
Installation & Operation Manual
1 Determine water heater location
7
The Armor water heater gas manifold
and controls met safe lighting and other
performance under tests specified in ANSI
Z21.10.3 – latest edition.
Failure to keep water heater area clear and
free of combustible materials, gasoline, and
other flammable liquids and vapors can
result in severe personal injury, death, or
substantial property damage.
Installation must comply with:
• Local, state, provincial, and national codes, laws, regulations,
and ordinances.
• National Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1 – latest edition.
• National Electrical Code.
• For Canada only: B149.1 Installation Code, CSA C22.1
Canadian Electrical Code Part 1 and any local codes.
Before locating the water heater, check:
1. Check for nearby connection to:
• Water piping
• Venting connections
• Gas supply piping
• Electrical power
2. Locate the appliance so that if water connections should
leak, water damage will not occur. When such locations
cannot be avoided, it is recommended that a suitable
drain pan, adequately drained, be installed under the
appliance. The pan must not restrict combustion air
flow. Under no circumstances is the manufacturer to be
held responsible for water damage in connection with
this appliance, or any of its components.
3. Check area around the water heater. Remove any
combustible materials, gasoline and other flammable
liquids.
4. The Armor water heater must be installed so that gas
control system components are protected from dripping or
spraying water or rain during operation or service.
5. If a new water heater will replace an existing water heater,
check for and correct system problems, such as system leaks
causing oxygen corrosion or heat exchanger cracks from
hard water deposits.
6. Check around the water heater for any potential air
contaminants that could risk corrosion to the water heater
or the water heater combustion air supply (see Table 1A).
Prevent combustion air contamination. Remove any of
these contaminants from the water heater area.
Provide clearances:
Clearances from combustible materials
1. Hot water pipes—at least 1/4" (6 mm) from combustible
materials.
2. Vent pipe – Follow special vent system manufacturer’s
instructions.
3. See FIG. 1-1 and 1-2 for other clearance minimums.
Recommended clearances for service access
- Front / Top / Left Side / Rear......................................... 24"
Closet and alcove installations
This appliance requires a special venting
system. If using PVC the vent connection
to the appliance must be made with a
CPVC pipe section. The field provided
vent fittings must be cemented to the CPVC
pipe section. Use only the vent materials,
primer and cement specified in this manual
to make the vent connections. Failure to
follow this warning could result in fire,
personal injury, or death.
For closet and alcove installations as shown
in FIG. 1-1 and 1-2, CPVC vent material
must be used inside the structure. The
ventilating air openings shown in FIG. 1-1
and 1-2 are required for this arrangement.
Failure to follow this warning could result
in fire, personal injury, or death.
⚠WARNING
⚠WARNING
NOTICE
⚠WARNING
A closet is any room the water heater is installed in which is
less than 26 cubic feet for AWH400-500 models, 35 cubic feet
for AWH650-800 models, and 39 cubic feet for AWH1000
models.
An alcove is any room which meets the criteria for a closet
with the exception that it does not have a door.
Example: Room dimensions = 5 feet long, 4 feet wide, and
8 foot ceiling = 5 x 4 x 8 = 160 cubic feet. This would be
considered a closet for a Armor water heater.
⚠WARNING Unless specified as an outdoor appliance, this
product is certified as an indoor appliance.
Do not install the appliance outdoors or
locate where the appliance will be exposed
to freezing temperatures or to temperatures
that exceed 100°F.
Do not install the appliance where the
relative humidity may exceed 93%. Do not
install the appliance where condensation
may form on the inside or outside of the
appliance, or where condensation may fall
onto the appliance.
Failure to install the appliance indoors could
result in severe personal injury, death, or
substantial property damage.
DO NOT install units in rooms or
environments that contain corrosive
contaminants (see Table 1A). Failure to
comply could result in severe personal injury,
death, or substantial property damage.
⚠WARNING
If you do not provide the recommended
service clearances shown, it may not be
possible to service the appliance without
removing it from the space.
NOTICE
DO NOT install the appliance in a room likely to freeze.