Water Heater Strapping And Installation - Earthquake Protection - Health & Safety - CA

Section § 19210

This law section addresses the risks posed by water heaters during earthquakes in California. It highlights the dangers of fires, explosions, and electrocutions that can occur if water heaters are not properly secured, especially in rental properties where tenants cannot make these safety modifications without landlord permission. The original goal to secure all water heaters by 2000 has not been met, continuing to pose risks. The law emphasizes the statewide goal of reducing these hazards, without displacing residents from their homes.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that there exists a serious threat of fire, explosion, or electrocution to the people of California from water heaters that overturn or experience damage to the plumbing or electrical wiring during an earthquake, and that a large number of structures will suffer damage from water heaters due to the lack of adequate strapping or bracing.

(b) The Legislature further finds and declares that it is the goal of the State of California to reduce earthquake hazards in this state.

(c) The Legislature further finds and declares that the original state policy goal of having all water heaters strapped or properly anchored by the year 2000 has not been achieved, thereby exposing the residents of California to a continuing serious risk of injury or damage from water heaters overturned or demolished during earthquakes.

(d) The Legislature further finds and declares that occupants of rental housing in this state are vulnerable to the threat of fire, explosion, or electrocution from water heaters that overturn or experience damage during an earthquake, and are not authorized to strap, brace, or anchor water heaters in their units without the owner’s advance approval, thus exposing them to hazardous conditions that they cannot mitigate.

(e) It is the intent of the Legislature that compliance with Section 19211 shall not result in the displacement of existing households.

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Section § 19211

This law requires all water heaters in California, whether new, replaced, or existing in residential properties, to be secured to prevent falling during earthquakes. They must be strapped or anchored according to the California Plumbing Code or local amendments.

When selling a property, the seller must confirm compliance with this requirement in writing as part of the transaction documents, like a Homeowner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety or real estate contract.

Landlords can't evict tenants just to comply with this regulation. The statute specifically applies to water heaters up to 120 gallons that have preengineered strapping kits.

If someone fails to comply, it doesn't automatically mean they didn't take proper care. A property violating these requirements is considered a nuisance, and owners can address these violations as outlined by law.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 19100, all new and replacement water heaters, and all existing residential water heaters, shall be braced, anchored, or strapped to resist falling or horizontal displacement due to earthquake motion. At a minimum, any water heater shall be secured in accordance with the California Plumbing Code, or modifications made thereto by a city, county, or city and county pursuant to Section 17958.5.

(b) The seller of any real property containing a water heater shall certify to the prospective purchaser that this section has been complied with. This certification shall be made in writing, and may be included in existing transactional documents, including, but not limited to, the Homeowner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety published pursuant to Section 10149 of the Business and Professions Code, a real estate sales contract or receipt for deposit, or a transfer disclosure statement pursuant to Section 1102.6 or 1102.6a of the Civil Code.

(c) An owner of a residential rental property shall not evict any person on the basis that the eviction is required in order to comply with this section.

(d) For the purposes of subdivision (a), “water heater” means any standard water heater with a capacity of not more than 120 gallons for which a preengineered strapping kit is readily available.

(e) Notwithstanding Section 669 of the Evidence Code, the failure of any person to comply with this section shall not create a presumption of a failure by that person to exercise due care.

(f) Any building or portion thereof, including any dwelling unit, guestroom, suite of rooms, or portions thereof, or the premises on which it is located is deemed to be a nuisance if it is in violation of this section. The owner or the owner’s agent shall have the right to correct any violation of subdivision (a) pursuant to Section 17980.

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Section § 19212

If you're selling water heaters in California made after July 1, 1991, they need to come with instructions on how to secure them properly in case of an earthquake. These instructions can include standard guidelines prepared by the State Architect.

All water heaters manufactured for sale in California on or after July 1, 1991, shall include a statement in the installation instructions that water heater units must be braced, anchored, or strapped to resist falling or horizontal displacement due to earthquake motion. The instructions provided by the manufacturer may include a reproduction of the generic installation instructions and standard details as prepared by the Division of the State Architect in accordance with Section 19215.

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Section § 19213

This law requires that manufacturers put a warning label on the front of water heaters. The label should warn about the risk of the water heater falling or moving sideways during an earthquake. It instructs users to brace, anchor, or strap down the water heater to prevent this and directs them to the instructions for proper installation procedures.

Manufacturers shall add language to their instruction label on the front of the water heater that discloses the danger of falling or horizontal displacement due to an earthquake. The label shall contain the following language:

WARNING: THIS WATER HEATER MUST BE BRACED, ANCHORED, OR STRAPPED TO AVOID FALLING OR MOVING DURING AN EARTHQUAKE. SEE INSTRUCTIONS FOR CORRECT INSTALLATION PROCEDURES.

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Section § 19214

If someone breaks the rules outlined in Sections 19212 or 19213, it is considered a breach of certain business and professional regulations.

Any person who violates Section 19212 or 19213 shall be deemed to have violated a provision of Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 17000) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code.

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Section § 19215

This law requires the Division of the State Architect to create and distribute standardized instructions for installing water heaters safely in single-family homes. These instructions include details on how to strap, brace, and anchor the units properly according to building codes. The instructions are available for manufacturers and retailers, covering only the state's cost for preparing these details.

The Division of the State Architect shall prepare generic installation instructions with standard details illustrating the strapping, bracing, and anchoring of water heaters for typical installations in single-family homes that comply with the requirements of the model codes. These details shall be made available for reproduction to manufacturers and appliance retailers at a cost to cover the state’s cost to prepare the details, and respond to requests.

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Section § 19216

When a retailer sells a product, they can give the buyer general installation instructions approved by the Division of the State Architect. These instructions are just a guide and do not replace local building codes. The retailer and manufacturer are not responsible for any issues with these instructions, as long as they've been approved and meet the model code requirements at the time of approval.

At the point of sale, the retailer may provide the consumer with generic installation instructions with standard details approved by the Division of the State Architect. If provided, these generic instructions are intended to be provided to the consumer as a guide, and are not intended to supersede local codes. The retailer and manufacturer are deemed not to be liable for the generic instructions provided to consumers as long as these have been approved by the Division of the State Architect, as complying with the requirements of the model code in force on the date of approval.

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Section § 19217

This law mandates that by January 1, 1991, investor-owned gas and electric utilities must create an educational program to teach people how to secure their water heaters. The goal is to prevent water heaters from falling or moving during earthquakes.

The Public Utilities Commission shall direct the investor owned gas and electrical utilities, not later than January 1, 1991, to develop an educational program for bracing, anchoring, and strapping water heaters to resist falling or horizontal displacement due to earthquakes.

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