This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
PM Engineer logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
PM Engineer logo
  • Home
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Edition
    • Archives
    • Radiant & Hydronics Report
    • Green Plumbing & Heating
    • Fire Protection & Design Special Section
    • NSF Design Special Section
    • Radiant Comfort Guide
    • PVF Outlook
    • Ad Index
  • Market Sectors
    • Green Plumbing
    • Green Mechanical Systems
    • Codes
    • Fire Protection
    • Radiant/Hydronics
    • Solar Thermal/Geothermal
    • Bath & Kitchen
    • Water Treatment
    • Technology
  • eNewsletter
    • Supply House Times e-news
    • pme eNewsletter Archives
    • Radiant & Hydronics eNews Archives
    • Bath & Kitchen Pro eNews Archives
    • Western Plumbing News Archives
    • Subscribe to Plumbing Group eNewsletters
  • Columnists
    • Julius Ballanco on Codes
    • Editor's Note
    • John Siegenthaler: Renewable Heating Design
    • Dan Holohan: Heating Help
    • Ray Wohlfarth: The Boiler Room
    • Jacqueline Wilmot: Fire Protection
    • Christoph Lohr: Professional Development Pipeline
    • Ethan Grossman: Water Cooler Conversations
    • Blog
  • Multimedia
    • PME AHR Expo 2019 Videos
    • pme Network Videos
    • eBook
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Photo Gallery
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
  • Products
  • More
    • History of Plumbing
    • Industry Calendar
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Classified Ads
    • Market Research
    • Bookstore
    • Continuing Education
  • Directories
    • B.I.G. Book
    • Rep Locator
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Editorial Submission Guidelines
Home » What's coming down the pipe
Julius Ballanco on CodesPlumbing & Mechanical & Fire CodesColumnists

What's coming down the pipe

March 1, 2012
Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD
KEYWORDS IAPMO / ICC
Reprints
No Comments

A preview of the ICC 2012 code changes.



Plumbing & Drainage Institute has proposed a revised grease interceptor sizing method consistent with its requirements. Photo courtesy of Earl Coffman

Every change to the 2015 International Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas codes has been submitted. That is hard to believe since it is only 2012. By the end of October, we will know what the 2015 codes will look like, yet they won’t be published until 2014. It raises the question of whether the code is out of date before it is published.

The single-cycle concept adopted by ICC (also used by IAPMO) hasn’t resulted in any fewer code changes. The number of code changes to these three codes is about the same as the last cycle. There are more than 200 changes each to the plumbing code and mechanical code, and the normal 50 or so to the fuel gas code.

These changes will first be reviewed at the code-change hearing in Dallas during the ICC meeting, which runs from April 28 through May 6. Changes to the International Building Code also will be heard during the same meeting. Because of the number of changes to the building code, ICC has indicated that the hearing may be extended until May 7 or 8.

This is the first cycle where there is a Code Action Committee for plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas. The CAC is designed to be a sounding board for hot issues in the three codes. Rather than a formal hearing process, the CAC meets and discusses the issues in depth. Any interested party can participate in the meeting. The discussions result in code changes submitted by the CAC. These changes must still be vetted by the Code Change Committee at the hearing.

Many of the CAC issues are clarifications to the code. When the code is misinterpreted, the CAC attempts to straighten out the language. It also discusses hot issues in the industry that may require changes to the code.

Changing the fixture table

Some of the bigger issues in the plumbing code involve the fixture table. This table is perhaps the most misinterpreted table in the code. Inspectors often apply the “Use Group” designation for determining the number of fixtures. That has never been the purpose of the table. The table lists the “Use Group” merely as a guideline. Each building is supposed to be analyzed for type of use, with the fixture count based on that analysis. There are a number of changes to this table to clarify use.

Another fixture issue, which has been discussed for many cycles, is the requirement for public facilities in a small mercantile facility. Public fixtures are required for virtually every mercantile building. However, some buildings only serve as pickup, takeout and drop-off facilities. A good example is a dry cleaner where one is in the building for less than five minutes, sometimes less than a minute. A take-out food place, such as a pizza place or Chinese restaurant, would fall into this category. The proposed change would not require public facilities for these types of buildings if the public space is less than 300 sq. ft. Only employee facilities would be required.

The hot topic of dezincification is the subject of a few code changes. A test for dezincification was added to NSF 14. One code change questions the appropriateness of this change since NSF 14 is a quality-control standard, not a material requirement standard. The change would delete reference to NSF 14. Another change proposes to require compliance with NSF 14 in the mechanical code. Traditionally, NSF 14 only has been in the plumbing code. The proposed mechanical code requirement is intended to apply to PEX fittings in hydronic systems.

There also are changes to the lead requirements for potable water piping material. One change would require all potable water piping material to meet the new federal no (low)-lead requirement that becomes effective in January 2014. The other change would only apply to materials used to supply water for drinking and cooking, which is consistent with federal law. The difference would be fixtures such as shower valves, tub fillers, ballcocks, flush valves and residential sprinklers. If the overall change goes through, all these devices would have to meet the no-lead requirements. Currently California, Vermont and Maryland laws do not apply to these items, nor will the federal law.

What is a plumbing code hearing without discussions on grease interceptors? Plumbing & Drainage Institute has proposed a revised sizing method consistent with its requirements. This should be considered a necessary update to the code. Surprisingly, the International Plumbing Code does not mandate grease interceptors. The code language talks around grease interceptors, but never actually says they are required. A change will correct this mistake.

One of the final issues with grease interceptors involves food-waste grinders. A change would prohibit food-waste grinders from discharging through a grease interceptor. This is already a requirement in the other plumbing codes.

Storm drainage system revisions

A series of code changes will revise the way storm drainage systems are designed. This is perhaps the biggest change that will impact the engineering community. The changes are based on the recent study done by the ASPE Research Foundation at IAPMO R&T Labs. IAPMO also sponsored the study. The study is scheduled to be released this spring, but some of the data already has been presented. What the study shows is storm drainage systems have been improperly sized for many years. There has never been a consideration of the flow rate through the roof drain when sizing the system. The analysis of various roof drains shows there is no consistency between manufacturers and products. Even roof drains from the same manufacturer have different flow rates depending on the design and the strainer installed.

The proposed change would require storm drainage piping to be sized based on the flow rate through the drain, depending on the amount of ponding from a 100-year storm of one-hour duration. This would require the storm drain manufacturers to publish data on the flow rate through their drain at given heights of ponding.

The result could be a 4-in. roof drain connecting to a 6-in. pipe. As the ponding around the drain increases, the flow rate often increases to rates higher than allowed for open-channel flow in the piping system. This has resulted in many storm drains becoming pressurized, which can lead to a piping failure.

The code changes have been posted at www.iccsafe.org. You can download all code changes, or just the changes for a particular code. Plan on attending the hearing in Dallas when these changes will be discussed. If you cannot attend the hearing, you can stream it on your computer by going to the ICC website. I hope to see many of you in Dallas.



Links

  • Follow pme on Twitter!
  • Contact PM Engineer

Subscribe to PM Engineer

Recent Articles by Julius Ballanco

Julius Ballanco: Not much changed at IAPMO

Julius Ballanco: The ins and outs of water pathogens, including Legionella

Julius Ballanco: The move to lower global-warming refrigerants

Julius Ballanco: Are composting toilets plumbing?

Julius Ballanco: The cured-in-place debate

Ballancojuliusvwhite_200

Julius Ballanco, P.E., CPD, F-ASPE, is president of J.B. Engineering and Code Consulting, P.C. in Munster, Ind. He can be reached at by email at jbengineer@aol.com.

Related Articles

Julius Ballanco: Changes coming to IMC, IFGC

‘Green’ is a nebulous term when it comes to sustainability

A better understanding of the no-lead law

Julius Ballanco: The cured-in-place debate

Related Events

ICC, PMI Webinar: Changes to the 2015 IPC

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • Print & Digital Edition Subscriptions
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

John Siegenthaler: Renewable Heating Design

John Siegenthaler: Pellet-fired boilers need thermal storage

Chis Wysoczanski, P.E.

2019 pme Mechanical Engineer of the Year: Fitzemeyer & Tocci's Chris Wysoczanski, P.E.

Julius Ballanco

Julius Ballanco: Not much changed at IAPMO

Ethan Grossman

Ethan Grossman: Getting dirty in engineering

Christoph Lohr

Christoph Lohr: Looking at the importance of personality metrics

Mechanical Engineer of the Year 2017 360

Events

December 30, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Products

2020 National Plumbing & HVAC Estimator

2020 National Plumbing & HVAC Estimator

See More Products

PME-PlumberEngineer2017_360.png


PME Rep Locator

PM Engineer Magazine

PME November 2019

2019 November

Check out the November 2019 edition of PME: PME's Mechanical Contractor of the Year, drainage trends, pellet-fired boilers, flue gas venting, and much more!
View More Create Account
  • Resources
    • List Rental
    • Reprints
    • eNewsletters
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Editorial Submissions
  • Want More?
    • Subscribe
    • Industry Links
    • Connect
    • Survey And Sample
  • Plumbing Group
    • Plumbing & Mechanical
    • Supply House Times
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Plan For 2020!

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing