As a follow-up to my previous question on European wire guages in rennovating a bath in Estonia…
I have knocked out a wall, which will transform our tiny space–currently about the size of two telephone booths–into a grand space about the size of 3½ telephone booths. (Leon Frechette, you have never seen anything like this!)
Right now, the 100-liter horizontally-mounted water heater (a big white cylinder shaped thing about the size of a metal trash can) is mounted on a wall, above the toilet. It is the first thing you encounter when opening the door of the bath, at a little above eye level. It blocks a window. From a design standpoint, it kind of lacks…something.
Would I be able to relocate this electric water heater to a new place at the other end of the room? I would like to have a Euro-style shower (just open space with tile walls) in this area as well. We have very high space to work with here, maybe twelve feet up to the floor above. There’s enough space that a store-bought shower enclosure about two meters tall could fit below the water heater, which would be mounted on the wall, up near the ceiling. (Not that we would want an enclosure, but a future owner might; they’re getting popular here.)
Would code (U.S. code, I mean–not that I know either standard well) allow me to do this? Will steam rising from the shower create a short problem, or create a possible electrocution hazard? There would be an exhaust fan and new ductwork right by and overhead as well, to carry away most of the steam. The heater would be plugged into a receptacle that I would install up near the ceiling.
Would you do this? More importantly, what would Rex Caufield say?
Thanks in advance!
George in Tallinn, Estonia
Replies
We have several electric water heaters mounted above drop ceilings in our comercial buildings. While not exactly an answer to yor question, I don't think you will have any problem.
As long as the unit can not be easily reached, I wouldn't think electrocution danger would be unlikely.
I'm unfamiliar with your voltage for a plug in water heater that would be large enough to support shower usage. Here, we have small 5-6 gallon heaters that operate off 120v supply and they are plugged into a GFCI protected receptical if within two feet of a sink, tub, or shower.
"Here, we have small 5-6 gallon heaters that operate off 120v supply and they are plugged into a GFCI protected receptical if within two feet of a sink, tub, or shower."Where does the 2 ft come from? (and don't say from your mother <G>).Current code is for ALL receptacle in a bathroom be GFCI protected. And I know that outside of kitchens and bathrooms that receptacles within 6 ft of a sink need to be protected. And older codes only required the kitchen countertop within 6 ft of the sink to be protected.But I have never heard of a 2 ft rule..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
For lighting the NEC treats everything from the top of the tub rim or shower thresold upto 8 ft as a damp area and if the spray can reach the location a wet area. Damp and wet areas require fixtures that are rated for those areas and the type of wiring that can be used is different.
Above that 8 ft there is no limitation.
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
so if a ceiling above a shower was 8'6" the light fixture (recessed can) above would not be required to be GFCI protected?
Damp and wet location for lights have nothing to do with GFCI requirements.The only requirement is that the fixture be so rated and installed per manufactures requirements.I have heard of bath fan that require GFCI protection when installed over a bath/shower. But no lights that requirement, but there might be some..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Unlike in the USA, in Europe water heaters are typically on an RCD (GFI) protected circuit.