Eemax SafeAdvantage™ & SpecAdvantage™ (EE & EFD) Now ASSE 1085 Certified

ASSE 1085 is a standard of performance for the delivery of tepid water as defined by ISEA Z358.1 to emergency equipment.

ASSE 1084 applies to water heaters with the capacity to deliver tempered water which will not exceed 120°F to reduce and control the risk of scalding to users.

ASSE 1080 is a performance-based code for mixing valves (not water heaters) to deliver tempered water (not exceeding 120°F) to emergency fixtures when tepid water (65–95°F) is not required by the authority having jurisdiction.

If your local jurisdiction is using the IPC code before 2021, then the code regulations listed for that jurisdiction pre-date ASSE 1085 adoption.

For a water heating device to secure ASSE 1085 compliance, the device must:

• Heat cold supply water to a safe, tepid temperature within the acceptable range defined by ISEA Z358.1.
• Provide a cold-water inlet, a controlled heating mechanism, and an outlet capable of maintaining stable discharge temperature.
• Include safety features that limit maximum outlet temperature and prevent inadvertent adjustment of the temperature setting.
• Maintain performance under varying flow conditions and deliver required flow rates for emergency equipment.
• Allow water to flow through the outlet of the heater at a minimum flow rate or greater as required for emergency equipment in the event of a heater failure.

The simple solution is to install the mixing valve. The long-term solution is to refer the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to the 2021 IPC codebook and to reference Section 411.3. Rheem customer service can help provide relevant documentation if required by the Inspector.

As of July 2025, according to the International Code Council (ICC), jurisdictions using the 2021 IPC code include Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Vermont. In these locations, if a water heater is installed that does NOT carry the ASSE 1085 certification to deliver tepid water directly to emergency equipment, then an ASSE 1071 mixing valve must be installed between the water heater and the emergency equipment.

In UPC jurisdictions which have embraced UPC 2024, which does reference ASSE 1085, a listed 1085 water heater may be accepted as a compliant means to deliver tepid water to emergency equipment, subject to local amendments and AHJ approval. This reference is in section 416.2.

Yes, the ASSE 1085 certification is backwards compatible on previously installed equipment. That said, it might be difficult to get inspectors to accept ASSE certification for product that is already in the field because they won't have the proper markings. This certification will apply to all EE or EFD models in the AP family, and we did not need to change anything on these products in order to pass certification. However, new production models will carry a CSA certification mark and older units won't show that marking.