Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 51 - PUBLIC HEALTH-SANITARY CODE › Part XIV - Plumbing › Chapter 5 - Water Heaters › Section XIV-513 - Solar Water Heating Systems

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A.
				Solar energy systems used for heating potable water or using an independent
				medium for heating potable water shall comply with the applicable requirements
				of this code. The use of solar energy shall not compromise the requirements for
				cross connection or protection of the potable water distribution system, water
				service pipe, or water supply system required by this code. Solar energy
				systems shall also meet the applicable requirements of the state-adopted energy
				code and the applicable codes adopted under the authority of Act 12 of the 2005
				First Extraordinary Session.
B.
				Definitions. Definitions contained in Chapter 2 of this code shall also apply
				to this Section except where the following special definitions shall
				apply.
Active Solar System
- a solar water heating
				  system that utilizes an electric pump and controllers to circulate heat
				  transfer fluid through the solar collectors.
Auxiliary Heating Equipment -
equipment
				  utilizing energy other than solar, to supplement the output provided by the
				  solar energy system.
Closed Loop System - system where the collector loop heat
				  transfer fluid is enclosed in a piping loop separate from the potable water
				  supply.
Collector Loop -
the piping of a collector
				  system in which a
heat transfer fluid
circulates between the
solar collector(s)
and a heat exchanger.
Direct-Circulation System -
a system where
				  the
potable water
is heated as a result of being circulated
				  directly through the collectors (these systems are prohibited).
Double Wall Heat Exchanger -
a heat
				  exchanger design in which a single failure of any fluid barrier will not cause
				  a cross connection or permit back siphonage of
heat transfer
				  fluid
into the
potable water supply
. Any barrier
				  which fails shall allow the discharge of
heat transfer fluid
and/or
potable water
to the atmosphere at a location visible
				  to the operator or owner.
Drainback System -
liquid system that only
				  fills the collector when the temperature differential is appropriate. The water
				  that is circulated through the collectors is stored in a reservoir.
Engineered Solar System -
a system designed
				  for a specific building project with drawings and specifications indicating
				  materials to be installed, all as prepared by a person registered or licensed
				  to perform solar design work.
Heat Transfer Fluid -
the operating or
				  thermal storage liquid in a mechanical system, including water or other liquid
				  base, and additives at the concentration present under operating conditions
				  used to move heat from one location to another. Refrigerants are not included
				  as
heat transfer fluids
.
Human Consumption
- the use of water by
				  humans for drinking, cooking, bathing, showering, hand washing, dishwashing, or
				  maintaining oral hygiene.
IAF -
International Accreditation Forum,
				  the world association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies and other
				  bodies interested in conformity assessment in the fields of management systems,
				  products, services, personnel and other similar programs of conformity
				  assessment. Its primary function is to develop a single worldwide program of
				  conformity assessment which reduces risk for business and its customers by
				  assuring them that accredited certificates may be relied upon. Accreditation
				  assures users of the competence and impartiality of the body accredited.
IAF MLA Signatory -
The objective of the
IAF MLA
is to ensure that the personnel certifications granted
				  by signatories of the
IAF MLA
can be recognized by other
				  signatories, increasing the worldwide employability of the certified
				  professionals. Mutual recognition is based on peer evaluations between
				  signatories to ensure each other's personnel certifications are equivalent and
				  that each certified professional can perform the required tasks. Once an
				  accreditation body is a signatory of the
IAF MLA
it is
				  required to recognize the certificates issued by conformity assessment bodies
				  accredited by all other signatories of the
IAF MLA
, with the
				  appropriate scope. Accreditations granted by
IAF MLA
signatories are recognized worldwide based on their equivalent accreditation
				  programs, therefore reducing costs and adding value to business and consumers.
				  Accreditation body members of
IAF
are admitted to the
MLA
only after stringent evaluation of their operations by a
				  peer evaluation team. For a complete list of
IAF
members and
				  signatories visit:
http://www.iaf.nu/articles/
				  IAF_MEM_USA__all/112
.
IECI
- International Electrotechnical
				  Commission.
Indirect-Circulation System -
a
closed loop
solar water heating system which prohibits contact
				  between the
heat transfer fluid
and the potable water by the
				  use of a heat exchanger to transfer the collected heat from the heat transfer
				  fluid to the potable water.
ISO -
International Organization for
				  Standardization.
ISO/IEC Guide 65 -
a document that
				  specifies requirements for bodies that operate third-party certifications of
				  products to ensure that those bodies conduct their certification processes in
				  an impartial, reliable, and consistent manner. Conformity to these standards
				  provides assurance that a certification program is of high quality, integrity,
				  and competency, and that it is free of any conflicts of interest, such as
				  financial, commercial, or social influences.
Listed -
equipment or materials included in
				  a list published by an approved nationally recognized testing laboratory,
				  inspection agency or other organization concerned with product evaluation that
				  maintains periodic inspection of production of listed equipment or materials,
				  and whose listing states either that the equipment or material meets nationally
				  recognized standards or has been tested and found suitable for use in a
				  specified manner. The means for identifying listed equipment may vary for each
				  testing laboratory, inspection agency, or other organization concerned with
				  product evaluation, some of which do not recognize equipment as listed unless
				  it is also labeled. The plumbing official should utilize the system employed by
				  the listing organization to identify a listed product.
MLA -
Multilateral Recognition Arrangement,
				  to ensure mutual recognition of accredited certification between signatories to
				  the
MLA
, and subsequently acceptance of accredited
				  certification in many markets based on one accreditation.
Potable Water -
water having
				  bacteriological, physical, radiological and chemical qualities that make it
				  safe and suitable for
human consumption
.
Potable Water Supply
- a publicly owned or
				  privately owned water supply system which purveys
potable
				  water
.
Readily Accessible -
having direct access
				  without the need of removing any panel, door or similar covering of the item
				  described and without requiring the use of portable ladders, chairs,
				  etc.
Solar Collector -
a device designed to
				  absorb radiation from the sun and transfer this energy to a fluid which passes
				  through the collector.
Solar Water Heating System -
any unit or
				  package of components designed to collect, convey, store, and convert the sun's
				  energy for the purpose of heating
potable water
SRCC
- Solar Rating and Certification
				  Corporation
Toxic -
a substance that causes injury,
				  illness, or death, especially by chemical means.
C. General. The following general
				requirements shall be applicable to solar water heating systems.
1. Certification. Solar water heating systems
				shall be certified to the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation's (SRCC)
				OG-300 document, 2010 edition (Operating Guidelines and Minimum Standards for
				Certifying Solar Water Heating Systems) by the SRCC themselves or by listing
				agencies [such as the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical
				Officials (IAPMO)] which are currently accredited as meeting the ISO/IEC Guide
				65 by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or other IAF MLA
				signatory accreditation bodies.
2.
				Installation. Solar water heating systems and appurtenances shall comply with
				the requirements of this Section, other applicable provisions of this code, and
				any other applicable requirements of the codes adopted under the authority of
				Act 12 of the 2005 First Extraordinary Session. All parts of a solar water
				heating system involving plumbing shall be installed by individuals holding a
				valid plumber's license issued by the State Plumbing Board of Louisiana
				(SPBLA), subject to any exceptions thereto as may be authorized under the
				SPBLA's law and regulations.
a. Solar water
				heating systems shall be installed in a manner conforming to this Section,
				other applicable provisions of this code, applicable standards, and the
				manufacturers' installation instructions. In instances where this Section,
				other applicable provisions of this code, applicable standards, or the
				manufacturers' instructions conflict, the more stringent provisions shall
				prevail.
3. Maintenance.
				Solar water heating systems shall be maintained in proper safe and sanitary
				operating condition, and the owner shall be responsible for maintenance.
a. Access for maintenance and repair shall be
				provided to solar water heating system equipment, components, valves, etc.
				Solar water heating equipment and appurtenances shall not obstruct or interfere
				with the operation of any doors, windows, or other building components
				requiring operation or access.
4. Safety. Any solar water heating system
				capable of providing hot water in excess of 140° F (60°C) shall be equipped
				with a listed tempering valve or temperature-limiting device to limit the
				temperature of water delivered to the domestic hot water system to a maximum of
				140° F (60°C).
a. Solar water heating
				equipment that could generate a glow, spark, or flame capable of igniting
				flammable vapors may be installed in a residential garage provided the pilots
				and burners, heating elements, motors, controllers, or switches are at least 18
				inches (457 mm) above the floor level.