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Chapter 5 — WATER HEATERS

509.12 Draft Hoods and Draft Controls.

California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5) · 2022 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

Vented appliances shall be installed with draft hoods. Exception: Dual oven-type combination ranges; incinerators; direct-vent appliances; fan-assisted combustion system appliances; appliances requiring chimney draft for operation; single firebox boilers equipped with conversion burners with inputs exceeding 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]

Where a draft hood of special design is needed or preferable, the installation shall be approved and in accordance with the recommendations of the appliance manufacturer. [NFPA 54:12.13.2.2] 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]

2022 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE 103

WATER HEATERS

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 planes and shall be located so that the relief opening is not obstructed by any part of the appliance or adjacent construction. The appliance and its draft hood shall be located so that the relief opening is accessible for checking vent operation. [NFPA 54:12.13.6] 509.12.6 Clearance. A draft hood shall be located so that its relief opening is not less than 6 inches (152 mm) from any surface except that of the appliance it serves and the venting system to which the draft hood is connected. Where a greater or lesser clearance is indicated on the appliance label, the clearance shall not be less than that specified on the label. Such clearances shall not be reduced. [NFPA 54:12.13.7]

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▸Contents — California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5)
California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5)
  1. Chapter 1 — GENERAL CODE PROVISIONS
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — GENERAL REGULATIONS
  4. Chapter 4 — PLUMBING FIXTURES AND FIXTURE FITTINGS
  5. ▸Chapter 5 — WATER HEATERS
    Overview
    1. 501.1 Applicability. The regulations of this chapter shall
    2. 501.2 California Energy Code Water Heating System
    3. 502.1 General. It shall be unlawful for a person to install,
    4. 503.1 Inspection of Chimneys or Vents. This inspection shall b…
    5. 503.2 Final Water Heater Inspection. This inspection
    6. 504.1 Location. Water heater installations in bedrooms and
    7. 504.2 Vent. Water heaters of other than the direct-vent type
    8. 504.3 Clearance. The clearance requirements for water
    9. 504.4 Pressure-Limiting Devices. A water heater installation s…
    10. 504.5 Temperature-Limiting Devices. A water heater
    11. 504.6 Temperature, Pressure, and Vacuum Relief
    12. 505.1 Water Heaters. Water heaters deriving heat from
    13. 505.2 Safety Devices. Storage-type water heaters and hot
    14. 505.3 Oil-Fired Water Heaters. Oil-fired water heaters
    15. 506.1 General. Air for combustion, ventilation, and dilution of
    16. 506.2 Indoor Combustion Air. The required volume of
    17. 505.4 Indirect-Fired Water Heaters. Indirect-fired water
    18. 506.4 Outdoor Combustion Air. Outdoor combustion air
    19. 506.3 Indoor Opening Size and Location. Openings
    20. 506.5 Combination Indoor and Outdoor Combustion
    21. 506.6 Engineered Installations. Engineered combustion
    22. 506.7 Mechanical Combustion Air Supply. Where all
    23. 506.8 Louvers, Grilles, and Screens. The required size
    24. 506.9 Combustion Air Ducts. Combustion air ducts shall
    25. 507.1 Dielectric Insulator. The Authority Having Jurisdiction …
    26. 507.2 Seismic Provisions. Water heaters shall be anchored
    27. 507.3 Appliance Support. Appliances and equipment shall
    28. 507.4 Ground Support. A water heater supported from the
    29. 507.5 Drainage Pan. Where a water heater is located in an
    30. 507.6 Added or Converted Equipment or Appliances.
    31. 507.7 Types of Gases. The appliance shall be connected to
    32. 507.8 Safety Shutoff Devices for Unlisted LP-Gas
    33. 507.9 Use of Air or Oxygen Under Pressure. Where air
    34. 507.10 Protection of Gas Appliances from Fumes or
    35. 507.11 Process Air. In addition to air needed for combustion i…
    36. 507.12 Flammable Vapors. Appliances shall not be
    37. 507.13 Installation in Residential Garages. Appliances
    38. 507.14 Installation in Commercial Garages. Appliances
    39. 507.15 Installation in Aircraft Hangars. Heaters in aircraft h…
    40. 507.16 Venting of Flue Gases. Appliances shall be vented
    41. 507.17 Extra Device or Attachment. No device or attachment sha…
    42. 507.18 Adequate Capacity of Piping. When additional
    43. 507.19 Avoiding Strain on Gas Piping. Appliances shall
    44. 507.20 Gas Appliance Pressure Regulators. Where the
    45. 507.21 Venting of Gas Appliance Pressure Regula-
    46. 507.22 Bleed Lines for Diaphragm-Type Valves. Bleed
    47. 507.23 Combination of Appliances and Equipment.
    48. 507.24 Installation Instructions. The installing agency
    49. 507.25 Protection of Outdoor Appliances. Appliances
    50. 507.26 Accessibility for Service. All appliances shall be
    51. 507.27 Clearance to Combustible Materials. Appliances and thei…
    52. 508.1 General. Appliances on roofs shall be designed or
    53. 508.2 Installation of Appliances on Roofs. Appliances
    54. 508.3 Appliances on Roofs. Appliances located on roofs or
    55. 508.4 Appliances in Attics and Under-Floor Spaces.
    56. 509.1 Listing. Type B and Type B-W gas vents shall comply
    57. 509.2 Connection to Venting Systems. Except as permitted in Se…
    58. 509.3 Minimum Safe Performance. Venting systems shall
    59. 509.4 Type of Venting System to be Used. The type of
    60. 509.5 Masonry, Metal, and Factory-Built Chimneys.
    61. 509.6 Gas Vents. The installation of gas vents shall meet
    62. 509.7 Single-Wall Metal Pipe. Single-wall metal pipe shall
    63. 509.8 Through-the-Wall Vent Termination. A mechanical draft ve…
    64. 509.9 Condensation Drain. Provision shall be made to
    65. 509.10 Vent Connectors for Category I Appliances.
    66. 509.11 Vent Connectors for Category II, Category III,
    67. 509.12 Draft Hoods and Draft Controls. Vented appliances shall…
    68. 509.13 Manually Operated Dampers. A manually operated damper s…
    69. 509.14 Automatically Operated Vent Dampers. An
    70. 509.15 Obstructions. Devices that retard the flow of vent
    71. 510.1 Single Appliance Vent Table 510.1.2(1) through
    72. 510.2 Multiple Appliance Vent Table 510.2(1) through
  6. Chapter 6 — WATER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION
  7. Chapter 7 — SANITARY DRAINAGE
  8. Chapter 8 — INDIRECT WASTES
  9. Chapter 9 — VENTS
  10. Chapter 10 — TRAPS AND INTERCEPTORS
  11. Chapter 11 — STORM DRAINAGE
  12. Chapter 12 — FUEL GAS PIPING
  13. Chapter 13 — HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND MEDICAL GAS AND MEDICA…
  14. Chapter 14 — FIRESTOP PROTECTION
  15. Chapter 15 — ALTERNATE WATER SOURCES FOR NONPOTABLE APPLICATIONS
  16. Chapter 16 — NONPOTABLE RAINWATER CATCHMENT SYSTEMS
  17. Chapter 17 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  18. Appendix A — RECOMMENDED RULES FOR SIZING THE WATER SUPPLY SYS…
  19. Appendix B — EXPLANATORY NOTES ON COMBINATION WASTE AND VENT S…
  20. Appendix C — ALTERNATE PLUMBING SYSTEMS
  21. Appendix D — SIZING STORM WATER DRAINAGE SYSTEMS
  22. Appendix E — MANUFACTURED/MOBILE HOME PARKS AND RECREATIONAL V…
  23. Appendix F — FIREFIGHTER BREATHING AIR REPLENISHMENT SYSTEMS
  24. Appendix G — SIZING OF VENTING SYSTEMS
  25. Appendix H — PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
  26. Appendix I — INSTALLATION STANDARDS
  27. Appendix J — COMBINATION OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR COMBUSTION AND …
  28. Appendix K — POTABLE RAINWATER CATCHMENT SYSTEMS
  29. Appendix L — SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
  30. Appendix M — PEAK WATER DEMAND CALCULATOR
  31. Appendix N — IMPACT OF WATER TEMPERATURE ON THE POTENTIAL FOR …

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