HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0085.003 2006-2008 N.v ee M~~i
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' Bruce C. McClure
Harry Kim ~ Director
Mayor
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Jiro A. Sumada
Deputy Director
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DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
Aupuni Center
101 Pauahi Street, Sui[e 7 ~ Hilo, Hawaii 9672D-4224
(808)961-8321 Fax (808)961-8630
www.co.hawaii.hi.us
May 3, 2007
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Honorable Pete Hoffmann, Council Chair ' ~
and Members of the Hawaii County Council ~
Hawaii County Council _ s
333 Kilauea Avenue
Ben Franklin Building, 2nd Floor
Hilo, Hawaii 96720 ~
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Subject: Bill 23, Relating to Plumbing Code that Relates to Securing Water Heaters
The Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and the International Association of Plumbers and
Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) is the governing body of the UPC code. They write the
plumbing code and approve materials for the plumbing industry, which we follow.
UPC has approved wall straps for water heaters installation. There are no floor straps
currently approved by the UPC. Products made for water heaters can't be modified.
When the plumbers checked if a strap was available on the market to strap the water
heater to the floor, they were confronted by the fact, none exist.
In section 510.7 "when a water heater is located in an attic or furred space, a water tight
pan of corrosive resistant material shall be installed beneath the water heater with a
minimum drain." Under the proposed language, strapped to the floor or to a wall, the
plumbers are faced with the question, how do we seal the pan and strap the water
heater to the floor?
In Section 510.1- The Fire Code as well as the UPC says "for the installation of water
heaters, either electric or gas, it must be raised 18" above the floor level." This is
especially true for gas water heaters that have a pilot light.
In Section 510.5, strapping water heaters vertically and horizontally at the upper
one-third and lower one-third of its vertical dimensions of water heaters in Seismic
Zones 3 & 4, which includes Hawaii County and California, is part of the existing code.
The theory is that strapping resists horizontal displacement due to earthquake ~S, 3
Comm. No.
movement. Ref. 7o: C~
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Ref. Do}e MAY
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Ltr. to Council Chair Pete Hoffmann
Page 2
May 3, 2007
We recommend deleting the following text in Section 510.5; "strapped to a wall or to the
floor;" also delete, "the County of Hawaii'--, since Seismic Zones 3 & 4 include Hawaii,"
and insert the language "with approved materials."
Based on the practical reasons given, we ask that you consider adopting the Plumbing
Code as presented by the Department of Public Works.
~UCE C. cCLURE, P. E.
D' ec~tor
County of Hawaf i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.