1218.1 General. Systems utilizing heat exchangers shall
California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
protect the potable water system from being contaminated by the heat transfer medium. Systems that incorporate a singlewall heat exchanger to separate potable water from the heattransfer fluid shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Heat transfer medium is either potable water or contains fluids recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as food grade.
(2) A tag or label shall be securely affixed to the heat source with the word, “CAUTION” and the following statements:
(a) The heat transfer medium shall be water or other nontoxic fluid recognized as safe by the FDA.
(b) The maximum operating pressure of the heat exchanger shall not exceed the maximum operating pressure of the potable water supply.
(3) The word “CAUTION” and the statements listed above shall have an uppercase height of not less than 0.120 of an inch (3.048 mm). The vertical spacing between lines of type shall be not less than 0.046 of an inch (1.168 mm). Lowercase letters shall be not less than compatible with the uppercase letter size specification.
Systems that do not comply with the requirements for a single-wall heat exchanger shall install a double wall heat exchanger. Double-wall heat exchangers shall separate the potable water from the heat transfer medium by providing a space between the two walls that are vented to the atmosphere.
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Ask AI about this code▸Contents — California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4)
- Chapter 1 — GENERAL CODE PROVISIONS
- Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
- Chapter 3 — GENERAL REGULATIONS
- Chapter 4 — VENTILATION AIR
- Chapter 5 — EXHAUST SYSTEMS
- Chapter 6 — DUCT SYSTEMS
- Chapter 7 — COMBUSTION AIR
- Chapter 8 — CHIMNEYS AND VENTS
- Chapter 9 — INSTALLATION OF SPECIFIC APPLIANCES
- Chapter 10 — BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS
- Chapter 11 — REFRIGERATION
▸Chapter 12 — HYDRONICS
Overview- 1201.1 Applicability. This chapter shall apply to hydronic
- 1201.2 Insulation. Surfaces within reach of building occupants…
- 1201.3 Water Hammer Protection. The piping system
- 1201.4 Terminal Units. Terminal units, valves, and flow
- 1201.5 Return-Water Low-Temperature Protection.
- 1201.6 Heat Transfer Fluid Quality. Heat transfer fluid
- 1201.7 Heat Emitters. Heat emitters shall be installed in
- 1201.8 Mechanical Devices. Where listed mechanical
- 1201.9 Flexible Connectors. Listed flexible connectors
- 1201.10 Freeze Protection. Hydronic systems and components sha…
- 1202.1 Prohibited Sources. Hydronic systems or parts
- 1202.2 Chemical Injection. Additives or chemicals shall
- 1202.3 Compatibility. Fluids used in hydronic systems
- 1203.1 Heat Source. The heat source shall be sized to the
- 1203.2 Dual Purpose Water Heaters. Water heaters utilized for …
- 1203.3 Tankless Water Heaters. Tankless water heaters
- 1204.1 General. In buildings where potable water and nonpotabl…
- 1204.2 Color and Information. Each system shall be identified …
- 1204.3 Potable Water. Potable water systems shall be identifie…
- 1204.4 Nonpotable Water. Nonpotable water systems
- 1204.5 Location of Piping Identification. The background
- 1204.6 Flow Directions. Flow directions shall be indicated
- 1204.7 Heat Transfer Fluid. Hydronic piping shall be identifie…
- 1204.8 Identification of Chemical Additives. In systems
- 1205.1 Operating Instructions. Operating and maintenance
- 1205.2 Pressure Testing. System piping and components
- 1205.3 Flushing. Heating and cooling sources, system piping an…
- 1206.1 General. Each closed hydronic system shall be protected…
- 1206.2 Discharge Piping. The discharge piping serving a
- 1207.1 General. Heating appliances, equipment, safety and
- 1207.2 Boilers. Boilers and their control systems shall comply…
- 1207.3 Dual Purpose Water Heaters. Water heaters used
- 1207.4 Solar Heat Collector Systems. Solar water heating syste…
- 1207.5 Heat Pumps. Heat pumps shall comply with UL
- 1208.1 General. Circulators and pumps shall be selected for
- 1210.2 Expansion and Contraction. Pipe and tubing shall
- 1210.3 Hangers and Supports. Pipe and tubing shall be
- 1210.4 Oxygen Diffusion Corrosion. PEX and PE-RT tubing in clo…
- 1211.1 General. Joints and connections shall be of an
- 1211.2 Pipe Bends. Pipe bends shall be formed in accordance wi…
- 1208.2 Mounting. The circulator or pump shall be installed
- 1208.3 Sizing. The selection and sizing of a circulator or
- 1209.1 General. An expansion tank shall be installed in each
- 1209.2 Installation. Expansion tanks shall be accessible for
- 1209.3 Closed-Type Tanks. Closed-type expansion tanks
- 1209.4 Sizing. Expansion tanks shall be sized to accept the
- 1210.1 Piping, Tubing, and Fittings. Hydronic pipe and
- 1211.4 CPVC/AL/CPVC Plastic Pipe and Joints. Joints
- 1211.5 Copper or Copper Alloy Pipe and Tubing.
- 1211.3 Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) Pipe.
- 1211.6 Cross-Linked Polyethylene (PEX) Pipe. Joints
- 1211.7 Cross-Linked Polyethylene/Aluminum/Cross-
- 1211.8 Ductile Iron Pipe. Joints between ductile iron pipe
- 1211.9 Polyethylene (PE) Plastic Pipe/Tubing. Joints
- 1211.11 Polyethylene of Raised Temperature (PE-RT).
- 1211.12 Polypropylene (PP) Pipe. Joints between
- 1211.13 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipe. Joints between
- 1211.10 Polyethylene/Aluminum/Polyethylene (PE-
- 1212.1 General. Valves shall be rated for the operating temper…
- 1212.2 Where Required. Valves shall be installed in
- 1212.3 Heat Exchanger. Isolation valves shall be installed
- 1212.4 Pressure Vessels. Isolation valves shall be installed
- 1212.5 Pressure Reducing Valves. Isolation valves shall
- 1212.6 Equipment, Components, and Appliances.
- 1212.7 Expansion Tank. Isolation valves shall be installed
- 1212.8 Flow Balancing Valves. Where flow balancing
- 1212.9 Mixing or Temperature Control Valves. Where
- 1212.10 Thermosiphoning. An approved type check valve
- 1212.11 Air Removal Device or Air Vents. Isolation valves
- 1212.12 District Energy and Central Utility Systems.
- 1213.1 Water Temperature Controls. A heat source or system of …
- 1211.14 Steel Pipe and Tubing. Joints between steel pipe
- 1211.15 Stainless Steel Pipe and Joints. Joining methods for s…
- 1211.16 Joints Between Various Materials. Joints
- 1213.2 Operating Steam Controls. A steam heat source or
- 1213.3 Occupied Spaces. A temperature-sensing device
- 1213.4 Simultaneous Operation. Radiant heating and cooling sys…
- 1213.5 Temperature Reading. A temperature gauge or
- 1214.1 Balancing. A means for balancing distribution
- 1214.2 Low-Water Control. Direct-fired heat sources
- 1214.3 Flow-Sensing Devices. A direct-fired heat source,
- 1214.4 Automatic Makeup Fluid. Automatic makeup
- 1214.5 Differential Pressure Regulation. Provisions
- 1214.6 Air-Removal Device. Provision shall be made for
- 1214.7 Air-Separation Device. To assist with the removal
- 1214.8 Secondary Loops. Secondary loops that are isolated from…
- 1215.1 General. Based on the system design, the heat-distribut…
- 1215.2 Installation. Heat-distribution units shall be
- 1215.3 Balancing. System loops shall be installed so that
- 1215.4 Heat Transfer Fluid. The ignitable flash point of
- 1216.1 Steam Traps. For other than one-pipe steam systems, eac…
- 1216.2 Sloping for Two-Pipe System. Two-pipe steam
- 1216.3 Sloping for One-Pipe System. One-pipe steam
- 1216.4 Automatic Air Vents. Steam automatic air vents
- 1216.5 Condensate Flow. System piping shall be installed
- 1216.6 Steam-Distribution Piping. Where multi-row elements are…
- 1217.1 Installation. Radiant heating and cooling systems
- 1217.2 Radiant Under-Floor Heating. Floor finished surface tem…
- 1217.3 Radiant Cooling Systems. Radiant cooling systems shall …
- 1217.4 Chilled Water Supply/Distribution Piping.
- 1217.5 Tube Placement. Hydronic radiant system tubing
- 1217.6 Tube Length. The maximum loop length of continuous tubi…
- 1217.7 Tube Identification. For the purpose of system balancin…
- 1217.8 Poured Floor Structural Concrete Slab Sys-
- 1217.9 Joist Systems and Subfloors. Where tubing is
- 1217.10 Wall and Ceiling Panels. Where radiant tubing is
- 1217.11 Radiant Heating and Cooling Panels. Radiant
- 1218.1 General. Systems utilizing heat exchangers shall
- 1219.1 General. Domestic hot-water heat exchangers,
- 1220.1 Use of Chemical Additives and Corrosive Flu-
- 1220.2 Types of Tube Fasteners. Tubing that is embedded within…
- 1220.3 Spacing of Tube Fasteners. The maximum spacing between …
- 1220.4 Snow and Ice Melt Controls. An automatic operating cont…
- 1220.5 Hydronic Makeup Air Units. Hydronic makeup
- 1221.1 General. Piping, fittings, and connections shall be
- 1221.2 Embedded Piping Materials and Joints. Piping embedded i…
- 1221.3 Pressure Testing. Piping to be embedded in concrete sha…
- 1221.4 System Drainage. Hydronic piping systems shall
- 1221.5 Condensate Drainage. Condensate drains from
- 1221.6 Hydronic Fluid Disposal. Hydronic system fluids
- 1221.7 Clearance to Combustibles. Hydronic piping
- Chapter 13 — FUEL GAS PIPING
- Chapter 14 — PROCESS PIPING
- Chapter 15 — SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
- Chapter 16 — STATIONARY POWER PLANTS
- Chapter 17 — GEOTHERMAL ENERGY SYSTEMS AND AMBIENT TEMPERATURE…
- Chapter 18 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
- Appendix A — RESIDENTIAL PLAN EXAMINER REVIEW FORM FOR HVAC SY…
- Appendix B — PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED TO PLACE GAS EQUIPMENT …
- Appendix C — INSTALLATION AND TESTING OF OIL (LIQUID) FUEL-FIR…
- Appendix D — FUEL SUPPLY: MANUFACTURED/MOBILE HOME PARKS AND R…
- Appendix E — SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
- Appendix F — SIZING OF VENTING SYSTEMS AND OUTDOOR COMBUSTION …
- Appendix G — EXAMPLE CALCULATION OF OUTDOOR AIR RATE
- Appendix H — PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Appendix I — INDOOR HORTICULTURAL FACILITIES
- Appendix J — CLEAN AIR DELIVERY