Provided as a courtesy of Menke Law, A.P.C

   Water Heater Requirements - Section 19210: 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. The Legislature further finds and declares that it is the goal of the State of California to reduce earthquake hazards in this state. Therefore, it is the goal of the Legislature to ensure that all water heaters are strapped or properly anchored by the year 2000.

Section 19211:
(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) 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.

Section 19212: 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 Office of the State Architect in accordance with Section 19215.


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