Freedom Code Compliance
Commercial

Commercial Hot Water Heater Changeout

Replacement of an existing commercial, apartment, or condo water heater. Rough plumbing applies only when new piping is concealed.

Last updated: Sep 29, 2026

Section 1

Required Documents

Submit these with your initial project package.

Always required

  • Equipment Specifications
    Manufacturer specifications for the replacement water heater including capacity, fuel type, and input rating
  • AHRI Certification Sheet
    AHRI performance certification showing Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) rating for the replacement water heater
  • Construction Plans
    Plans showing water heater installation details. Plans prepared by a Florida-registered architect or engineer carry that professional's seal. Plans prepared by a contractor or owner are accepted without a seal unless Florida law or the building department requires professional plans.

Courtesy screen

Courtesy screen on every plan review

Every plan FCC reviews receives a limited courtesy screen for the items below when they are reasonably visible in the submitted documents. If we see an apparent issue that could cause the plans to fail review by another agency, we will identify it as a Courtesy Comment. Courtesy Comments alone do not cause FCC to fail or return the plan set unless the same condition also creates a building-code compliance issue within FCC's review scope. The responsible agency makes the final determination—for example, Planning and Zoning for setbacks, lot coverage, use, and other lot-compliance matters. The absence of a Courtesy Comment is not approval of those separate requirements.

  1. #01Plan and document coordination

    Obvious clerical, title-block, sheet-index, permit-description, or cross-sheet inconsistencies visible in the submitted documents. A Courtesy Comment on these items does not cause FCC to fail or return the plan set unless the same condition also creates a building-code compliance issue within FCC's review scope.

    FBC-B 107.2.1
  2. #02Zoning and site coordination

    Apparent setback, lot-coverage, use, or site-dimension conflicts visible in the submitted plans that could cause the plans to fail Planning and Zoning review. Planning and Zoning makes the zoning and lot-compliance determination. The absence of a Courtesy Comment is not approval of those separate requirements.

  3. #03Floodplain coordination

    Apparent inconsistencies or missing coordination in flood-zone, design-flood-elevation, finished-floor, or flood-opening information shown on the plans that could cause the plans to fail floodplain review. The floodplain administrator makes the determination. The absence of a Courtesy Comment is not approval of those separate requirements.

  4. #04Fire-authority coordination

    Apparent separately reviewed fire alarm, sprinkler, hood-suppression, smoke-control, or similar coordination issues visible on the plans that could cause the plans to fail fire review. The fire marshal makes the determination. The absence of a Courtesy Comment is not approval of those separate requirements.

Section 2

Approval criteria for this project type

These are the building-code criteria FCC uses to determine the plan-review result. An unresolved item may be issued as a Required Correction and cause the plan set to be returned for correction.

PlumbingConditional review scope

Conditional review scopePlan review is not required for this scope under FBC 107.3.5. FCC reviews these items only when the building department specifically requires it, or the client opts in.
  1. #01Water heater installation requirementsCode

    Replacement water heater installation must include T&P valve, expansion control, drain pan, and proper combustion air / venting for fuel-fired units.

    FBC-P 504FBC-M 303FBC-FG 304.1FBC-FG 503
  2. #02Plan review applicability (FBC 107.3.5)Documentation

    Per FBC-B 107.3.5, plan review is not required for replacing existing equipment (Exemption #1). FCC performs this review only when the building department requires plan review or the client opts in.

    FBC-B 107.3.5

Items marked Conditional review scope are non-blocking. Per FBC 107.3.5, plan review isn't required for these scopes — FCC reviews them when the building department requests it or the client wants the extra set of eyes.

Section 3

Inspection Walkthrough

Inspections are listed in their typical phase order. Your own inspection list comes from your approved plans. Inspections marked “If in scope” apply only when your plans include that work. Call (772) 222-6679 with questions.

Plumbing

Phase #1

Plumbing Rough-In

If in scope
  1. Water heater specificationsCritical

    Verify new water heater model, capacity, and energy rating match approved plans

  2. TPR valve and discharge pipeCritical

    Verify temperature and pressure relief valve is installed with proper discharge pipe to approved termination

    FBC-P 504.4FBC-P 504.6
  3. Drain pan and drain lineCritical

    For a storage-type water heater, show a pan where tank leakage would cause damage. If a pan drain was not previously installed, a replacement water heater does not require a new pan drain (FBC-P 504.7.2); otherwise show the required drain and approved termination.

    FBC-P 504.7FBC-P 504.7.1FBC-P 504.7.2
  4. Supply connectionsCritical

    Verify hot and cold water connections are properly made with no leaks

Phase #2

Plumbing Final

Typical Final
  1. Operational testCritical

    Verify water heater heats water and all fixtures receive hot water

    FBC-P 607.1
  2. No visible leaksCritical

    During the live fixture run, show exposed connections and surrounding areas with no visible leaks.

  3. Seismic strapping (if required)

    If approved plans or equipment listing require restraint, show installed anchorage.