509.12 Appliances Requiring Draft Hoods. Vented

appliances shall be installed with draft hoods.

Exception: Dual oven-type combination ranges; direct vent appliances; fan-assisted combustion system appliances; appliances requiring chimney draft for operation; single-firebox boilers equipped with conversion burners with inputs greater than 400 000 Btu/h (117 kW); appliances equipped with blast, power, or pressure burners that are not listed for use with draft hoods; and appliances designed for forced venting. [NFPA 54:12.13.1]

509.12.1 Installation. A draft hood supplied with or forming a part of a listed vented appliance shall be installed without alteration, exactly as furnished and specified by the appliance manufacturer. [NFPA 54:12.13.2]

If a draft hood is not supplied by the appliance manufacturer where one is required, a draft hood shall be installed, be of a listed or approved type, and, in the absence of other instructions, be of the same size as the appliance flue collar. Where a draft hood is required with a conversion burner, it shall be of a listed or approved type. [NFPA 54:12.13.2.1]

509.12.2 Draft Control Devices. Where a draft control device is part of the appliance or is supplied by the appliance manufacturer, it shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. In the absence of manufacturer’s instructions, the device shall be attached to the flue collar of the appliance or as near to the appliance as practical. [NFPA 54:12.13.3] 509.12.3 Additional Devices. Appliances requiring controlled chimney draft shall be permitted to be equipped with listed double-acting barometric draft regulators installed and adjusted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. [NFPA 54:12.13.4]

509.12.4 Location. Draft hoods and barometric draft regulators shall be installed in the same room or enclosure as the appliance in such a manner as to prevent any difference in pressure between the hood or regulator and the combustion air supply. [NFPA 54:12.13.5] 509.12.5 Positioning. Draft hoods and draft regulators shall be installed in the position for which they were designed with reference to the horizontal and vertical

104 2025 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE

WATER HEATERS

(1) The maximum capacity of the vent system shall be determined using the “NAT Max” column.

(2) The minimum capacity shall be determined as though the appliance were a fan-assisted appliance, using the “FAN Min” column to determine the minimum capacity of the vent system. Where the corresponding “FAN Min” is “NA,” the vent configuration shall not be permitted and an alternative venting configuration shall be utilized.

[NFPA 54:13.1.1]

510.1.1 Vent Downsizing. Where the vent size determined from the tables is smaller than the appliance draft hood outlet or flue collar, the use of the smaller size shall be permitted, provided that the installation complies with all of the following requirements:

(1) The total vent height ( H ) is at least 10 feet (3048 mm).

(2) Vents for appliance draft hood outlets or flue collars 12 inches (300 mm) in diameter or smaller are not reduced more than one table size.

(3) Vents for appliance draft hood outlets or flue collars larger than 12 inches (300 mm) in diameter are not reduced more than two table sizes.

(4) The maximum capacity listed in the tables for a fanassisted appliance is reduced by 10 percent (0.90 x maximum table capacity).

(5) The draft hood outlet is greater than 4 inches (100 mm) in diameter. A 3 inch (80 mm) diameter vent shall not be connected to a 4 inch (100 mm) diameter draft hood outlet. This provision shall not apply to fan-assisted appliances. [NFPA 54:13.1.2] 510.1.2 Elbows. Single-appliance venting configurations with zero (0) lateral lengths in Table 510.1.2(1), Table 510.1.2(2), and Table 510.1.2(5) shall not have elbows in the venting system. Single-appliance venting with lateral lengths include two 90 degree (1.57 rad) elbows. For each additional elbow up to and including 45 degrees (0.79 rad), the maximum capacity listed in the venting tables shall be reduced by 5 percent. For each additional elbow greater than 45 degrees (0.79 rad) up to and including 90 degrees (1.57 rad), the maximum capacity listed in the venting tables shall be reduced by 10 percent. Where multiple offsets occur in a vent, the total lateral length of all offsets combined shall not exceed that specified in Table 510.1.2(1) through Table 510.1.2(5). [NFPA 54:13.1.3] 510.1.3 Zero Lateral. Zero (0) lateral ( L ) shall apply only to a straight vertical vent attached to a top outlet draft hood or flue collar. [NFPA 54:13.1.4]

510.1.4 High-Altitude Installations. Sea level input ratings shall be used when determining maximum capacity for high-altitude installation. Actual input (derated for altitude) shall be used for determining minimum capacity for high-altitude installation. [NFPA 54:13.1.5] 510.1.5 Multiple Input Ratings. For appliances with more than one input rate, the minimum vent capacity (FAN Min) determined from Table 510.1.2(1) through Table 510.2(9) shall be less than the lowest appliance input rating, and the maximum vent capacity (FAN Max/NAT

Max) determined from the tables shall be greater than the highest appliance rating input. [NFPA 54:13.1.6] 510.1.6 Corrugated Chimney Liners. Listed corrugated metallic chimney liner systems in masonry chimneys shall be sized by using Table 510.1.2(1) or Table 510.1.2(2) for Type B vents with the maximum capacity reduced by 20 percent (0.80 x maximum capacity) and the minimum capacity as shown in Table 510.1.2(1) or Table 510.1.2(2).

greater than the highest appliance rating input. [NFPA 54:13.1.6] 510.1.6 Corrugated Chimney Liners. Listed corrugated metallic chimney liner systems in masonry chimneys shall be sized by using Table 510.1.2(1) or Table 510.1.2(2) for Type B vents with the maximum capacity reduced by 20 percent (0.80 x maximum capacity) and the minimum capacity as shown in Table 510.1.2(1) or Table 510.1.2(2).

Corrugated metallic liner systems installed with bends or offsets shall have their maximum capacity further reduced in accordance with Section 510.1.2. The 20 percent reduction for corrugated metallic chimney liner systems includes an allowance for one long radius 90 degree (1.57 rad) turn at the bottom of the liner. [NFPA 54:13.1.7] 510.1.7 Connection to Chimney Liners. Connections between chimney liners and listed double-wall connectors shall be made with listed adapters designed for such purpose. [NFPA 54:13.1.8] 510.1.8 Vertical Vent Upsizing Using the 7 Times Rule. Where the vertical vent has a larger diameter than the vent connector, the vertical vent diameter shall be used to determine the minimum vent capacity, and the connector diameter shall be used to determine the maximum vent capacity. The flow area of the vertical vent shall not exceed seven times the flow area of the listed appliance categorized vent area, flue collar area, or draft hood outlet area unless designed in accordance with engineering methods. [NFPA 54:13.1.9]

510.1.9 Draft Hood Conversion Accessories. Draft hood conversion accessories for use with masonry chimneys venting listed Category I fan-assisted appliances shall be listed and installed in accordance with the listed accessory manufacturer’s installation instructions.

[NFPA 54:13.1.10] 510.1.10 Chimney and Vent Locations. Table 510.1.2(1) through Table 510.1.2(5) shall be used only for chimneys and vents not exposed to the outdoors below the roof line. A Type B vent or listed chimney lining system passing through an unused masonry chimney flue shall not be considered to be exposed to the outdoors. Where vents extend outdoors above the roof more than 5 feet (1524 mm) higher than required by Table 509.6.1, and where vents terminate in accordance with Section 509.6.1(1)(b), the outdoor portion of the vent shall be enclosed as required by this paragraph for vents not considered to be exposed to the outdoors, or such venting system shall be engineered. A Type B vent passing through an unventilated enclosure or chase insulated to a value of not less than R-8 shall not be considered to be exposed to the outdoors. Table 510.1.2(3) in combination with Table 510.1.2(6) shall be used for claytilelined exterior masonry chimneys, provided all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The vent connector is Type B double wall.

(2) The vent connector length is limited to 18 inches per inch (18 mm/mm) of vent connector diameter.

WATER HEATERS

(3) The appliance is draft hood equipped.

(4) The input rating is less than the maximum capacity given in Table 510.1.2(3).

(5) For a water heater, the outdoor design temperature shall not be less than 5°F (-15°C).

(6) For a space-heating appliance, the input rating is greater than the minimum capacity given by Table 510.1.2(6). [NFPA 54:13.1.11] 510.1.11 Corrugated Vent Connector Size. Corrugated vent connectors shall not be smaller than the listed appliance categorized vent diameter, flue collar diameter, or draft hood outlet diameter. [NFPA 54:13.1.12]

510.1.12 Upsizing. Vent connectors shall not be upsized more than two sizes greater than the listed appliance categorized vent diameter, flue collar diameter, or draft hood outlet diameter. [NFPA 54:13.1.13]

510.1.13 Multiple Vertical Vent Sizes. In a single run of vent or vent connector, more than one diameter and type shall be permitted to be used, provided that all the sizes and types are permitted by the tables. [NFPA 54:13.1.14]

510.1.14 Interpolation. Interpolation shall be permitted in calculating capacities for vent dimensions that fall between table entries. [NFPA 54:13.1.15]

510.1.15 Extrapolation. Extrapolation beyond the table entries shall not be permitted. [NFPA 54:13.1.16] 510.1.16 Sizing Vents Not Covered by Tables. Where a vent height is lower than 6 feet (1829 mm) or higher than shown in Table 510.1.2(1) through Table 510.2(9), an engineering method shall be used to calculate the vent capacity. [NFPA 54:13.1.17]

510.1.17 Height Entries. Where the actual height of a vent falls between entries in the height column of the applicable table in Table 510.1.2(1) through Table 510.1.2(6), either of the following shall be used:

(1) Interpolation.

(2) The lower appliance input rating shown in the table entries for FAN Max and NAT Max column values; and the higher appliance input rating for the FAN Min column values. [NFPA 54:13.1.18]