BRADFORD WHITE E32-120R3 Commercial Electric Water Heater (119 gallons) | Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, South Shore & North Shore

A 119 US gallon electric hot water reserve for buildings that use it from morning to night

When a building or a business shares a single hot water supply, the tank has to do two things at once: keep a solid reserve for peaks and catch up quickly between them. The Bradford White E32-120R3 commercial electric water heater meets both demands with a 119 US gallon tank (99 imperial gallons, 450 L) and three immersed elements totalling 18 kW in the manufacturer’s standard configuration. AirGreen installs it in apartment buildings and commercial spaces in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the South Shore and the North Shore.

It is a simple, sturdy appliance without complicated electronics, well suited to a rental building with central hot water, a daycare, a small sports centre or a business whose washbasins and sinks are used all day. It also suits owners replacing an old commercial tank who want to keep the same operating logic with a new unit that meets current requirements.

Three immersed elements for fast recovery

The E32-120R3 heats water by direct transfer: its three screw-in, INCOLOY-sheathed elements sit right in the tank water. The heat produced therefore goes straight into the water, with no intermediate exchanger. INCOLOY is an alloy chosen for its resistance to corrosion and high temperatures, an advantage in water that heats and turns over several times a day.

According to the manufacturer, recovery reaches 74 US gallons per hour (62 imperial gallons) at a 100 °F rise, or 280 L/h at a 56 °C rise, when operating at 18 kW. In practical terms, while part of the reserve is being drawn, the unit keeps heating the incoming cold water, which limits temperature drops during long periods of use.

Manufacturer data for the E32-120R3

• Capacity: 119 US gallons (99 imperial gallons, 450 L).
• Recovery: 74 US gallons/h (62 imperial gallons/h) at a 100 °F rise; 280 L/h at a 56 °C rise, operating at 18 kW.
• Elements: three screw-in immersed INCOLOY elements with a maximum combined power of 18 kW, or 6,000 W per element in the standard configuration.
• Factory wiring: 240 V, three-phase, 18 kW.
• Other voltages offered by the manufacturer: 208 V, 380 V, 415 V and 480 V, to be specified when ordering.
• Tank: Vitraglas vitreous enamel with Microban antimicrobial technology.
• Connections: water 1 1/4 in. NPT; electrical 3/4 in. (19 mm) NPT.
• Drain valve: brass, low restriction, vandal-resistant design.
• Height: 63 in. (1,600 mm). Weight: 312 lb (142 kg).

Electrical configuration: what is standard and what is ordered

Bradford White factory-wires every E32-120R3 at 240 V three-phase, 18 kW. It is a common configuration in commercial buildings with three-phase service. Other voltages, wattages and kW values are available, provided they are specified when ordering, and the unit’s design is UL certified for field conversion.

In practice, the configuration of the delivered unit is confirmed in our written quote, after we check your electrical panel. If your building is supplied at 208 V, for example, we account for it before ordering rather than finding the mismatch on installation day. That step avoids delays and parts ordered twice.

The buildings where it fits

The E32-120R3 works well where demand is spread over the day, with a few predictable peaks:

• an apartment building whose hot water is produced in a shared mechanical room, where morning and evening showers create two clear peaks;
• a daycare or a school, with many washbasins and repeated cleaning cycles;
• a sports centre or a training studio, where the locker rooms draw on the reserve after every class;
• a business with a light kitchen, such as a café or a prep counter, where hot water is used for washing throughout service.

For each project, we build the usage profile with you: number of fixtures, peak hours, connected equipment. That picture confirms whether this model is enough on its own or should be paired with a second tank.

Where to install it in the building

At 63 in. tall and 312 lb empty, the unit needs a solid floor and clear access. Once filled, its mass increases considerably: we check the slab or the mechanical room floor before confirming the location. The room must also have a floor drain or a discharge point nearby for the relief valve and for maintenance flushing.

Plan for access to the elements as well. The three screw-in elements can be replaced without moving the tank, as long as the necessary space is kept in front of their access panels. In the crowded mechanical rooms of older Montreal buildings, that clearance often decides the unit’s final position.

Standards and compliance for commercial projects

According to Bradford White’s documentation, all models are UL listed, their design is UL certified for field conversion, and they meet or exceed ASHRAE 90.1 (latest edition). They are also C.E.C. listed. For an engineer, an architect or a property manager who must justify equipment choices in a construction or renovation project, these references make plan approval and discussions with inspectors easier.

A tank built for heavy use

The tank is lined with Vitraglas vitreous enamel with Microban antimicrobial technology, which protects the steel against corrosion. The brass drain valve, low restriction and vandal-resistant, is well suited to the regular flushing we recommend in high-use buildings: it clears sediment more easily and stands up to handling in a shared room. With a scheduled flush once a year and a check of the elements, the unit keeps its recovery capacity longer.

Manufacturer’s warranty

The E32-120R3 carries the "3" suffix, which corresponds to the 3-year limited tank warranty and 1 year on parts. Bradford White also provides a 5-year tank warranty version, identified by a different suffix; if that option interests you, we check its availability when preparing the quote.

Installation of the Bradford White E32-120R3 commercial water heater by AirGreen

AirGreen is a family business established in Montreal, active in heating, ventilation and air conditioning for more than fifteen years and holder of RBQ licence 5645-9605-01 (ventilation, refrigeration and electrical). In a commercial building, replacing a tank this size takes planning: water shutoff, occupants’ schedules, access to the mechanical room. Our work includes:

• a free on-site assessment of the location, the floor, the access routes and the usage profile;
• a check of the electrical supply and panel before ordering;
• draining and removing the old tank, then disposing of it;
• connecting the cold and hot water in 1 1/4 in., the relief valve and its discharge pipe;
• the electrical connections, made under our RBQ licence;
• commissioning, setting the thermostats and checking each element;
• a maintenance plan suited to your building: annual flush, relief valve test and element inspection.

We coordinate the work schedule with the manager or the occupants to keep the hot water shutoff as short as possible.

Service area

We work in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, Brossard, Saint-Jérôme, Mascouche, Châteauguay and throughout the South Shore and the North Shore.

Request your free on-site estimate for the Bradford White E32-120R3. You will receive a written quote that specifies the selected electrical configuration, and financing options are available.