Hot Water System Installation Regulations
There are specific requirements for installing hot water systems in homes. These requirements apply when a new water heater is installed or an old one is replaced. There is no need to replace a working water heater. Only the services of registered and licensed plumbers can be used to install such units. They know how to comply with the hot water system installation regulations. These requirements are in place to improve safety as well as water and energy efficiency. The goal is also to lower greenhouse gas emissions. There are different types of water heaters in the market. Some units heat water on demand while others store the heated water for later use. Some requirements apply to all types of
Building Classifications
The regulations classify the buildings under three categories – Class 1 A, Class 1 B and Class 2. The first one refers to a single or attached dwelling including a townhouse, rowhouse and single story flats. The second one refers to boarding house, guesthouse and hospitals with less than 12 residents. The third one refers to multi-story buildings with sole occupancy units.
Low Emission Water Heater
The regulations specify the type of water heater that can be installed. Homeowners can install an electric heat pump, solar water heater, gas water heater or wood combustion water heater. There are specific regulations for each type of water heater. Your hot water heater system should be installed only by a registered plumbing contractor to make sure the installed system complies with the local water heater and emission regulations. You should install a minimum of 3 or higher star rated hot water unit to meet these requirements.
Temperature and Flow Regulations
The temperature of the water inside the hot water container should not go below 60 degrees centigrade. It is to ensure all bacteria is killed in the tank before flowing out of the outlet. The temperature of the water coming out of the outlet cannot exceed 50 degrees centigrade. It is to prevent scalding accidents. A variety of solutions are used to comply with these safety requirements. The hot water system includes heat trap, lagging or insulation, tempering valve, expansion control valve, temperature relief valve, pressure relief valve and soaks pit. In the case of the gas unit, a gas shutoff valve is needed to allow manual isolation of natural gas or LPG gas flow.
The cost of a hot water system installation depends on the type and size of the system you are installing. Installations that involve a higher level of difficulty like additional piping are more expensive. The difficulty level is raised further if it is a solar water heater because it involves going up on the roof to install the solar panels. Contact West End Plumbing WA – licensed Perth plumbers for residential and commercial plumbing.
