Skip to content

Chapter 6 — WATER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION

609.12 Pipe Insulation.

California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5) · 2022 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California

CBSC: official editions, supplements and errata

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

Insulation of domestic hot water piping shall be in accordance with Section 609.12.1 and Section 609.12.2.

609.12.1 Insulation Requirements. Domestic hot water piping shall be insulated. 609.12.2 Pipe Insulation Wall Thickness. Hot water pipe insulation shall have a minimum wall thickness of not less than the diameter of the pipe for a pipe up to 2 inches (50 mm) in diameter. Insulation wall thickness shall be not less than 2 inches (51 mm) for a pipe of 2 inches (50 mm) or more in diameter. Exceptions: (1) Piping that penetrates framing members shall not be

required to have pipe insulation for the distance of the framing penetration. (2) Hot water piping between the fixture control valve

or supply stop and the fixture or appliance shall not be required to be insulated.

609.12.3 California Energy Code Pipe Insulation Requirements [CEC]. See California Energy Code Sections 150.0(j)2 and 120.3(c) for pipe insulation requirements based on fluid temperature and pipe diam- eter – for domestic hot water piping. The California Energy Code requires that piping that penetrates metal framing shall use grommets, plugs, wrapping or other insulating material to assure that no contact is made with the metal framing. The California Energy Code also requires that insulation shall abut securely against all framing members, and places conditions on when installed wall or attic insulation that surrounds installed piping can be considered to provide pipe insulation meet- ing requirements.

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code
▸Contents — California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5)

GoCodebook provides public access, search, citation, multilingual explanation, and practical interpretation of legally adopted building regulations. It is not a substitute for the official ICC or California code publications.