The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District is administering Rule 414, which regulates the allowable nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions of gas fired water heaters. This new requirement has established a NOx limit of 10 nanograms per joule of heat output (- 15 ppm) for any natural gas-fired Atmospheric Vent, Power Vent, Power Direct Vent or Direct Vent storage tank water heaters with inputs of 75,000 BTU/Hr or less.
Water heaters within the aforementioned classification, manufactured on, or after January 1, 2011 and sold/installed within the SMAQMD must comply with Rule 414. Non-compliant products manufactured before January 1, 2010 can continue to be distributed, offered for sale, or sold for up to 6 months after the specified effective date.
Bradford White Corporation has been able to meet this challenge by developing a series of advanced water heaters that emit 10 ng NOx/J or less. These water heaters are known as the Eco-Defender Ultra Low NOx Series water heaters.
The District's jurisdiction covers Sacramento Metropolitan.
Some of the above information was sourced from the SMAQMD's website http://www.airquality.org.
