stew
Senior Member
- Location
- federal way,washington
This question is for someone like Tom Baker . When did the WACstate of wash code start to require a 30 amp circuit min# 10 for the water heater?
another water heater question
- Thread starter stew
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paul
Senior Member
- Location
- Snohomish, WA
Re: another water heater question
It's been around for quite some time. As for the exact date, I dunno.
WAC 296-46B-422 Equipment for general use -- Appliances.
010 Water heater circuit.
Water heaters with a rated circuit load in excess of 3,500 watts at 208 or 240 volts must be provided with branch circuit conductors not smaller than #10 AWG copper or equal. Overcurrent protection must comply with NEC 422.11(E).
It's been around for quite some time. As for the exact date, I dunno.
WAC 296-46B-422 Equipment for general use -- Appliances.
010 Water heater circuit.
Water heaters with a rated circuit load in excess of 3,500 watts at 208 or 240 volts must be provided with branch circuit conductors not smaller than #10 AWG copper or equal. Overcurrent protection must comply with NEC 422.11(E).
stew
Senior Member
- Location
- federal way,washington
Re: another water heater question
Thanks paul I know the rule but an inspector has tagged a homeowner on an existing installation which has been in since about 1978 or possibly earlier.Dont think this should have been called. I think the rule was new in 83 but not sure. In any event this heater has been working just fine on its 20 amp breaker for over 25 years with no problem. Juast curious. Will probably just go ahead and pull a 10 anyway but it really is not kosher when they strt to make you update existing. It opens up a pandoras box of correction that could be called but arent because of old code installs that are ok at this point but have to be changed upon a whim of an inspector.
Thanks paul I know the rule but an inspector has tagged a homeowner on an existing installation which has been in since about 1978 or possibly earlier.Dont think this should have been called. I think the rule was new in 83 but not sure. In any event this heater has been working just fine on its 20 amp breaker for over 25 years with no problem. Juast curious. Will probably just go ahead and pull a 10 anyway but it really is not kosher when they strt to make you update existing. It opens up a pandoras box of correction that could be called but arent because of old code installs that are ok at this point but have to be changed upon a whim of an inspector.
paul
Senior Member
- Location
- Snohomish, WA
Re: another water heater question
Why was this circuit being inspected in the first place?
Why was this circuit being inspected in the first place?
stew
Senior Member
- Location
- federal way,washington
Re: another water heater question
Thats exactly my point paul. The owner remodeled an existing bugalow. We added 1 circuit for the mic,dw,dis,and one afci for the 2 bedrooms and i new electric heat circuit. That should haver been it but she ( the inspector) looked at everything in the unit including the existing gounding,bonding, etc etc and wrote a laundry list of homeowners corrections including the water heater circuit. Our correction were for a smokie that didnt work properly and a missing ground on an outlet in on an outlet. The rough in inspection was done by one inspector who also wrote up the lack of a 2nd kithchen circuit which also was existing and the requirement for that has not been around all that long as well. These 2 inspectors are writing up correctons that are not in any way a hazard to life and limb but are rather new code requirements that should be grandfathered as far as I am concerned.I dont know how they should get away with this.
Thats exactly my point paul. The owner remodeled an existing bugalow. We added 1 circuit for the mic,dw,dis,and one afci for the 2 bedrooms and i new electric heat circuit. That should haver been it but she ( the inspector) looked at everything in the unit including the existing gounding,bonding, etc etc and wrote a laundry list of homeowners corrections including the water heater circuit. Our correction were for a smokie that didnt work properly and a missing ground on an outlet in on an outlet. The rough in inspection was done by one inspector who also wrote up the lack of a 2nd kithchen circuit which also was existing and the requirement for that has not been around all that long as well. These 2 inspectors are writing up correctons that are not in any way a hazard to life and limb but are rather new code requirements that should be grandfathered as far as I am concerned.I dont know how they should get away with this.
Re: another water heater question
you can ask them for the adopted ordinance that says that they can call existing items. there are some items that jurisdictions adopt and are legitamate. You can go into the office and ask to talk to their supervisor, or the BO or even a lowly counter person to show the adopted code in the jurisdiction. You can appeal.
They must have been my replacements.
paul
you can ask them for the adopted ordinance that says that they can call existing items. there are some items that jurisdictions adopt and are legitamate. You can go into the office and ask to talk to their supervisor, or the BO or even a lowly counter person to show the adopted code in the jurisdiction. You can appeal.
They must have been my replacements.
paul
allenwayne
Senior Member
Re: another water heater question
If the other circuits were not touched then IMO they grandfather in.But I once ran into a multi trade inspector in central florida that did the same thing because the homeowner a friend pulled a remodel permit and in doing so the C.O. had to be redone and all circuits be brought up to the code the area was following.99 in this case and this was a Jim Walter home from the early 60`s or so.
If the other circuits were not touched then IMO they grandfather in.But I once ran into a multi trade inspector in central florida that did the same thing because the homeowner a friend pulled a remodel permit and in doing so the C.O. had to be redone and all circuits be brought up to the code the area was following.99 in this case and this was a Jim Walter home from the early 60`s or so.
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Re: another water heater question
You can go on-line to get the current version of the WAC. But I do not know how to find previous versions. You could call the nearest offices of Labor & Industries, and ask how to get information from the archives.
You might also try calling the reference desk of your local library. Those people deal with difficult research questions all the time. You can even log onto one of those "24/7 reference" centers (do a google search for that term, and you'll find one), and have an on-line chat with a professional refernce librarian.
You can go on-line to get the current version of the WAC. But I do not know how to find previous versions. You could call the nearest offices of Labor & Industries, and ask how to get information from the archives.
You might also try calling the reference desk of your local library. Those people deal with difficult research questions all the time. You can even log onto one of those "24/7 reference" centers (do a google search for that term, and you'll find one), and have an on-line chat with a professional refernce librarian.
paul
Senior Member
- Location
- Snohomish, WA
Re: another water heater question
Was this a state inspector, or a city inspector?
Was this a state inspector, or a city inspector?
stew
Senior Member
- Location
- federal way,washington
Re: another water heater question
Stae l& I
Stae l& I
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