Codes for Hot Water heater

[mrturbo750]

I’m building a house and was thinking that the Cold and hot water pipe to the hot water heater needs to be insulated all the way to the heater. But according to the Builder it’s a fire hazard. I was wondering if someone could look at the picture and tell me what they think. The city im Building in uses •2003 International Plumbing Code, •2003 International Building Code.

 

[havasu]

The venting seems quite close to the hot and cold lines and can see a potential fire hazard if you were to use the typical foam insulation to cover the rest of the pipes. I would look for a fire proof alternative if you wanted to cover the rest of the pipes.

 

[Mr_David]

That double wall vent only requires a 1" clearance from combustible material
Code here requires insulation on the hot and cold supplies.
I've never been shot down by an inspection if the insulation was really close as to almost touching a single wall vent connector. If it dose touch it, it just melts. It will take an sustained open flame on that insulation to get it to burn.

 

[LiQuId]

what I observe here ( from the picture ) is the globbyness of the soldier... nothing more. Out here you must be a minimum of 18" from the nipple of the tank to insulate ( same rule as a copper to pex transition ) as they call it a fire hazard, but as mr David has said the double wall pipe requires only 1" clearance to combustibles.

Codes are funny... use common sense and most things are fairly easy.

 

[Fansplumbing]

You need to get rid of the CPVC/PVC coming out of the relief valve and replace with copper. Hard to tell which it is from the picture, but that will melt.

 

[Mr_David]

You need to get rid of the CPVC/PVC coming out of the relief valve and replace with copper. Hard to tell which it is from the picture, but that will melt.

That might depend on local codes.
Here in So Cal, PVC is not used for domestic water except in the ground for service to the bldg. I've learned that a lot of places allow the use of CPVC for hot and cold water systems.
Not here though. You can't even use annealed soft copper tube for the relief line.

 

[Fansplumbing]

Here in NC they do allow the use of CPVC/PVC for water service, but now within 12" of a gas powered water heater and not on the relief from said water heater. Codes non withstanding, I would use copper on the relief valve.

 

[mrturbo750]

Thank everyone for ur input. I have a call in to the local city inspector to see what he has to say about it.