Materials Needed	Tools Needed
(2) 6' lengths of 1-1/2" 16 gauge pre-drilled strap (1) 10' length of 1/2" EMT tube (conduit) (4) 5/16" x 3" lag screws with washers (4) 5/16" x 3/4" long hex head machine bolts with 4 nuts and 8 washers (2) 5/16" x 1-1/4" hex head machine bolt with 1 nut and 2 washers each	Tape Measure Hammer Hack Saw Crescent Wrench Vise or Clamp Power Drill 3/8" Drill Bit 3/16" Drill Bit Center Punch

1. Strapping your water heater and making sure it is fitted with flexible gas supply line will greatly reduce the danger of fire or explosion from a gas leak after an earthquake, if your water heater does not have a flexible gas supply line, contact a licensed plumber to install one. These instructions are for a 30-40 gallon water heater within 12" of a stud wall.

2. Mark water heater at 6" down from top and about 18" up from bottom. Transfer these marks to wall. Locate the studs in the wall on both sides of the water heater.

3. Drill a 3/16" hole 3" deep through the wall sheathing and into the center of the wood studs at the four marks made in step 2.

4. Measure around the water heater and add 2" to the measurement. Using a hacksaw, cut the two 1-1/2" x 16 gauge metal straps to this length for encompassing water heater.

5. Mark 1-1/2" from each end and insert in a vise or under a heavy object and bend the ends outward to approximately a right angle. Bend the straps into a curve.

6. Measure the distance from a point midway on each side of the water heater to the holes drilled in the wall. (Probably two different lengths.) Add 1-1/2" to these measurements. Using a hacksaw, cut two pieces of conduit to each of these two lengths.

7. Using a hammer, flatten approximately 1-1/2" at each end of the four pieces of tubing by laying the tube on a flat metal or concrete surface and striking with the hammer. Be sure you flatten both ends on the same plane.

8. Insert the flattened ends of the tubes, one at a time, into a vise or clamp. With the hammer and center punch make a mark 3/4" from each end at the center of the flattened area of the tube. Drill 3/8" holes in the ends of all four tubes (8 holes). Be sure tubes are clamped down while drilling. Bend each end to about 45 degrees.

9. Wrap the straps around the heater and insert a 5/16" x 1-1/4" bolt with washers into the bent ends. Tighten nuts with fingers. Insert 5/16" x 3/4" bolts through strap from the inside at the mid-point on each tube strut to a protruding bolt, add a washer and nut, and tighten with fingers, insert 5/16" lag screw in the opposite end of each tube strut and insert in hole in the wall stud. You may need to tap the lag screw gently into the hole to start it, then tighten with crescent wrench.

10. Adjust the straps to the proper height and tighten all nuts snugly, but not too tight.

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