4. Committee Member presentation of New Items for consideration by the committee (Written ideas with discussion, maximum 5 minutes each.

Transcription

1 AGENDA for PMG CODE ACTION COMMITTEE TELECONFERENCE CALL MEETING ON TUESDAY 13 MAY 2014 Starting at 11am CDT (12pm EDT, 10am MDT, 9am PDT) Scheduled Length of Meeting: 2 hours The Dial-in Number is (U.S. and Canada) or (from anywhere) The Room Number is plus # 1. Roll call for Committee members 2. Roll Call for Interested Parties 3. Interested Parties presentation of New Items for consideration by the Committee (Verbal presentation with discussion, maximum 5 minutes each, maximum 3 presentations) 4. Committee Member presentation of New Items for consideration by the committee (Written ideas with discussion, maximum 5 minutes each.) 5. Discussion of items from previous meeting. 6. Decide date for next scheduled teleconference call. 7. Adjourn. See the following pages for New Items brought forth by Committee Members:

2 Suggestions to the PMGCAC for Proposals to Change the 2015 IPC, IMC, IFGC, IRC-P, IRC-M, IPSDC, ISPSC and sections of other I-Codes that correlate with these codes Copyright 2014 International Code Council, Inc IPC (IRC? YES) Air testing of plastic DWV piping is prohibited. The only alternative is to use water which is not possible in freezing weather. Why not have smoke testing as another alternative for rough-in testing? It is allowed for Final testing. [Staff note: What about testing of plastic water distribution piping systems in freezing weather?] IPC (IRC? YES) Section If DWV piping is not plastic and can be air tested, then 5 psi is greater than what most piping manufacturers allow (4 PSI for air test). This needs corrected. [Staff note: 2015 IRC lowered the water test pressure for DWV piping to 5 foot of head (this equates to about 2.1 psi). The building sewer test pressure remained at 10 feet of head (equates to 4.3 psi).] IPC (IRC? NO) & Is it really necessary to require a drinking fountain for smaller tenant spaces such as Retail spaces? Could bottled water completely substitute for a drinking fountain? [Staff note: 2015 IPC drinking fountain substitution possibilities were expanded but still only 50% of the required number can be substituted for.] IPC (IRC? NO) 415. There needs to be a clarification as to what a Laundry Tray is (or could be). [Staff note: The dfu table uses the term Laundry Tray] IPC (IRC? NO) 418 There needs to be a clarification as to what constitutes a Service sinks. Need a definition. IPC (IRC? MAYBE) Should the cold water inlet valve to a water heater be full port valve? Should the piping (and valves) be full size from water meter to inlet of the water heater? [Staff note: The codes do not have a definition for full port or full size valves]

3 IPC (IRC? YES) Item. Does the code required NO LEAD _ LEAD FREE in accordance with the EPA? [Staff note: The 2015 codes were updated to reflect the 0.25% lead (Pb) limitation.] IPC (IRC? MAYBE) Federal Energy Code update? [Staff note: Unsure about the nature of this comment] [Staff note: The IECC covers energy conservation items, however there are some interrelated items in the 2015 IPC] IPC (IRC? YES) Table & Table P Should the dfu values in the table be updated to account for the lower flow fixtures that are being required? IPC (IRC? MAYBE) 305.1, P Should the pipe wrap/sheathing requirement be clarified? [Staff note: The 2015 IRC P was completely revised] IRC (IPC? UNKNOWN) P Table? [Staff note: Unsure about the nature of this comment] IPC (IRC? YES) Table P Does it reflect the 1.28? [Staff note: Already combined with 3 rd item above] IPC (IRC? YES) Section???. Rainwater systems [Staff note: The 2015 codes were completely revised in the nonpotable water area. Rainwater systems are addressed] IPC (IRC? YES) Recent ANSI updates. [Staff note: Unsure about the nature of this comment] [Staff note: Standards for all I-codes are update automatically through a administrative standard update proposal that standard promulgators propose newer editions of their standards to the codes. ] IPC (IRC? YES) Table Should the minimum flow rates in this table be lowered to update to Federal Standards? IFGC (IRC? AUTOMATIC) 310. Electrical bonding for CSST tubing systems. Clarification needed. [Staff note: Section 310 is IFGS controlled.]

4 IMC (IRC? NO) Make up air. [Staff note: Unsure about the nature of this comment] IECC C (-R). Blower door tests, pipe insulation requirements & length of run before insulation hot water piping. [Staff note: The IECC is not directly under the scope of activity for the PMGCAC. However, some work covered by the IPC, IMC and the IRC (-M &-P) are affected by IECC requirements. There were changes is the 2015 codes that touch or are related to the subjects] IPC (IRC? YES) Plastic piping not allowed to be tested using AIR [Staff note: May already be covered by first item on the agenda] IPC (IRC? YES) DWV system vent terminations should be not less than 18 inches above the roof line. [Staff note: Might be something that needs a regional qualifier?] IMC (IRC? NO) No hood required for plug-in appliances with size limitations. IMC (IRC? MAYBE) At least 3 sheet metal screws or rivets. [Staff note: Unsure about the nature of this comment] IFGC (IRC? AUTOMATIC) [Staff note: last sentence] Should P V C piping be continued to be allowed to vent fossil-fuel fired [Staff note: fuel gas fired?] appliances? Appliance flue gas temperatures are very high. IPC (IRC? YES) 918. Should there be a prohibition for using an AAV vent termination for venting of laundry [Staff note: clothes washer] standpipe traps? Newer washers have a fast, high-volume discharge. IPC (IRC? YES) Vent connection to circuit-vented systems. This section needs to specify that the required vent placement is between the two most upstream fixtures being circuit vented. This section also needs to allow the use of a horizontal common vent to serve as the vent for the circuitvented systems system.

5 IPC (IRC? YES) Slope and size of horizontal branch - This section needs to include either a print of the table from which a circuit vent is sized or a reference to the proper table to use. IPC (IRC? YES) [Staff note: See second sentence in code] This section on trap seals uses the phrase Where a trap seal is subject to loss by evaporation. This phrase is very vague and has been interpreted in many different ways. I would like to end the debate with more specific language, something along the lines of, traps without a reliable water source, or traps that cannot be replenished under normal use, or traps receiving only the discharge of relief valves, condensate or other non-reliable liquid sources. With an exception for waterless urinals. [Staff note: The 2015 IPC and IRC were completely revised in these sections, however, the subject to loss by evaporation is still intact in both codes.] IRC (IPC See Staff note) IRC section Trap seals and trap seal protection The IRC version of trap seal protection has completely failed to protect any trap seals other than floor drains as this code section does not include the IPC phrase Where a trap seal is subject to loss by evaporation. [Staff note: Same as one item above this one] IPC (IRC? YES) Strike prohibition 1. IPC (IRC? YES) Item. This section states that a clean out must be at each change of direction greater than 45 degrees and where more than one change of direction occurs in a run of piping, only one cleanout shall be required for each 40 feet of developed length. That means there would need to be a clean out on the 90 degree turn in the diagram below, however if I added a second 90 in this sewer I would only need the building/sewer connection cleanout. I believe this section should be altered to require a cleanout only within 40 feet of a turn greater than 45 degrees opening in the direction of flow. [Staff note: The 2015 IPC and IRC were completely revised in this area. It is undetermined whether the issue raised is clarified by the revised language.] Building drain and sewer connection C.O Sewer 20 Public Sewer IPC (IRC? YES) Chapter 6 & Chapter 8. A new section is needed in Chapter 6 to govern the potable water connection to humidifiers. Most manufacturer installation instructions only say to make this connection in accordance with local codes. Also, a new section is needed in Chapter 8 to govern the drain connection as most humidifiers require an air gap for the drainage discharge.

6 [Staff note: Section has a general requirement for backflow protection for appliances connected to a potable water supply. Maybe the concern is that there is nothing in Section ? For Chapter 8, Section appears to be applicable but not specific to humidifiers] IFGC (IRC? AUTOMATIC) Sediment trap, the addition of Figure has gained greater clarification on the proper installation of a sediment trap. However this code section states or other device approved as an effective sediment trap which still allows the approval of the straight across installation. This code section needs to specify effective or remove the approved option. IPC (IRC? YES) 2015 item. Chapter 14. The title and other references in this chapter needs to be changed to something like Subsurface Watering Systems Using On Site Nonpotable Water. And the sections need to address the watering of plants. We need to get away from landscape and irrigation. Also, in general, there are lots of editorial things that could be cleaned up throughout this chapter. Reference what was done in the IRC?? IPC (IRC?YES) item. Section (example). The term gray water is used loosely in this section and in Chapter 13. It seems that where the application requires some treatment of raw gray water, then the term ought to be treated gray water to differentiate it from (raw) graywater. Chapter 13 should also be reviewed for these instances. IPC (IRC? YES) item. Section & There is some confusion/conflict about Section limiting products to not more than 8 % Lead and Section further limiting Lead to 0.25 percent. The 8 % Lead limit came from the Safe Drinking Water Act of long ago (1974). The 8 % limit is specific to pipe, fittings, valves and faucets in the water supply system. The new federal law on Lead enacted in 2011 (now in force as of JAN 2014) amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to change the federal definition of lead free from 8% to 0.25 % as determined by a calculation of the weighted average lead content and the wetted surface area of the product. Should Section go away because the federal law dispensed with it? IPC (IRC? MAYBE) item Chapter 11. There needs to be a careful distinctions made between storm water and rainwater now that Chapter 13 contains specific details about rainwater use for a nonpotable water supply. Perhaps Chapter 11 needs to be renamed something else? Unsuccessful P generates some thought. IPC (IRC? NO) Section A 2015 item. There needs to be another statement in this section that says Accessibility requirements of Section 404, as applicable to accessible fixtures, override these clearances and spacing. More wording might be necessary to get this correct.

7 IPC (IRC? MAYBE?) 2015 item. Section Minimum size of fixture supply pipe to fixtures. New Sections in the 2015 IECC-COM are driving the down the minimum size of fixture supply piping for hot (or tempered) water (although there is not a pointer in the IPC for the reader to know this). Still, the 2015 IECC, if adopted with the 2015 IPC, requires the smaller fixture supply pipe sizes. One has to ask why there is a minimum size for cold? We believe it is so that there is commonly used pipe sizes for fixture connections. However, with the 2015 IECC-COM requirements, all that is changing. This section (and Table 604.5) needs to be rewritten to accommodate what I required by the 2015 IECC. Currently, the 2015 IPC is in conflict with the 2015 IECC-COM. IPC (IRC? YES) item. IPC Sections and IRC Sections P and P RP45-13 (Failed) for IRC Section P for updating that section with the same information as the IPC. The topic is potable water supply backflow protection for clothes washers and dishwashers. These are stationary appliances that are connected to the potable water supply for many years, perhaps a decade or more. The code body needs an assurance that these appliances have integral backflow protection that is tested to ensure that the devices work correctly. (Several code cycles ago, the reference to ASSE standards was removed as machine labeling did not indicate direct compliance to a backflow standard how is an inspector to know?) This item has an accessory document. IPC (IRC? YES) 2015 Item. Section talks about bathtub floors and walls. The section is about showers! Maybe apply additional words to say, bathtubs having a wall mounted shower head The IRC part is a little more complicated as the section refers to R What constitutes a smooth surface? Is having grout lines a smooth surface? What about tiles having pocks (small holes) that could harbor bacteria? OK for walls above a certain elevation but not for floors? Everything should be coordinated between IPC and IRC codes and with supporting codes or sections. IPC (IRC? NO) Table There isn t anything in the code that provides an allowance for not having toilet facilities in buildings that are normally not occupied such as self-storage facilities (without an office), telephone and cable equipment buildings, parking garages/covered parking areas (without an office), etc. See P32-12 (failed). IPC (IRC? NO) 2015 item. Section The concept of quick transaction areas needs better definition. This is about not having to provide customer toilet facilities for those establishment. Are chairs allowed? Can there be sales racks in the customer area? IPC (IRC? NO) New Section (Or maybe section needs to be a pointer to a new section in Chapter 7). The issue is about drain system designs for nonwater urinals. P62-12 (failed) attempted to put a water supplied fixture discharging upstream into a horizontal drain line for the urinal to keep the drain line flushed. Australian research and experience seem to support this concept. IPC (IRC? YES) Section and 202. (Section is 2015 reference). The defined term LEAD FREE SOLDER AND FLUX is not needed in this section and can been confusing with respect to the new federal legislation. See P (failed). IPC (IRC? YES) Section Several attempts have been made to modify this section to allow discharge piping arrangements from this type of valve to have valves on branches of the discharge

8 piping but always allowing one branch to always be open to atmosphere (just as if there were not any valved branches at all.) The Plumbing committee is just not getting the concept. Maybe rewording and CAC support could get this passed. Reference P (failed) IPC (IRC? MAYBE?) Section Proposal P (failed) attempted to put in some specific requirements for the installation of ASSE 1017 and 1069 valves. The proposal was lengthy and perhaps too specific. However, there were some concepts that were viable, such as Install in accordance with the mfrs instructions. A thermowell shall be installed on the discharge piping at a location that is not more than 6 feet of developed piping length from the valve. The thermowell shall accept a temperature gauge having a ¼ inch diameter probe. The thermowell shall extend through piping insulation. Where a temperature gage is not installed in the thermowell, the thermowell opening shall have a plug installed. A thermowell shall not be required where other means are provided for measuring the actual outlet water temperature within 6 feet of developed piping length of the master valve. Put a shut off valve on each inlet and the outlet to the valve. Also, there was a specific requirement for ASSE 1070 point-of-use valves put a shut off valve on each inlet to the valve so that the valve can be maintained/replaced without shutting down the entire water system. IPC (IRC? YES) Section Ponding of storm water on a roof could lead to water running into plumbing vent stacks. P (failed) attempted to address this by requiring that the opening of the vent stacks be higher than the highest level of ponding. Seems like a good idea. Also, plumbing vent flashings should be of a type that don t leak under that height of ponding! IPC (IRC? YES) Sections and The requirement for water testing in freezing weather conditions is creating significant issues in certain areas of the country. Is there a way to test using air and be safe about it? Yes, it is recognized that the plastic piping industry has bullied the code into not allowing testing of plastic piping with air. However, some jurisdictions are still allowing the practice so that jobs can get done efficiently. Shouldn t the CAC propose methods to keep these air testers safe and these code officials out of potential hot water? IPC (IRC? NO) Section Section was revised for 2015 to redirect the reader to the use of a building rather than its occupancy for determining the fixture count. Section refers to occupancy, not use. This needs to be corrected. IPC (IRC? NO) Table The occupancy column really throws people off and should be removed now that Section directs people to the use of the building or space. Maybe add FOR REFERENCE below the column header CLASSIFICATION for clarity. IPC (IRC? NO) Section & are permitted is not mandatory. This can be reworded IPC (IRC? NO) Section , & Exception 2. This needs rewording to remove the shall be permitted. IPC (IRC? NO) Section WC/LAV units for prison cells need an exception to the clearance dimensions. There is also a need for an exception for WC/LAV units for intensive care units???

9 IPC (IRC? MAYBE) Section This section implies that the the heater temperature controls could be used for regulating temperature at a fixture. Possible conflict with Section Needs corrected. IPC (IRC? YES) Section This section is about interconnections between hot and cold systems. This appears to prevent hot water circulating systems (specifically, a demand type circulating system) that use a fixture s cold water supply pipe for a return path. This section needs modified to allow for these systems as they are not an uncontrolled type of hot to cold interconnection. Remember that the 2015 IPC has new Section that does allow this type of interconnection! IPC (IRC? YES) Section This section requires a fail open pressure reducing valve design. However, logically, if the water distribution system is tested at working pressure and many of the components (faucets, WC fill valves, supply connectors), in the system are rated for 125 psi, what happens to these components when the pressure reducing valve fails open and allows a pressure greater than 125 psi into the distribution system? Years back, the plumbing industry didn t see high water main pressures. And yes, there usually is a pressure relief valve on a storage water heater that is set for 150 psi. But not all buildings have a storage tank water heater. And the code doesn t say anything about pressure relief valves for tankless water heaters. Today, there are jurisdictions that have 200 psi water main pressures. It would seem that there needs to be some language to require a secondary pressure reducing valve where the main pressure exceeds X psi. Along with some warning devices to alert someone that one reducing valve has failed open. IPC (IRC? NO) Section 605. Last line. The first pipe doesn t make any sense and should be eliminated. And why does it say that only water service piping has to be cement mortar lines? Would not ductile iron for water distribution piping need to be cement mortar lined? Should Section require cement mortar lining for ductile iron? IPC (IRC? MAYBE) Section and The shall be permitted s should be written out of the section. Maybe state: Joint location shall not be limited unless the joint manufacturer specifies otherwise. IPC (IRC? YES) Section , , shall be permitted IPC (IRC? YES) Section Location of full open valves. Need to have a definition of what the minimum opening of full open valve is. IPC (IRC? YES) Section Should it just say valves? Why specific to full open and shut off? IPC (IRC? MAYBE) Section Numerous shall be permitted s IPC (IRC? YES) Section Last line. There is confusion about water softeners and the requirements for backflow preventers. Some jurisdictions think that an RPZ is needed upstream of a water softener. No? This sentence needs revised to clarify that. IPC (IRC? YES) Section Forces drainage to a sewer or to an IPSDC system. Needs to expand to allow drainage to a gray water system or another septic system in accordance with local and state requirements.

10 IPC (IRC? NO) Section as directed by the code official puts too much on the code official. How can this be changed. IPC (IRC? NO) Section shall be permitted IPC (IRC? NO) Section This section in the IRC was modified for The IPC need to be coordinated. IPC (IRC? MAYBE) Section Second line. Clarify what is meant by a 4 x 3 connection. IPC (IRC? Maybe) Section 705. Same issues with shall be permitted and threading of pipe. IPC (IRC? YES) FERNCO-Type COUPLINGS. The code needs to be more explicit about where they can and can t be used. IPC (IRC? YES) Section Add the word Caulking to the beginning of the sentence. IPC (IRC? NO) Section approved is used incorrectly. IPC (IRC? NO) Section The first and the last indirect needs to be removed.