Kitchen Gas Appliances - I was asked an interesting question today
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notuboo
02-06-04, 06:30 PM
Does a gas clothes dryer need to be 18" off the floor of a garage?
Man, oh man, what will inspectors think of next.
Man, oh man, what will inspectors think of next.
Dave_D1945
02-06-04, 07:20 PM
Not in California.:)
Who asked the question?
Who asked the question?
fewalt
02-06-04, 07:40 PM
Almost sounds good to me:
I once had a auto gas leak overnight in the garage. It would have been BOOM time If I'd had a gas anything in the garage.
Seriously, I wouldn't have one in the garage anyway.
fred
I once had a auto gas leak overnight in the garage. It would have been BOOM time If I'd had a gas anything in the garage.
Seriously, I wouldn't have one in the garage anyway.
fred
notuboo
02-07-04, 08:26 AM
It has been determined a local county building department that "any source" of ignition stated by National Fuel code now includes gas dryers.
Electric dryers have not been ruled on yet.
This wording has been there for several years, but never enforced for this. Homeowners are being hit with water heater stands and someone, somewhere asked a very dumb question to a smarter inspector. This got the ball rolling.
Electric dryers have not been ruled on yet.
This wording has been there for several years, but never enforced for this. Homeowners are being hit with water heater stands and someone, somewhere asked a very dumb question to a smarter inspector. This got the ball rolling.
Sharp Advice
02-07-04, 10:06 AM
Hello: notuboo
The existing rule is based on appliance operation. If the appliance is manually operated, meaning you have to be there to it to turn it on, it does not currrently have to be raised up.
The theory is a person would have to enter the garage to turn on the appliance, thus noticing the smell or evidence of flammable vapors. Or so we hope they do.
A gas or electric dryer does not fit that category at present.
If the appliance is automatic, such as a water heater, vapors unknown to exist can ignite at any time.
Appliances which are remotely operated, such as furnaces with thermostats, remotely meaning via a control or device located in another room, vapors unknown to exist can ignite at any time.
Furnaces are considered and classified as both being remotely operated and automatically operated. Heating units can be remotely located, have thermostats and operate automatically. Both conditions meet the requirements to require being raised.
How the codes will change in the future are partially based on satistics of incidents of fires and or explosions, local leaders desires to protect communities, local fire areas and maybe the need to show they are doing something as leaders, etc.
Hope this helps to clarify how the rules & codes where drawn up.
The existing rule is based on appliance operation. If the appliance is manually operated, meaning you have to be there to it to turn it on, it does not currrently have to be raised up.
The theory is a person would have to enter the garage to turn on the appliance, thus noticing the smell or evidence of flammable vapors. Or so we hope they do.
A gas or electric dryer does not fit that category at present.
If the appliance is automatic, such as a water heater, vapors unknown to exist can ignite at any time.
Appliances which are remotely operated, such as furnaces with thermostats, remotely meaning via a control or device located in another room, vapors unknown to exist can ignite at any time.
Furnaces are considered and classified as both being remotely operated and automatically operated. Heating units can be remotely located, have thermostats and operate automatically. Both conditions meet the requirements to require being raised.
How the codes will change in the future are partially based on satistics of incidents of fires and or explosions, local leaders desires to protect communities, local fire areas and maybe the need to show they are doing something as leaders, etc.
Hope this helps to clarify how the rules & codes where drawn up.
Dave_D1945
02-07-04, 03:03 PM
Interesting discussion - I learned something new. :D
In CA, water heaters and furnaces are always on stands but I've never seen a gas dryer on one. (There are very few gas dryers around here for that matter.)
Now, I think I see why.
In CA, water heaters and furnaces are always on stands but I've never seen a gas dryer on one. (There are very few gas dryers around here for that matter.)
Now, I think I see why.
rav12
02-08-04, 09:26 PM
The installation manual for my gas dryer does recommend rasing it for a garage installation. Having said that my dryer is also in the garage along with the water heater.
The water heater is raised - it used to be a tank but I changed it to a tankless. I'm not sure how likely it is likely to ignite gasoline fumes as it has a sealed burner. Having said that the inspector who came to inspect it queried a few things that were not done similar to heaters with tanks and I had to show him the installation maual before he would approve the installation.
However, the dryer is not raised. I did used to wonder about this...
I also live in CA (southern). My house is about 5 years old so I presume that at least then raising the dryer was not required by code.
The water heater is raised - it used to be a tank but I changed it to a tankless. I'm not sure how likely it is likely to ignite gasoline fumes as it has a sealed burner. Having said that the inspector who came to inspect it queried a few things that were not done similar to heaters with tanks and I had to show him the installation maual before he would approve the installation.
However, the dryer is not raised. I did used to wonder about this...
I also live in CA (southern). My house is about 5 years old so I presume that at least then raising the dryer was not required by code.