Once your combustion vents have been installed and the ceiling in the closet has been finished out you will want to close off any vents in the door. Some furnaces allowed off sleeping areas with outside air and solid sealed fireproof door.

Installing a tank water heater might seem easy but homeowners who refinish their basements often create a number of code violations with respect to the water heater. Yes a gas water heater can be installed in a closet as long as the closet is not used for storage. The metal plate must extend a minimum of 6 inches beyond the water. Be sure to caulk around the seams to make a tight seal.

Water heater shall be of the direct vent type. Insufficient combustion air need outside air or a full louvered door or a standard door with high and low vents. Threshold and bottom door seal and shall meet the requirements of section 505 1 2. Insufficient clearance need metal door or fireproof door to reduce clearance requirements.

Combustion air for such installations shall be obtained from the outdoors in accordance with section 506 4. The doors must open and close easily and freely and must close and latch by. If the gas furnace and or water heater is in a closet between the residence and the garage then the door has to be self closing and solid core. If the floor of the closet is carpeted you must install a metal plate between the bottom of the water heater and the carpet.