Materials System Specification

05-SAMSS-002 21 June 2011

Automatic Electric Water Heaters
Document Responsibility: Plumbing and Utilities Standards Committee

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents

1 Scope............................................................. 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations................................ 2
3 References..................................................... 2
4 General.......................................................... 3
5 Types and Sizes............................................ 4
6 Material.......................................................... 4
7 Design and Construction................................ 5
8 Inspection and Tests...................................... 7
9 Preparation for Shipment............................... 7

Previous Issue: 4 January 2006 Next Planned Update: 21 June 2016

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Primary contact: Mulhim, Khalid Abdul Aziz on 966-3-8745230

Copyright©Saudi Aramco 2011. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Plumbing and Utilities Standards Committee 05-SAMSS-002
Issue Date: 21 June 2011
Next Planned Update: 21 June 2016 Automatic Electric Water Heaters

1 Scope

1.1 This Specification covers the minimum requirements for automatic electric
water heating and storage tanks rated no more than 600 volts and 12 kilowatts to
be installed in accordance with the National Electric Code, NFPA 70.

1.2 These requirements do not cover water heaters with a storage tank capacity of
less than 4 liters (1 gallon) or more than 450 liters (120 gallons).

1.3 These requirements do not cover immersed electrodes, side arm, booster,
instantaneous or immersion type water heaters.

2 Conflicts and Deviations

2.1 Any conflicts between this specification and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Materials System Specifications (SAMSSs), Engineering Standards (SAESs),
Standard Drawings (SASDs), or industry standards, codes and forms shall be
resolved in writing by the Company or Buyer Representative through the
Manager, Consulting Services Department of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

2.2 Direct all requests to deviate from this specification in writing to the Company or
Buyer Representative, who shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302
and forward such requests to the Manager, Consulting Services Department of
Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

3 References

The selection of material and equipment, and the design, construction, maintenance, and
repair of equipment and facilities covered by this specification shall comply with the
latest edition of the references listed below, unless otherwise noted.

3.1 Saudi Aramco References

SAEP-302 Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a
Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering
Requirement

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air Conditioning Engineers, Inc.

ASHRAE 90A-80 Energy Conservation in New Building Design

American Society for Testing and Materials

ASTM A20/A20M General Requirements for Steel Plates for
Pressure Vessels

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Document Responsibility: Plumbing and Utilities Standards Committee 05-SAMSS-002
Issue Date: 21 June 2011
Next Planned Update: 21 June 2016 Automatic Electric Water Heaters

ASTM A53 Pipe, Steel, Black and Hot-Dipped, Zinc-Coated

Welded and Seamless
ASTM A568/A568M Standard Specification for Steel, Sheet, Carbon,
and High-Strength, Low-Alloy, Hot-Rolled and
Cold-Rolled
ASTM D3901 Consumer Product Specification for Garden
Hoses
ASTM B75 Standard Specification for Seamless Copper Tube

American National Standards Institute/

American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ANSI/ASME B1.20.1 Pipe Threads, General Purpose
ASME SA-20/SA-20M General Requirements for Steel Plates for
Pressure Vessels

National Fire Protection Association

NFPA 70 National Electric Code

Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.

UL 174 Household Electric Storage Tank Water Heaters
UL 1030 Sheathed Heating Elements

4 General

The order to which this Specification is attached will contain the following information:
a) Size and types of water heaters required
b) Destination and shipping instructions
c) Minimum heating value to be used, using 100% efficiency factor of recovery
d) Inspection and test requirements if they differ from the Standard (procedure
indicated herein)

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Document Responsibility: Plumbing and Utilities Standards Committee 05-SAMSS-002
Issue Date: 21 June 2011
Next Planned Update: 21 June 2016 Automatic Electric Water Heaters

5 Types and Sizes

The basic types and sizes of heaters are as tabulated below:

Electric Water Heater L/Hr (GPH) Recovery

Water Connection
Approximate Non-Simultaneous at 15.5°C (60°F)
NPS
Storage Capacity (208V (240V) (480V) Rise Using 100%
mm (inches)
Liters (Gallons) Low Watt Density Efficiency Factor
Minimum Size
Heating Elements (Minimum Values)
75 (20) 2000 51.8 (13.7) 20 mm (¾)
115 (30) 3500/3500 83.2 (22.0) 20 mm (¾)
150 (40) 3500/3500 83.2 (22.0) 20 mm (¾)
190 (50) 4500/4500 83.2 (22.0) 20 mm (¾)
300 (80) 4500/4500 83.2 (22.0) 20-25 mm OD (¾-1)
450 (120) 4500/4500 83.2 (22.0) As specified

Water inlet and outlet connections are the nominal pipe size male thread to which the
external piping is connected.

6 Material

6.1 Steel Plate

The steel plate used in fabricating the tank shall conform to ASME SA-20/
SA-20M (ASTM A20/A20M) quality; and steel sheet material shall conform to
ASTM A568/A568M.

6.2 Glass Lining

The internal surface of the water heater tank shall have a vitreous (glass) or
porcelain enamel lining regardless of tank wall thickness.

6.3 Insulation

The thermal insulation shall be rigid polyurethane foam water heater insulation,
or insulation blanket or batt fiber glass wool in accordance with UL 174.
The material shall be nonconductive, nonabsorbent and resistant to combustion.
The thermal conductivity shall be energy efficient.

6.4 Heating Elements

The heating elements shall be high efficiency, low-watt density type elements.

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Document Responsibility: Plumbing and Utilities Standards Committee 05-SAMSS-002
Issue Date: 21 June 2011
Next Planned Update: 21 June 2016 Automatic Electric Water Heaters

6.5 Pipe

Pipe and pipe fittings shall conform to ASTM A53 for pipe sizes, wall thickness
and material. Cold water inlet, hot water outlet and drain pipe and fitting shall
be galvanized.

6.6 Gasket

The sealing gasket should be non-conductive, heat resistance and resilient type.

6.7 Wiring

The wiring should conform to UL standard.

7 Design and Construction

7.1 The tank capacity shall be as specified in paragraph 4.a.

7.2 The minimum thickness of steel plates and steel sheets shall meet
ASME SA-20/SA-20M (ASTM A20/A20M) standards before shaping and the
glass lining is applied.

7.3 The tank shall be fusion welded construction.

7.4 The tank shall be treated by pickling or other process to ensure a clean surface
before the internal coating is applied.

7.5 The tank shall be equipped with an aluminum sacrificial anode rod or rods.

7.6 The tank shall have manually adjustable automatic temperature controls for a
desired temperature range from 27°C to 60°C (80°F to 140°F) for standard usage,
and a specified higher temperature control range as specified.

7.7 The tank shall have automatic over-temperature protectors to cut off the power if
excess temperature occurs. All controls shall meet UL 174.

7.8 The tank shall have a cold water inlet tube to replace the cold water at the
bottom of the tank to prevent mixing with already heated water.

7.9 The tank shall have high efficiency and low-watt density type elements sheathed
in copper, nickel silver (UNS C75200 preferred) or alloy UNS N0800 per
UL 1030.

7.10 The opening for the temperature and pressure relief valve shall be located on top
of the tank bell head. If it is located on the side of the tank, the opening shall be

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Document Responsibility: Plumbing and Utilities Standards Committee 05-SAMSS-002
Issue Date: 21 June 2011
Next Planned Update: 21 June 2016 Automatic Electric Water Heaters

within 150 mm (6 inches) from the top of the tank. The opening shall be
separate from the openings for the water connections.

7.11 The tank openings shall be reinforced with welded plate of the proper thickness
to ensure that full length pipe threads are cut. Openings shall be taper pipe
threads conforming to the requirements of ANSI/ASME B1.20.1. The tank
water inlet, water outlet, tank drain and temperature and pressure relief valve
shall not be less than 20 mm (¾ inch ) nominal pipe size (NPS). The control
connection shall be sized as needed for the selected control equipment.

7.12 The heads shall be designed to withstand the pressure rating of the tank.

7.13 The connections to tank shall be fitted as follows:

7.13.1 The cold water inlet and hot water outlet shall be a galvanized nipple
of minimum Schedule 40 pipe size as given in paragraph 5 of this
specification. The outer end of the nipple that extends through the
shell, shall be threaded with male taper pipe thread as indicated in
paragraph 7.11. The nipple shall be exposed to permit the coupling of
connecting pipe.

7.13.2 A length of durable plastic or copper tubing on the cold water inlet of
tank shall extend into tank to not less than six inches from the bottom
as required in paragraph 7.8 of this specification. A 6 mm (¼ inch)
diameter hole shall be drilled through the wall of this tubing, near the
top of the tank as an anti-siphoning device. If copper tubing is used for
the anti-siphoning device, soft annealed tubing conforming to ASTM
B75 shall be used.

7.13.3 The drain shall not be less than 20 mm (¾ inch) NPS, Schedule 40
male-threaded, galvanized nipple extending through the shell as
indicated in paragraph 7.11. A faucet with a pressure rating suitable
for the service with a composition renewable disc shall be attached to
this nipple. The outlet male faucet thread shall conform to
ASTM D3901 garden hose standard.

7.13.4 The control connections needed are to comply with paragraph 7.11.

7.13.5 All electrical connections including the thermostats and heater

elements shall conform to UL 174.

7.13.6 The tank shall be built to withstand a minimum 300 psig (2068 kPa)
hydrostatic test pressure, and a minimum working pressure of 150 psig
(1034 kPa).

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Document Responsibility: Plumbing and Utilities Standards Committee 05-SAMSS-002
Issue Date: 21 June 2011
Next Planned Update: 21 June 2016 Automatic Electric Water Heaters

7.14 The outer jacket that surrounds the storage tank shall be made of steel or
aluminum and shall have a minimum thickness as per UL 174.

7.15 Insulation

7.15.1 The insulation shall fill the space between the inner water storage and
heating tank and the outer steel jacket. The insulation shall be in
accordance with paragraph 6.3. The thicknesses shall meet the energy
efficient insulation standards of ASHRAE 90A-80.

7.15.2 The insulation of all electrical devices and connections shall be tested
in accordance with UL 174.

7.16 Controls

7.16.1 The controls shall comply with all requirements established in UL 174.

7.16.2 The automatic temperature controls shall meet the requirements of

paragraph 7.6 and 7.7 of this specification. The selection of the desired
temperature shall be readily made without the use of special tools nor
the necessity of dismantling any part of the controls.

7.16.3 A manually operated reset thermostat control shall be provided.

8 Inspection and Tests

8.1 Each water heater shall be UL listed; and shall be indelibly stamped “UL listed”
together with the UL listed number.

8.2 Each water heater shall be subject to inspection by the manufacturer's Inspector
during process of fabrication. Certification of compliance to this specification
shall be provided with each water heater. All tests and inspections shall be
made at the place or places of manufacture or fabrication.

8.3 Pressure testing on the tanks shall be in accordance with UL 174.

8.4 At least one water heater of each type or design shall be tested as indicated in
UL 174. In addition, each unit shall be tested per the vendor's standards, to
ensure consistent quality and performance per specifications established for the
water heater.

9 Preparation for Shipment

9.1 Each water heater shall be prepared for shipment to conform with Saudi Aramco
export packing specifications.

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Document Responsibility: Plumbing and Utilities Standards Committee 05-SAMSS-002
Issue Date: 21 June 2011
Next Planned Update: 21 June 2016 Automatic Electric Water Heaters

9.2 All pipe connections shall be protected from the entrance of debris by use of
suitable tight fitting wooden plugs, or other suitable plugs or covers of metal or
plastic.

Revision Summary
21 June 2011 Revised the "Next Planned Update". Reaffirmed the contents of the document, and reissued
with Editorial revision to remove the committee members list.

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