Garage Unit Heater

[Mitchell]

Hi Everyone! I"m new to this forum today. Quick question. Code states bottom of unit heater to floor of garage min. 8 ft., unless a suitable guard is installed to prevent vehicle hitting it. Garage door is only 6 1/2 ft. high. No way an 8 ft. high vehicle could fit in the garage. Any ideas why this code even exists? and what a SUITABLE guard would be?

[Admin]

Some garages have only 9' ceilings so I'm not sure how you could maintain an 8' clearance.

To protect the appliance I would follow Clause 6.16.14,

Clause 6.16.14 - The piping or tubing entering a building shall be protected from vehicular damage by one of the following means:
(a) Posts shall
(i) be not less than 12 in (300 mm) from the riser, regulator, or equipment;
(ii) be spaced not more than 42 in (1050 mm) apart;
(iii) be buried not less than 36 in (900 mm) below grade;
(iv) extend at least 30 in (750 mm) above grade; and
(v) be one of the following:
(1) 4 in (100 mm) capped steel pipe;
(2) 4 in (100 mm) tubing filled with concrete;
(3) 8 in (200 mm) pressure-treated wood, either square or round; or
(4) 6 in (150 mm) minimum dimension reinforced concrete.
(b) Guardrails shall be
(i) not less than 12 in (300 mm) from the riser, regulator, or equipment;
(ii) of the steel deep beam type, 12 in (300 mm);
(iii) supported by 6 in (150 mm) minimum pressure-treated wooden posts located not more than
42 in (1050 mm) apart, centre to centre; and
(iv) located so that the top of the beam is not less than 24 in (600 mm) nor more than 30 in (750 mm) above grade.

Clause 7.27.3 - When installed in a garage, a minimum clearance of 8 ft (2.4 m) shall be maintained between the base of the heater and the garage floor. The minimum clearance may be reduced when a substantial guard is provided to prevent vehicles from striking the heater. See also Clause 4.16.

[Mitchell]

Thanks. It's a ridiculous code 7.27.3. I was thinking of attaching a barrier to the ceiling, next to the UH.

[viking]

I beleive the clause was written with commercial repair garages in mind. In which case it would make sense.

[Porcupinepuffer]

Actually, it still makes no sense. Commercial garages have vehicles that EASILY exceed heights of 8'.  If they would simply give a height formula of either equal garage door opening height, plus or minus X amount of inches, then we know the heater could be installed out of the way of danger of any vehicle to what is capable of actually fitting in the garage?

[viking]

Good Points.