Going Through Block - Safe Location

[Mark118]

I'm mounting a gas tankless water heater and need to make a 4" opening for the 4" vent pipe through an exterior 8"cinder block wall with brick veneer using a diamond bore saw. The hole will be 3 blocks down from the top, but on the same end wall that supports the I-beam carrying the floor joists above. My question is what is the safe lateral distance that I need to be from the line beneath the beam. Sage advice & words of wisdom appreciated!

 

[Architorture]

assume the load from the beam travels down the wall at a 45 degree angle from the bearing point. Keep your hole outside of that imaginary triangle below the beam

 

[Mark118]

Arch: Thanks - that makes sense, really appreciate it!

 

[Mark118]

Jeremy, thanks for the message. There is no rebar or concrete reinforcement in the block. They are typical two core type. That being the case, would the preferred approach be to go through the center of a core? I've mapped out a good zone using Arch's 45 degree formula, and have some flexibility. Thanks again.

 

[Mark118]

Jeremy, Great stuff - thanks for taking the time to provide the great advice - all which will be very useful! I'm in the midst of a complete garage renovation, and like another poster wrote, its like a game of tetris trying to do it while keeping everything functioning during the process. So far, I've (99%) rerouted the exposed plumbing, ac lines, gas pipes, and wiring so that everything is concealed and skim coated the walls. As soon as I make the last few connections, I'm going to install the water heater and get porcelain down on the floor. Your comments about letting the tools do the work are very well taken. I decided to fish the wiring for some switches and receptacles through the block from above and used a diamond blade on an oscillating tool to cut out for the boxes so that they could be recessed in the wall - really fast, precise and clean. Thanks again for your help!