My water heater [elc.] has to be replaced,the plumer we called said before he could replace the heater we had to install a breaker box next to the heater. I was told this is the new code for las vegas.what type of box would we need and what would be an average cost.

Please do not piggy back on an old post. This post is 4 years old.

I'll have it cut out and start a new thread with it.

As to your question, I can tell you this is not a requirement of the NEC.

It may be a local requirement of your local electrical inspectors. I strongly urge you to call the AHJ and verify that this is a requirement.

Personally, why they would want someone to have to stand in water to open the breaker in an emergency makes no sense to me.

And what usually is missed, and is required, if the water tank is not near or in site of the breaker panel, then a two pole 30 amp rated disconnect switch is required at the water heater. This is to have a switch close if the tank needs to be serviced. ..

What HK quoted is exactly right. Thing is, if the panel is within sight that can serve as your disconnect. Maybe NV made this more stringent?

Stan - Hank,

I've read through NEC 2008 sections, 422 (E) and (F) and 230.82 (C) and I cannot find the requirement for placing a cutoff switch within, "Line of Sight (50')" or at or near the water heater.

I do not doubt that it is required somewhere and that I just did not reference the correct Article and Section.

So I ask, is this requirement in the code book or would this be a requirement that would normally be found in the installation directions?

422.31 Disconnection of Permanently Connected Appliances.

(B) Appliances Rated over 300 Volt-Amperes or 1/8 Horsepower. For permanently connected appliances rated over 300 volt-amperes or 1/8 hp, the branch-circuit switch or circuit breaker shall be permitted to serve as the disconnecting means where the switch or circuit breaker is within sight from the appliance or is capable of being locked in the open position. The provision for locking or adding a lock to the disconnecting means shall be installed on or at the switch or circuit breaker used as the disconnecting means and shall remain in place with or without the lock installed.

Stan, Thank you!

Jomike1935, I want to applaud your plumber, for requiring the water heater to have a service disconnect at the water heater. which IS REQUIRED, if the water heater is not in sight of the circuit breaker in a panelboard.

The National Electric Code section Stan references has been in effect for many years, but is often ignored and not enforced by inspectors, for some unknown reason. We in the trade have seen most water heaters installed without a disconnect nearby.My guess is ignorance and/or assuming it is not important in a residential setting.

Quite frankly, it is insulting and dangerous to plumbers not to have the switch near a water heater, or any appliance that plumbers install or service, as they are usually the one called into troubleshoot and service a water heater. Most just deal with it, again probably due to understandable ignorance, since plumbers often do not know electric code. I don't blame them as the Plumbing code is difficult enough.

I think I will copy this over at the Plumbing forum to get opinion from any plumbers there on this subject.

Unfortunately, the first person to answer this question did not provide accurate advice, as not all people here are experts in the National Electric Code, and are learning on the fly, so to speak. Quite frankly, having to monitor and correct inaccurate advice given is getting annoying.

Hopefully you have gotten notice of the inaccurate advice in a timely fashion. I can imagine it is very possible that once you read the first answer that you have not come back to see the correct advice given by HK and Stan.

Copied to Pluming from Electrical to get a plumbers opinion on having the required disconnect switch at a water heater.

And possibly to inform plumbers that you are within your rights to require any electrical appliance you work on to have a service disconnect switch with in sight of the appliance in question.

In my code area disconnect switches on water heaters are required on all new installationss. Would a diagram help? Good luck, Tom