American Water Heater (A)BCG3 85T500-8N, (A)BCG3 85T500-8P Locating the Water Heater, Clearances

Installation Considerations

Locating the Water Heater

CAUTION

Property Damage Hazard

•All water heaters eventually leak.

•Do not install without adequate drainage.

When installing the heater, consideration must be given to proper location. Location selected should be as close to the stack or chimney as practicable, with adequate air supply and as centralized with the piping system as possible.

Fire or Explosion Hazard

Do not store or use gasoline or other flammable vapors and liquids in the vicinity of this or any other appliance.

Avoid all ignition sources if you smell gas.

Do not expose water heater controls to excessive gas pressure.

Use only the gas shown on the water heater rating label.

Maintain required clearances to combustibles.

Keep ignition sources away from faucets after extended periods of non-use.

Read instruction manual before

installing, using or servicing

water heater.

THERE IS A RISK IN USING FUEL BURNING APPLIANCES SUCH AS GAS WATER HEATERS IN ROOMS, GARAGES OR OTHER AREAS WHERE GASOLINE, OTHER FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS OR ENGINE DRIVEN EQUIPMENT OR VEHICLES ARE STORED, OPERATED OR REPAIRED. FLAMMABLE VAPORS ARE HEAVY AND TRAVEL ALONG THE FLOOR AND MAY BE IGNITED BY THE HEATER’S PILOT OR MAIN BURNER FLAMES CAUSING FIRE OR EXPLOSION. SOME LOCAL CODES PERMIT OPERATION OF GAS APPLIANCES IN SUCH AREAS IF THEY ARE INSTALLED 18” OR MORE ABOVE THE FLOOR. THIS MAY REDUCE THE RISK IF LOCATION IN SUCH AN AREA CANNOT BE AVOIDED.

DO NOT INSTALL THIS WATER HEATER DIRECTLY ON A CARPETED FLOOR. A FIRE HAZARD MAY RESULT. Instead the water heater must be placed on a metal or wood panel extending beyond the full width and depth by at least 3 inches in any direction. If the heater is installed in a carpeted alcove, the entire floor shall be covered by the panel. Also, see the DRAINING requirements in MAINTENANCE Section.

THE HEATER SHALL BE LOCATED OR PROTECTED SO IT

IS NOT SUBJECT TO PHYSICAL DAMAGE BY A MOVING VEHICLE.

FLAMMABLE ITEMS, PRESSURIZED CONTAINERS OR ANY OTHER POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARDOUS ARTICLES MUST NEVER BE PLACED ON OR ADJACENT TO THE HEATER. OPEN CONTAINERS OR FLAMMABLE MATERIAL SHOULD NOT BE STORED OR USED IN THE SAME ROOM WITH THE HEATER.

THE HEATER MUST NOT BE LOCATED IN AN AREA WHERE IT WILL BE SUBJECT TO FREEZING.

LOCATE IT NEAR A FLOOR DRAIN. THE HEATER SHOULD BE LOCATED IN AN AREA WHERE LEAKAGE FROM THE HEATER OR CONNECTIONS WILL NOT RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE ADJACENT AREA OR TO LOWER FLOORS OF THE STRUCTURE.

WHEN SUCH LOCATIONS CANNOT BE AVOIDED, A SUITABLE DRAIN PAN SHOULD BE INSTALLED UNDER THE HEATER. Such pans should be fabricated with sides at least 2” deep, with length and width at least 2” greater than the diameter of the heater and must be piped to an adequate drain. The pan must not restrict combustion air flow.

Clearances

This water heater is approved for installation on combustible flooring (with NSF Leg Kit #9003425205) in an alcove when the minimum clearance from any combustible construction is as indicated in Figure 6 and Table 4.

In all installations the minimum combustible clearances from vent piping shall be 6” (15.2 cm). Vent piping passing through a combustible wall or ceiling must be a continuous run (no joints) and retain the 6” (15.2 cm) clearance unless an approved reducing thimble is used.

A service clearance of 24” (61 cm) should be maintained from serviceable parts, such as relief valves, flue baffles, thermostats, cleanout openings or drain valves.

The units are approved for installation with side, rear and ceiling clearances as indicated below:

TABLE 4

MINIMUM CLEARANCES TO COMBUSTIBLES IN INCHES (mm)

	"A"	"B"	"C"	"D"
MODEL	RIGHT	LEFT
			BACK	CEILING
	SIDE	SIDE
(A)BCG385T500-8N/	5"	5"	5"	20"
(A)BCG385T500-8P	(12.7 cm)	(12.7 cm)	(12.7 cm)	(50.8 cm)

TABLE 5

MINIMUMCLEARANCESTONONCOMBUSTIBLECONSTRUCTION

	"A"	"B"	"C"	"D"
MODEL	RIGHT	LEFT
			BACK	CEILING
	SIDE	SIDE
(A)BCG385T500-8N/	0	0	0	12"
(A)BCG385T500-8P				(30.5 cm)

9