2009 INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODES HANDBOOK ABOUT THE AUTHOR R Dodge Woodson has written more than 100 non-fiction books He is a licensed general contractor and a licensed master plumber who has built as many as 60 single-family homes a year Woodson is a well-known remodeling contractor, plumbing contractor, and business owner Additionally, Woodson is accredited as an expert witness and serves as a consultant on construction and plumbing litigations He lives in Brunswick, Maine 2009 INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODES HANDBOOK R Dodge Woodson New York Chicago San Francisco Lisbon London Madrid Mexico City Milan New Delhi San Juan Seoul Singapore Sydney Toronto Copyright © 2009 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher ISBN: 978-0-07-160607-3 MHID: 0-07-160607-6 The material in this eBook also appears in the print version of this title: ISBN: 978-0-07-160606-6, MHID: 0-07-160606-8 All trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners Rather than put a trademark symbol after every occurrence of a trademarked name, we use names in an editorial fashion only, and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark Where such designations appear in this book, they have been printed with initial caps McGraw-Hill eBooks are available at special quantity discounts to use as premiums and sales promotions, or for use in corporate training programs To contact a representative please e-mail us at bulksales@mcgraw-hill.com Although every effort has been made to make the explanation of the Code accurate, neither the Publisher nor the Author assumes any liability for damages that may result from the use of the 2009 International Plumbing Codes Handbook Information contained in this work has been obtained by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc (“McGraw-Hill”) from sources believed to be reliable However, neither McGraw-Hill nor its authorsguarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein, and neither McGraw-Hill nor its authors shall be responsible for any errors, omissions, or damages arising out of use of this information.This work is published with the understanding that McGraw-Hill and its authors are supplying information but are not attempting to render engineering or other professional services If such services are required, the assistance of an appropriate professional should be sought Although every effort has been made to make the explanation of the Code accurate, neither the Publisher nor the Author assumes any liability for damages that may result from the use of the 2009 International Plumbing Codes Handbook TERMS OF USE This is a copyrighted work and The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc (“McGraw-Hill”) and its licensors reserve all rights in and to the work Use of this work is subject to these terms Except as permitted under the Copyright Act of 1976 and the right to store and retrieve one copy of the work, you may not decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer, reproduce, modify, create derivative works based upon, transmit, distribute, disseminate, sell, publish or sublicense the work or any part of it without McGraw-Hill’s prior consent You may use the work for your own noncommercial and personal use; any other use of the work is strictly prohibited Your right to use the work may be terminated if you fail to comply with these terms THE WORK IS PROVIDED “AS IS.” McGRAW-HILL AND ITS LICENSORS MAKE NO GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE ACCURACY, ADEQUACY OR COMPLETENESS OF OR RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED FROM USING THE WORK, INCLUDING ANY INFORMATION THAT CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE WORK VIA HYPERLINK OR OTHERWISE, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE McGraw-Hill and its licensors not warrant or guarantee that the functions contained in the work will meet your requirements or that its operation will be uninterrupted or error free Neither McGraw-Hill nor its licensors shall be liable to you or anyone else for any inaccuracy, error or omission, regardless of cause, in the work or for any damages resulting therefrom McGraw-Hill has no responsibility for the content of any information accessed through the work Under no circumstances shall McGraw-Hill and/or its licensors be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, punitive, consequential or similar damages that result from the use of or inability to use the work, even if any of them has been advised of the possibility of such damages This limitation of liability shall apply to any claim or cause whatsoever whether such claim or cause arises in contract, tort or otherwise This book is dedicated to Leona, my loving wife, who saw me through a very tough time this past winter She’s a keeper This page intentionally left blank CONTENTS Preface Acknowledgments xv xvii CHAPTER 1: DEFINITIONS 1.1 Words, Terms, and Definitions 1.2 CHAPTER 2: ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 2.1 Existing Plumbing Small Repairs Existing Structures Materials Enforcement Plumbing Permits Multiple Plumbing Codes 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.6 2.9 CHAPTER 3: GENERAL REGULATIONS 3.1 Existing Conditions Permits Code Enforcement Inspections What Powers Do Plumbing Inspectors Have? What Can You Do to Change a Code Officer’s Decision? Tips on Health and Safety Pipe Protection Backfilling Flood Protection Penetrating an Exterior Wall Freezing Corrosion Seismic Zones Firestop Protection Combustible Installations Noncombustible Installations The Inspection Process vii 3.1 3.4 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.11 3.12 3.14 3.14 3.14 3.15 3.15 3.16 3.16 3.17 viii CONTENTS Pipe Connections Condensate Disposal Testing A DWV System Working With the System Instead of Against It CHAPTER 4: FIXTURES What Fixtures Are Required? Single-Family Residence Multi-Family Buildings Nightclubs and Restaurants Day-Care Facilities Employee and Customer Facilities Handicap Fixtures Where Are Handicap Fixtures Required? Handicap Toilet Facilities Handicap Fixtures Toilets Sinks and Lavatories Sink and Lavatory Faucets Bathing Units Drinking Units Standard Fixture Installation Regulations Standard Fixture Placement Securing and Sealing Fixtures The Facts About Fixture Installations Typical Residential Fixture Installation Commercial Fixture Applications Special Fixtures for Healthcare Sterilizers Clinical Sinks Vacuum Fluid-Suction Systems Special Vents Water Supply Backflow Prevention 3.17 3.18 3.20 3.21 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.8 4.10 4.11 4.11 4.12 4.12 4.14 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.25 4.27 4.28 4.28 4.29 4.29 4.30 4.31 CHAPTER 5: WATER HEATERS 5.1 Installation Connections Safety Requirements T & P Valves Venting Water Heaters Vent Connectors Supporting Vent Systems Vent Offsets Termination Area 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.4 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.8 5.9 5.10 CONTENTS Venting Multiple Appliances Draft Hoods Existing Masonry Chimneys Connectors Mechanical Draft Systems Ventilating Hoods CHAPTER 6: WATER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION ix 5.10 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.12 5.13 6.1 The Main Water Pipe Supplies Pressure-Reducing Valves Water Hammer Tanks Pressurized Water Tanks Pipe Support Water Conservation Antiscald Precautions Valve Regulations Cutoffs Backflow Prevention Hot-Water Installations Water Heaters Purging a System of Contaminants Working with Wells Construction Requirements for Wells Dug and Bored Wells Drilled and Driven Wells Sizing Commercial Jobs versus Residential Work Water Supplies Fixture-Unit Method Minimum Pipe Size More Facts to Keep You Out of Trouble 6.1 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.4 6.4 6.6 6.8 6.8 6.9 6.10 6.11 6.16 6.17 6.19 6.19 6.21 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.25 6.25 6.26 6.27 6.29 CHAPTER 7: SANITARY DRAINAGE SYSTEMS 7.1 Sizing Building Drains and Sewers Sizing Example Horizontal Branches Stack Sizing Installation Grading Your Pipe Joints Support Facts to Remember About Drainage Piping Fittings Offsets in Horizontal Piping 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.4 7.6 7.6 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.11 7.11 C.4 APPENDIX C SIZING OF WATER PIPING SYSTEMS C.5 C.6 APPENDIX C SIZING OF WATER PIPING SYSTEMS C.7 C.8 APPENDIX C SIZING OF WATER PIPING SYSTEMS C.9 C.10 APPENDIX C SIZING OF WATER PIPING SYSTEMS C.11 C.12 APPENDIX C SIZING OF WATER PIPING SYSTEMS C.13 C.14 APPENDIX C INDEX A Clinical sinks, 4.28 Code enforcement, 3.6, 3.21 Code officer, 3.9 Codes, plumbing, 2.9 Collection reservoirs, 13.1 Collection systems, 13.2 Colluvial deposits, 17.3 Combination-waste-and-vent systems, 9.19 Combustible installations, 3.16 Commercial fixture applications, 4.25 Condensate disposal, 3.18 Conditions, existing, 3.1 Connections, 5.3, 18.2 pipe, 3.17 Connectors, 5.12 vent, 5.7 Construction, 19.2 Corrosion, 3.14 Customer facilities, 4.6 Aggregate, 19.3 Alluvial deposits Antiscald precautions, 6.9 Area, 5.10 Aspirators, 12.2 B Backfilling, 13.4 Backflow prevention, 4.31, 6.11 Backwater valves, 10.13 Bathing units, 4.12 Borings, 17.2 Branches, horizontal, 7.4 Building drains, sizing, 7.2 C Chimneys, existing masonry, 5.11 Clean outs, 10.1 acceptable, 10.5 I.1 I.2 INDEX Cutoffs, 6.10 D Day-care facilities, 4.3 Developed length, 9.6 Direction, change of, 7.12 Distribution piping, 13.6, 19.3 Draft hoods, 5.10 Draft systems, mechanical, 5.12 Drain power, 9.2 Drains, roof, 11.3 Drinking units, 4.14 DWV system, 3.20 E Employee facilities, 4.6 Enforcement, 2.4 code, 3.6, 3.21 Excavation, 19.2 Existing conditions, 2.1 Existing plumbing, 2.1 Existing structures, 2.3 Exterior wall, penetrating an, 3.14 F Faucets lavatory, 4.12 sink, 4.12 Firestop protection, 3.15 Fittings, 7.11 Fixture installations, 4.17 Fixture-unit method, 6.26 Fixtures commercial, 4.25 handicap, 4.7, 4.10 healthcare, 4.27 required, 4.1 sealing, 4.16 securing, 4.16 special, 4.27 standard, 4.14 Flood protection, 3.12 Freezing, 3.14 G Ground water, 17.3 Gutters, 11.2 H Handicap fixtures, 4.7, 4.10 Handicap toilet facilities, 4.8 Health, 3.10 Healthcare fixtures, 4.27 Holding tanks, 21.3 Horizontal branches, 7.4 I Inlets, 21.1 Inspection opening, 21.2 Inspection process, 3.17 Inspections, plumbing, 3.7 Inspectors, 3.8 Installations, 3.16, 6.16, 7.6, 9.12 fixture, 4.17, 4.18 hot-water, 6.16 water heater, 5.2 Irrigation systems, 13.3 J Joints, 7.6, 18.2 L Lavatories, 4.11 M Maintenance, 21.3 INDEX Manholes, 10.6, 18.2, 21.2 Materials, 2.3 Mechanical draft systems, 5.12 Medical gases, 12.2 Multi-family buildings, 4.2 I.3 R N Rain leaders, 11.2 Repairs, small, 2.2 Required fixtures, 4.1 Residential fixture installation, 4.18 Restaurants, 4.2 Roof drains, 11.3 Nightclubs, 4.2 Noncombustible installations, 3.16 S O Observation pipes, 19.3 Offsets, horizontal piping, 7.11 Outlets, 21.1 P Penetrations, 3.14 Perk tests, 17.3 Permits, plumbing, 2.6, 3.4 Pipe connections, 3.17 Pipe protection, 3.11 Pipe size, minimum, 6.28 Plumbing codes, 2.9 Plumbing, existing, 2.1 Plumbing inspections, 3.7 Plumbing inspectors, 3.8 Plumbing permits, 2.6, 3.4 Plumbing vents, 9.3 Pressure distribution systems, 19.4 Pressure-reducing valves, 6.3 Pressurized water tanks, 6.5 Protection firestop, 3.15 flood, 3.12 pipe, 3.11 Pumps, sump, 11.4 Purging a system, 6.19 Safety, 3.10 Safety requirements, 5.4 Seepage beds, 13.4, 19.1 Seepage pits, 19.2 Seepage trenches, 19.1 Seismic zones, 3.15 Sewer gas, 9.1 Sewers, sizing, 7.2 Single-family residence, 4.1 Sinks, 4.11 Sizing, 6.23, 11.1, 21.3 Sizing building drains, 7.2 Sizing example, 7.3 Sizing sewers, 7.2 Sizing stacks, 7.4 Soil appearance, 17.3 Soil maps, 17.5 Special fixtures, 4.27 Special wastes, 8.5 Stack sizing, 7.4 Stack vent, 9.7 Standard fixtures, 4.14 Standpipe height, 10.11 Sterilizers, 4.28, 12.2 Storm drainage, 11.1 sizing, 11.1 Storm-water piping, 11.3 Structures, existing, 2.3 Sump pumps, 11.4 I.4 Supplies, 6.3 Support, 5.8, 6.6, 7.7, 9.17 T Tailpiece length, 10.10 Tanks, 6.4, 18.1 fiberglass, 18.2 holding, 21.3 steel, 18.2 Temperature and pressure-relief valves, 5.4 Termination, 5.9 Testing, 3.20 Toilets, 4.11 Trap installation, 10.11 Trap seals, 9.1 Trap sizes, 10.10 Traps, 10.7, 10.11 crown-vented, 10.9 grease, 10.11 house, 10.9 P, 10.7 S, 10.8 V Vacuum fluid-suction systems, 4.29 Valve regulations, 6.9 Valves backwater, 10.13 pressure-reducing, 6.3 T&P, 5.4 Variations, 11.5 Vent connectors, 5.7 INDEX Ventilating hoods, 5.13 Venting multiple appliances, 5.10 Venting water heaters, 5.6 Vent installation, 9.12 Vent offsets, 5.8 Vent stacks, 9.7 Vent systems, supporting, 5.8 Vents branch, 9.6 circuit, 9.5 common, 9.7 crown, 9.10 individual, 9.4 island, 9.8 plumbing, 9.3 relief, 9.5 special, 4.29 stack, 9.7 sump, 9.11 wet, 9.8 W Water conservation, 6.8 Water, ground, 17.3 Water hammer, 6.4 Water heater installations, 5.2 Water heater venting, 5.6 Water heaters, 6.18 Water main, 6.1 Water supplies, 6.25 Water supply, 4.30 Water tanks, pressurized, 6.5 Wells, 6.20 ...2009 INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODES HANDBOOK ABOUT THE AUTHOR R Dodge Woodson has written more than 100 non-fiction books... consultant on construction and plumbing litigations He lives in Brunswick, Maine 2009 INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODES HANDBOOK R Dodge Woodson New York Chicago San Francisco Lisbon London Madrid Mexico... Author assumes any liability for damages that may result from the use of the 2009 International Plumbing Codes Handbook Information contained in this work has been obtained by The McGraw-Hill