All other gas vents shall terminate not less than 2 feet 610 mm above the highest point where they pass through the roof and at least 2 feet 610 mm higher than any portion of a building within 10 feet 3048 mm.
Water heater vent height above roof.
At the hottest point in a gas water heater flue the flue vent connector right above the heater top the temperature is not likely to rise above 350 degf.
The difference is that a power vent water heater pulls in combustion air from the space around the appliance then uses a fan to propel the exhaust through the vent.
Used where the midpoint of a gable roof would have more than 7 8 feet of run to the ridge.
Above the highest point where they pass through the roof surface.
With a direct vent system air for combustion is drawn from a vent pipe that runs through an exterior wall or the roof.
Direct vent water heaters.
10 4 1 1 vents installed with mechanical exausters shall terminate not less than 12 in.
The average being about 6 foot.
Manufacturers recommendations usually take precedence over local building codes but you won t know for sure which takes precedence or what those manufacturers recommendations are.
It is reasonable to assume that higher in the flue temperatures are much lower.
Here is the nfp11 codes.
Other issue is the bathroom installation which isn t permitted as well unless the water heater closet is sealed from the bathroom area air tight doors and it has a separate fresh air supply from exterior or other areas of the house that can be used for this purpose.
If it is a natural vent type water heater you can not vent it through the side wall it has to vent above the roof.