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Building Code Board of Appeals <br />Packet <br />May 12, 2025 <br />Page 7 of 64 <br />The Department of Energy recommends setting the <br />temperature for residential water heaters at 120 <br />degrees, in order to be both low enough to save <br />energy and high enough to kill bacteria and <br />Legionella. The default setting for new residential <br />water heaters is typically 140 degrees. That not <br />only wastes energy but scalds human skin in less <br />than a second, a safety risk especially for <br />children, special needs adults, and seniors with <br />dementia. <br />[Strengthening] <br />11. Section R403.5.5 Water heater default temperature setting is added as <br />follows: <br />R403.5.5 Water heater default temperature setting. Storage water <br />heaters with a rated water storage volume of 40 gallons (150 L) to 120 <br />gallons (450 L) and installed in new detached one- and two-family <br />dwellings and townhouses shall have the default temperature setting set <br />to 120 degrees F. <br />This clarifies when and how much electric <br />resistance is allowed. (LECC) <br />[Minor strengthening from base] [Possible cost reductions] <br />12.Section R403.7.1 Electric -resistance space heating is amended to read <br />as follows: <br />R403.7.1 Electric -resistance space heating. Detached one- and two- <br />family dwellings and townhouses using shall not use electric resistance <br />space heating. ch0 limit the-ic�al it W)..led heating capacity of total electric <br />resistance space h^,c:ing serving the dwelling unit to not rri o tha`nn 2.0 kW <br />or ohall irxtall a heat pvmp in the largest spaces that io not used as a <br />bedroom. <br />Exceptions: <br />1. Electric resistance heating used for supplemental heat in <br />accordance with Section R403.1.2. <br />2. Electric resistance heating used for freeze protection. <br />3. Electric -resistance heating where the criteria in Section <br />R408.2.2.2 for evaporative cooling are met. <br />