Most — if not all — of the projects where I provide design and construction support have some type of condensate that needs to be discharged in some manner. Disposal of condensate can be considered a simple thing when it’s being generated by cooling coils or it can be more involved when dealing with high-temperature condensate or condensate from condensing appliances.
In high-rise applications where mechanical rooms or mechanical closets are stacked, dedicated risers are usually shown to take condensate to fixtures, sanitary, storm or a collection system. Reclamation and reuse systems are becoming more common as well, where condensate (along with rainwater) is being reused as flushing water for water closets, cooling tower makeup or irrigation. There are many jurisdictional requirements and limitations on condensate disposal and reuse, you will need to check with the local authority for their requirements when executing your project and design. The ICC set of codes, including both plumbing and mechanical codes, include provisions and minimum requirements for condensate disposal, approved points of disposal, approved materials, sizing of pipes, safeties and protection of finishes. The American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) Design Handbook is also another great reference for handling condensate or “clear-water waste.”