SDSU Environmental Sanitation Program

Food Safety and Protection

HOT WATER HEATER SIZING GUIDELINES

Water heaters and booster heaters need to be sized utilizing the criteria contained in this document.
Recovery rate of the hot water unit is more important than actual capacity. The total hot water
demand for the food establishment must be taken into consideration when determining the
appropriate size of the water heater. The water heater location, energy input in BTUs or kilowatts,
and tank capacity in gallons are to be indicated on plans.
I.

Definitions
a. Booster Heater: An instantaneous water heater designed and intended to raise the temperature
of hot water to a higher temperature for a specific purpose, such as for the sanitizing rinse on
a high temperature automatic dishmachine.
b. BTU (British Thermal Unit): The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one
pound of water one degree F.
c. GPH (Gallons Per Hour): The amount of water, in gallons, that is used each hour by the
plumbing fixtures and equipment, such as dishmachines.
d. GPM (Gallons Per Minute): The amount of water, in gallons, flowing through a plumbing
fixture or through an instantaneous water heater per minute.
e. Instantaneous Water Heater: A water heater that generates hot water on demand.
f. KW (Kilowatt): A unit of electric power equal to 1,000 watts.
g. Rise: The temperature of water as it leaves the water heater minus the temperature of the
water entering the water heater.
h. Storage Water Heater: A water heater that incorporates a thermostat, a storage tank, and a
burner or heating elements, to heat and maintain the water within the tank at a specific
temperature.
i.

II.

Thermal Efficiency: The measure of the overall efficiency of the water heater, taking into
consideration loss of energy due to combustion, radiation, convection and conduction of heat
from the unit.

General Requirements for Water Heaters

a. A water heater shall be provided which is capable of generating an adequate supply of hot
water, at a temperature of at least 120F., to all sinks, janitorial facilities, and other equipment
and fixtures that use hot water, at all times.
b. Water heaters and their installation must be in compliance with all local building code
requirements.
c. Water heaters that use reclaimed heat from equipment to heat water must be evaluated on a
case-by-case basis.

EHS, SDSU

Rev. 03/2012

SDSU Environmental Sanitation Program

III.

Food Safety and Protection

Sizing Requirements for Storage Water Heaters

a. For food facilities that utilize multiservice eating and drinking utensils, the water heater shall
have a recovery rate equal to or greater than 100% of the computed hourly hot water demand,
in gallons per hour (GPH).
b. For food facilities that use only single-service eating and drinking utensils, or don't use
utensils at all, the water heater shall have a recovery rate equal to or greater than 80% of the
computed hourly hot water demand, in GPH.
c. For food facilities that handle and sell only prepackaged foods, a water heater with a
minimum storage capacity of ten gallons is normally sufficient. Prepackaged food facilities
that have more than a janitorial sink and two handsinks should use the sizing criteria outlined
in this chapter.
d. The hourly hot water demand for the food facility, in GPH, is calculated by adding together
the estimated hot water demands for all sinks and other equipment, such as dishmachines,
which utilize hot water. The hot water demands for automatic warewashers, such as
dishmachines, glasswashers, and potwashers are found in NSF International listings or
listings established by other nationally recognized testing laboratories.

e. The following are estimated hot water demands for sinks and other equipment that utilize hot
water:
IV.

Fixture Hourly demand

Utensil sinks

18 x 18 14 gallons per compartment

24 x 24 25 gallons per compartment

Custom sink sizes can be calculated using the formula:

Length x Width x Average Depth x 7.5 = gallons per compartment

Bar sinks = 6 gallons per compartment

Food preparation sinks = 5 gallons per sink
Janitorial sinks = 15 gallons per sink
Garbage can wash facility = 15 gallons per facility
Hand sinks = 5 gallons per sink
Pre-rinse units

Hand spray type 45 gallons

Other types of unit Refer to manufacturers specifications

Clothes washers

9 and 12 pound washers 45 gallons

16 pound washers 60 gallons

Employee shower 20 gallons per shower

Other fixtures that utilize hot water; see manufacturers specifications
EHS, SDSU

Rev. 03/2012

SDSU Environmental Sanitation Program

V.

Food Safety and Protection

Calculations for Hourly Hot Water Demand

The following examples are provided to explain how to calculate the total hourly hot water
demand:
a. Food facility that utilizes only single service eating and drinking utensils:
Assume:
1 18" x 18" three compartment sink 42 GPH
2 hand lavatories 10 GPH (5 GPH ea.)
1 janitorial sink 15 GPH
(42 + 10 + 15) = 67 GPH total hourly hot water demand
67 GPH x 80% allowance for single service utensils = 54 GPH
For the food facility in this example, a water heater would be required which will recover 54
GPH.
b. Food facility that utilizes multiservice eating and drinking utensils:
Assume:
1 18" x 18" three-compartment sink 42 GPH
Automatic dishmachine 80 GPH
Hand spray pre-rinse 45 GPH
One compartment food preparation sink 5 GPH
2 hand lavatories 10 GPH (5 GPH ea.)
1 janitorial sink 15 GPH
(42 + 80 + 45 + 5 + 10 + 15)=197 GPH total hourly hot water demand
Since the food facility in this example uses multiservice eating and drinking utensils, 100%
of the computed hourly hot water demand must be provided. Therefore, a water heater would
be required which will recover 197 GPH.

c. To compute a BTU or KW rating for the required hourly hot water demand found in example
a, the following formulas should be used:
Formula 1 (for gas water heaters)
BTU input = GPH x Rise x 8.33 lb./ gallon of water
Thermal Efficiency
BTU input = 54 GPH x 60F X 8.33 lb.
.75
BTU input = 35,985
Formula 2 (for electric water heaters)
KW input = GPH x Rise X 8.33 lb./ gallon of water
Thermal Efficiency x 3412 BTU/KW
KW input = 54 GPH x 60F x 8.33 lb.
.98 x 3412 BTU/KW
EHS, SDSU

Rev. 03/2012

SDSU Environmental Sanitation Program

Food Safety and Protection

KW input = 8
VI.

Sizing Requirements for Instantaneous Water Heaters

a. One of the advantages of an instantaneous water heater is its ability to provide a continuous
supply of hot water. However, since the water passes through a heat exchanger, the water
must flow through the unit slowly to ensure proper heat transfer. Therefore, the quantity, or
rate, at which the hot water is delivered, can be significantly less than that provided by a
storage water heater. When hot water is utilized at several locations of the food facility at the
same time the flow of hot water to each fixture can be severely restricted. As a result of the
restricted output of instantaneous water heaters, more than one unit may be required,
depending on the numbers and types of sinks and equipment present. Due to the limitations
inherent in the design of instantaneous water heaters, some local health agencies may restrict
or prohibit their usage. Check with your local health agency prior to installing an
instantaneous water heater in order to determine their requirements.
b. Instantaneous water heaters must be sized to provide hot water of at least 120F., and at a rate
of at least two gallons per minute (GPM) to each faucet. (Note: Hand lavatories and food
preparation sinks must receive at least GPM.) The following example is provided to
explain how this sizing criteria is applied:
Assume:
1 18" X 18" three-compartment sink 2 GPM
2 hand lavatories 1 GPM ( GPM each)
1 janitorial sink 2 GPM
(2 + 1 + 2) = 5 GPM
In the example given above, one or more instantaneous water heaters would have to be
provided in order to supply a total of at least 5 GPM.
c. Food facilities that install an automatic warewashing machine that utilizes a large quantity of
hot water must provide an instantaneous water heater exclusively for the warewashing
machine. NSF International listings or listings established by other nationally recognized
testing laboratories are used to determine the minimum GPM hot water demand for automatic
warewashing machines.

VII.

Requirements for Booster Heaters

a. When a hot water sanitizing warewashing machine is used, a booster heater must be provided
that will raise the incoming general purpose hot water up to at least 180F. for the final
sanitizing rinse cycle.
b. When sizing a booster heater, the hot water demand for the warewashing final sanitizing rinse
cycle should be obtained from the NSF International listings or listings established by other
nationally recognized testing laboratories.
c. The formulas for calculating BTU or KW input should be used when determining the
minimum required size for a booster heater.
d. When a booster heater is installed below a drainboard, it shall be installed at least six inches
above the floor and away from the wall, and in a manner that will allow accessibility for
proper cleaning and servicing.

VIII.

Recirculation Pumps
EHS, SDSU

Rev. 03/2012

SDSU Environmental Sanitation Program

Food Safety and Protection

a. Where fixtures are located more than sixty feet from the water heater, a recirculation pump
must be installed, in order to ensure that water reaches the fixture at a temperature of at least
120F.
b. In some cases it may be more practical to install a separate, smaller water heater for remote
fixtures, such as for restroom handsinks, in order to ensure that hot water reaches the
handsink within ten seconds.
IX.

Installation Requirements
a. Where feasible, water heaters should be located in an area of the food facility separated from
all food and utensil handling areas.
b. The Uniform Building Code prohibits the installation of gas water heaters in restrooms or
change rooms.
c. Water heaters shall be mounted in one of the following manners:
1. On six inch high, easily cleanable legs.
2. On a four inch high coved curb base. All openings between the water heater and the
base must be sealed in a watertight manner.
3. On a properly finished and installed wall pedestal, positioned so that it is out of the
work and traffic space.
4. In an easily accessible location above a suspended ceiling. Where a permanently
installed ladder is required to access the water heater, the ladder shall not be installed
above a food or utensil handling area.
5. Note: The local health agency may allow alternate installation methods when a water
heater is installed in an area separated from food and utensil handling areas, such as
in a mechanical room.
d. A common mistake with electric water heaters is the ordering and installing of a water heater
with an upper element of 4500 watts, a bottom element of 4500 watts, and a total connected
(or maximum) wattage of 4500 watts. On such a water heater only one element is operating
at any one time. Many individuals do not observe the total connected wattage and incorrectly
assume that because each of the elements is 4500 watts their water heater has an input rating
of 9000 watts.
Water heater manufacturers have specific procedures for rewiring an electric water heater so
that the upper and lower elements are operating simultaneously. Some manufacturers only
permit rewiring in the factory. Field modifications will normally void warranties and any
listings that the unit comes with. Prior to acceptance of a field modified water heater, the
local health agency should ensure that the modifications were performed according to the
manufacturer's recommendations and with the approval of the local building officials. The
data plate on a field modified water heater must be changed to reflect the total connected
wattage rating with both elements operating simultaneously.
e. When multiple water heaters are connected, they must be installed in parallel, not in series.
Refer to the illustration at the end of this document to see an example of this type of
installation.

X.

Sizing Table for Gas Hot Water Heaters

EHS, SDSU

Rev. 03/2012

SDSU Environmental Sanitation Program

Food Safety and Protection

Gallons Per Hour Delivery At Indicated Temperature Rise

BTU (X 1000)

40F

50F

60F

70F

5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
115
120
125
130
135
140
145
150
155
160
165
170
175
180
185
190
195
200
205
210
215
220
225
230
235
240
245
250

11
23
34
45
56
68
79
90
101
113
124
135
146
158
169
180
191
203
214
225
236
248
259
270
281
293
304
315
326
338
349
360
371
383
394
405
416
428
439
450
461
473
484
495
506
518
529
540
551
563

9
18
27
36
45
54
63
72
81
90
99
108
117
126
135
144
153
162
171
180
189
198
207
216
225
234
243
252
261
270
279
288
297
306
315
324
333
342
351
360
369
378
387
396
405
414
423
432
441
450

8
15
23
30
38
45
53
60
68
75
83
90
98
105
113
120
128
135
143
150
158
165
173
180
188
195
203
210
218
225
233
240
248
255
263
270
278
285
293
300
308
315
323
330
338
345
353
360
368
375

6
13
19
26
32
39
45
51
58
64
71
77
84
90
96
103
109
116
122
129
135
141
148
154
161
167
174
180
187
193
199
206
212
219
225
232
238
244
251
257
264
270
277
283
289
296
302
309
315
322

EHS, SDSU

Rev. 03/2012

SDSU Environmental Sanitation Program

XI.

Food Safety and Protection

Sizing Table for Electric Hot Water Heaters

Gallons Per Hour Delivery At Indicated Temperature Rise

EHS, SDSU

KW

40F

50F

60F

70F

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48

10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
141
151
161
171
181
191
201
211
221
231
241
251
261
271
281
291
301
311
321
331
341
351
361
371
381
391
401
411
422
432
442
452
462
472
482

8
16
24
32
40
48
56
64
72
80
88
96
104
112
120
128
136
145
153
161
169
177
185
193
201
209
217
225
233
241
249
257
265
273
281
289
297
305
313
321
329
337
345
353
361
369
377
385

7
13
20
27
33
40
47
54
60
67
74
80
87
94
100
107
114
120
127
134
141
147
154
161
167
174
181
187
194
201
207
214
221
227
234
241
248
254
261
268
274
281
288
294
301
308
314
321

6
11
17
23
29
34
40
46
52
57
63
69
75
80
86
92
97
103
109
115
120
126
132
138
143
149
155
161
166
172
178
184
189
195
201
206
212
218
224
229
235
241
247
252
258
264
270
275

Rev. 03/2012

SDSU Environmental Sanitation Program

49
50

XII.

Food Safety and Protection

492
502

393
401

328
335

281
287

Water Heaters Installed In Parallel

This document was created using County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health Water Heater Sizing Guidelines
Document.

EHS, SDSU

Rev. 03/2012