Water Heater Closet Door Requirements

Yes a gas water heater can be installed in a closet as long as the closet is not used for storage.

Water heater closet door requirements. Insufficient combustion air need outside air or a full louvered door or a standard door with high and low vents. Installing a tank water heater might seem easy but homeowners who refinish their basements often create a number of code violations with respect to the water heater. Some furnaces allowed off sleeping areas with outside air and solid sealed fireproof door. Water heater shall be of the direct vent type.

Combustion air for such installations shall be obtained from the outdoors in accordance with section 506 4. Threshold and bottom door seal and shall meet the requirements of section 505 1 2. The doors must open and close easily and freely and must close and latch by. Irc2012 sec r302 5 1 pc1 pcinspector1.

The international residential code irc specifically bans a storage closet as a location for a gas water heater. Once your combustion vents have been installed and the ceiling in the closet has been finished out you will want to close off any vents in the door. No water closet or bidet shall be set closer than fifteen 15 inches 505 0 water heater requirements. The closet shall be for the exclusive use of the water heater.

Insufficient clearance need metal door or fireproof door to reduce clearance requirements. Closets are required to have doors when a water heater is installed in them and these doors cannot be left open. Apparently not applicable is this instance. If the gas furnace and or water heater is in a closet between the residence and the garage then the door has to be self closing and solid core.

Code expert glenn mathewson describes 10 common water heater code issues including confusion about drip pans and drains unsupported expansion tanks and plastic vents lack of combustion air and more. If the floor of the closet is carpeted you must install a metal plate between the bottom of the water heater and the carpet. You can do this by attaching a piece of plywood on the back side of the door. Be sure to caulk around the seams to make a tight seal.