What is the minimum clearance around a hot water system?

Summary (TL;DR)

AS/NZS 3500.4 requires water heaters to be installed with adequate clearance for maintenance and replacement. For gas continuous flow units, AS/NZS 5601.1 mandates specific clearances from windows (usually 300mm-500mm depending on the flue) and internal corners.

Hot Water System Clearance Rules

When installing a new hot water system, you must satisfy both the plumbing standards (AS/NZS 3500.4), gas standards if applicable (AS/NZS 5601.1), and the manufacturer's specific installation instructions.

General Access (AS/NZS 3500.4)

The standard dictates that all water heaters must be placed so that:

Gas Continuous Flow Clearances (AS/NZS 5601.1)

For external gas continuous flow heaters, the flue terminal clearances are strict:

Indoor Storage Heaters (Safe Trays)

If an electric storage heater is installed indoors (e.g., in a cupboard), it must sit in a safe tray. There must be at least 20mm clearance between the water heater and the sides of the safe tray to allow water to flow freely to the tray waste.

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