APPENDIX L
ALTERNATE PLUMBING SYSTEMS
L 1.0 Scope. L 3.0 Water Heat Exchangers.
L 1.1 The intent of this appendix is to provide clarifi- L 3.1 Heat exchangers used for heat transfer, heat
cation of procedures for the design and approval of recovery, or solar heating shall protect the potable
engineered plumbing systems, alternate materials, water system from being contaminated by the heat-
and equipment not specifically covered in other parts transfer medium.
of the code. L 3.2 Single-wall heat exchangers shall be permitted
L 1.2 The provisions of this appendix apply to the if they satisfy all of the following requirements:
design, installation, and inspection of an engineered (1) The heat-transfer medium is either potable water
plumbing system, alternate material, and equipment. or contains essentially nontoxic transfer fluids
L 1.3 The Authority Having Jurisdiction has the right having a toxicity rating or class of 1 (see Section
to require descriptive details of an engineered 207.0).
plumbing system, alternate material, or equipment (2) The pressure of the heat-transfer medium is
including pertinent technical data to be filed. maintained at less than the normal minimum
L 1.4 Components, materials, and equipment must operating pressure of the potable water system.
conform to standards and specifications listed in Exception: Steam complying with
Table 14-1 of this code and other national consensus Section L 3.2 (1) above.
standards applicable to plumbing systems and
(3) The equipment is permanently labeled to indi-
materials.
cate that only additives recognized as safe by the
L 1.5 Where such standards and specifications are FDA shall be used in the heat-transfer medium.
not available, alternate materials and equipment
L 3.3 Other heat exchanger designs shall be permit-
must be approved per the provisions of Section 301.2
ted to be permitted where approved by the
of this code.
Authority Having Jurisdiction.
L 2.0 Engineered Plumbing Systems.
L 2.1 Definition. Engineered Plumbing System: A
L 4.0 Fixture Unit Values for Private or Private
system designed for a specific building project with
Use Bathroom Groups.
L 4.1 Tables L-1 and L-2 reflect the fixture unit loads
drawings and specifications indicating plumbing
for the fixtures in bathrooms as groups, rather than
materials to be installed, all as prepared by a person
as individual fixtures. Such fixtures include water
registered or licensed to perform plumbing design
closets, lavatories, and bathtubs or showers. The
work.
tables reflect diversity in the use of fixtures within a
L 2.2 Inspection and Installation. In other than one- bathroom and between multiple bathrooms.
and two-family dwellings, the designer of the system
L 4.2 The listed water supply fixture unit values in
is to provide periodic inspection of the installation
Table L-1 reflect the load of entire bathroom groups
on a schedule found suitable to the Authority on the cold-water service. Individual hot and cold
Having Jurisdiction. Prior to the final approval, the water branch piping to the fixtures should be sized
designer must verify to the Authority Having according to Chapter 6 and Appendix A.
Jurisdiction that the installation is in compliance
with the approved plans, specifications, and data L 4.3 The listed drainage fixture unit values in Table
and such amendments thereto. The designer must also L-2 reflect the load of entire bathroom groups on the
certify to the Authority Having Jurisdiction that the sanitary drainage system. Where fixtures within bath-
installation is in compliance with the applicable engi- rooms connect to different branches of the drainage
system, the fixture unit values for the individual fix-
neered design criteria.
tures shall be used, as listed in Table 7-3 of this code.
L 2.3 Owner Information. The designer of the system
must provide the building owner with information
concerning the system, considerations applicable for L 5.0 Drainage System Sizing.
any subsequent modifications to the system, and main- L 5.1 Definition. For the purposes of this code, this
tenance requirements as applicable. definition shall apply to this appendix.
445
Appendix L UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE
TABLE L-1
Water Supply Fixture Units (WSFU) for Bathroom Groups1, 2
Serving 3 or more
Private Use
Private Use
Bathroom Group
Bathroom Groups
COLD HOT3 COLD HOT
Bathroom Groups Having up to 1.6 GPF Gravity-Tank Water Closets
Half-bath or Power Room 3.5 0.8 2.5 0.5
1 Bathroom Group 5.0 2.5 3.5 1.8
1-1/2 Bathrooms 6.0 2.5
2 Bathrooms 7.0 3.5
2-1/2 Bathrooms 8.0 3.6
3 Bathrooms 9.0 4.5
Each Additional ½ Bath 0.5 0.1
Each Additional Bathroom Group 1.0 0.5
Bathroom Groups Having up to 1.6 GPF Pressure-Tank Water Closets
Half-bath or Power Room 3.5 0.8 2.5 0.5
1 Bathroom Group 5.0 2.5 3.5 1.8
1-1/2 Bathrooms 6.0 2.5
2 Bathrooms 7.0 3.5
2-1/2 Bathrooms 8.0 3.6
3 Bathrooms 9.0 4.5
Each Additional ½ Bath 0.5 0.1
Each Additional Bathroom Group 1.0 0.5
Bathroom Group (1.6 GPF Flushometer Value) 6.0 2.5 4.0 1.7
Kitchen Group (Sink and Dishwasher) 2.0 2.0 1.5 1.5
Laundry Group (Sink and Clothes Washer) 5.0 5.0 3.0 3.0
Notes:
1
A bathroom group, for the purposes of this table, consists of one water closet, up to two lavatories, and either one bathtub or one
shower.
2
A half-bath or powder room, for the purposes of this table, consists of one water closet and one lavatory.
3
Multi-unit dwellings with individual water heaters use the same WSFU as for individual dwellings.
446
ALTERNATE PLUMBING SYSTEMS Appendix L
TABLE L-2
Drainage Fixture Unit Values (DFU) for Bathroom Groups1,2
Serving 3 or more
Private Use
Private Use
Bathroom Group
Bathroom Group
Bathroom Groups having 1.6 GPF Gravity-Tank Water Closets
Half-bath or Powder Room 3.0 2.0
1 Bathroom Group 5.0 3.0
1-1/2 Bathrooms 6.0
2 Bathrooms 7.0
2-1/2 Bathrooms 8.0
3 Bathrooms 9.0
Each Additional 1/2 Bath 0.5
Each Additional Bathroom Group 1.0
Bathroom Groups having 1.6 GPF Pressure-Tank Water Closets
Half-bath or Powder Room 3.5 2.5
1 Bathroom Group 5.5 3.5
1-1/2 Bathrooms 6.5
2 Bathrooms 7.5
2-1/2 Bathrooms 8.5
3 Bathrooms 9.5
Each Additional 1/2 Bath 0.5
Each Additional Bathroom Group 1.0
Bathroom Groups having 3.5 GPF Gravity-Tank Water Closets
Half-bath or Powder Room 3.0 2.0
1 Bathroom Group 6.0 4.0
1-1/2 Bathrooms 8.0
2 Bathrooms 10.0
2-1/2 Bathrooms 11.0
3 Bathrooms 12.0
Each Additional 1/2 Bath 0.5
Each Additional Bathroom 1.0
Bathroom Group (1.6 GPF Flushometer Valve) 3.0
Bathroom Group (3.5 GPF Flushometer Valve) 4.0
Notes:
1
A bathroom group, for the purposes of this table, consists of not more than one water closet, up to two (2) lavatories, and either
one (1) bathtub or one (1) shower.
2
A half-bath or powder room, for the purposes of this table, consists of one (1) water closet and one (1) lavatory.
Branch Interval. A length of soil or waste stack cor-
responding in general to a story height, but in no The maximum number of drainage fixture units
L 5.3 Size of Building Drain and Building Sewer.
case less than eight (8) feet (2,438 mm), within which allowed on the building drain or building sewer of a
the horizontal branches from one floor or story of the given size shall be in accordance with Table L-3. The
building are connected to the stack. minimum size of any building drain or building sewer
L 5.2 Drainage Fixture Units. Drainage fixture unit serving a water closet shall be three (3) inches (80 mm).
values shall be sized in accordance with Table 7–3
and Section 702.0. The maximum number of drainage fixture units
L 5.4 Size of Horizontal Branch or Vertical Stack.
447
Appendix L UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE
Table L-3
Building Drains and Building Sewersa
Maximum Number of Drainage Fixture Units for Sanitary Building
Diameter Drains and Runouts
of Pipe, in. From Stacks
(mm)
Slope, in./ft (mm/m)
1/16 (5.2) 1/8 (10.4) 1/4 (20.8) 1/2 (41.6)
2 (50) 21 26
2½ (65) 24 31
3 (80) 20 42b 50b
4 (100) 180 216 250
5 (125) 390 480 575
6 (150) 700 840 1,000
8 (200) 1400 1600 1,920 2,300
10 (250) 2500 2900 3,500 4,200
12 (300) 2900 4600 5,600 6,700
15 (380) 7000 8300 10,000 12,000
SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 inch per foot = 83.3 mm/m
a
On-site sewers that serve more than one building may be sized according to the current standards and
specifications of the administrative authority for public sewers.
b
A maximum of two water closets or two bathroom groups, except in single-family dwellings, where a
maximum of three water closets or three bathroom groups may be installed.
Table L-4
Horizontal Fixture Branches and Stacks
Maximum Number of Drainage Fixture Units
Diameter Any 1 Stack of 3
of pipe, in. Stacks with More than 3 Branch Intervals
Horizontal or Fewer
(mm) Fixture Branch Total for Total at 1
Brancha Intervals Stack Branch Interval
1½ (40) 3 4 8 2
2 (50) 6 10 24 6
2½ (65) 12 20 42 9
3 (80) 20b 48b 72b 20b
4 (100) 160 240 500 90
5 (125) 360 540 1,100 200
6 (150) 620 960 1,900 350
8 (200) 1,400 2,200 3,600 600
10 (250) 2,500 3,800 5,600 1,000
12 (300) 3,900 6,000 8,400 1,500
15 (380) 7,000 6,000 8,400 1,500
SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm
a
Does not include branches of the building drain.
b
A maximum of two water closets or bathroom groups within each branch interval or more than six
water closets or bathroom groups on the stack.
448
ALTERNATE PLUMBING SYSTEMS Appendix L
allowed on a horizontal branch or vertical soil or stack connects to the building drain, the connec-
waste stack of a given size shall be in accordance tion shall be located downstream of the drainage
with Table L-4. Stacks shall be sized based on the stack and within a distance of ten (10) times the
total accumulated connected load at each story or diameter of the drainage stack.
branch interval. L 6.4.2 Venting Lower Section. The vent for
L 5.4.1 Horizontal Stack Offsets. Horizontal the lower section of the stack shall be vented by
stack offsets shall be sized in accordance with a yoke vent connecting between the offset and
Table L-3 as required for building drains. the next lower horizontal branch by means of a
L 5.4.2 Vertical Stack Offsets. Vertical stack wye-branch fitting. The size of the yoke vent and
offsets shall be sized in accordance with Table L- connection shall not be less in diameter than
4 as required for stacks. that, the required size for the vent serving the
drainage stack. The yoke vent connection shall
Branch Connections. Horizontal branch connec- be permitted to be a vertical extension of the
L 5.5 Horizontal Stack Offset and Horizontal
tions shall not connect to a horizontal stack offset or drainage stack.
within two (2) feet (610 mm) above or below the
offset where such horizontal offset is located more
than four (4) branch intervals below the top of the
L 7.0 Vacuum Drainage Systems.
stack. L 7.1 Vacuum drainage systems shall be considered
engineered systems and shall comply with the
requirements of L 1.0 and L 2.0.
L 7.2 Vacuum drainage systems, including piping
L 6.0 Vent System Sizing.
L 6.1 Size of Vents. The size of vent piping shall be
tank assemblies, vacuum pump assembly, and other
determined from the developed length and the total
components necessary for the proper function of the
number of drainage fixture units connected thereto
system shall be engineered and installed in accor-
as set forth in Table L-6. Vents shall be not less than
one-half (1/2) the required size of the drainage pipe dance with the manufacturer’s specifications. Plans
size served as determined by Table L-4 for and specifications shall be submitted to the
Horizontal Fixture Branches and Stacks nor less than Authority Having Jurisdiction for review and
one and one-quarter (1-1/4) inches (32 mm) in diam- approval prior to installation.
eter. The drainage system shall be vented by not less L 7.3 Fixtures. Fixtures used in vacuum drainage
than one (1) vent pipe which shall be not less than systems shall comply with L 1.4 and L 1.5.
one-half the size of the required building drain and L 7.4 Drainage Load. The pump discharge load
which shall extend from the building drain or exten- from the collector tanks shall be in accordance with
sion of building drain to the outdoors. Vents shall be Chapter 7 of this code.
installed in accordance with Chapter 9.
L 7.5 Water Supply Fixture Units. Water supply
L 6.2 Vent Stack. A vent stack shall be required for
fixture units shall be based on the values in Chapter
every drainage stack that extends five (5) or more
6 of this code. The load requirement of a vacuum-
branch intervals above the building drain or horizon-
type water closet shall be determined per manufac-
tal branch. The developed length of the vent stack
turer’s specification.
shall be measured from the lowest connection of a
branch vent to the termination outdoors. L 7.6 Traps and Cleanouts. For gravity fixtures,
traps and cleanouts shall be per approved plans.
L 6.3 Branch Vents. Where branch vents exceed
forty (40) feet (12,192 mm) in developed length, such
vent shall be increased by one (1) pipe size for the
entire developed length of the vent pipe.
L 8.0 Circuit Venting.
L 8.1 Circuit Vent Permitted. Circuit venting shall
L 6.4 Venting Horizontal Offsets. Drainage stacks be designed by a registered professional engineer as
with horizontal offsets shall be vented where five (5) an engineered design. A maximum of eight (8) fixtures
or more branch intervals are located above the offset. connected to a horizontal branch drain shall be permit-
The upper and lower section of the horizontal offset ted to be circuit vented. Each fixture drain shall
shall be vented in accordance with L6.4.1 and L 6.4.2. connect horizontally to the horizontal branch being
L 6.4.1 Venting Upper Section. The vent for the circuit vented. The horizontal branch drain shall be
upper section of the stack shall be vented as a classified as a vent from the most downstream fixture
separate stack with a vent stack connection drain connection to the most upstream fixture drain
installed at the base of the drainage stack. Such connection to the horizontal branch.
vent stack shall connect below the lowest hori-
zontal branch or building drain. Where vent Circuit-vented horizontal branch drains are per-
L 8.1.1 Multiple Circuit-Vented Branches.
449
Appendix L UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE
mitted to be connected together. Each group of a mitted to serve as a single-stack vent system when
maximum of eight (8) fixtures shall be considered sized and installed in accordance with Sections L 9.2
a separate circuit vent and shall conform to the through L 9.9. The drainage stack and branch piping
requirements of this section. in a single-stack vent system shall provide for the
L 8.2 Vent Size and Connection. The circuit vent flow of liquids, solids, and air without the loss of
shall be a minimum of two (2) inches (50 mm) in fixture trap seals.
diameter and the connection shall be located L 9.2 Stack Size. Drainage stacks shall be sized
between the two (2) most upstream fixture drains. according to Table L-5. A maximum of two (2) water
The vent shall connect to the horizontal branch on closets shall be permitted to discharge to a three (3)
the vertical. The circuit vent pipe shall not receive inch (80 mm) stack. Stacks shall be uniformly sized
the discharge of any soil or waste. based on the total connected drainage fixture unit
L 8.3 Slope and Size of Horizontal Branch. The load, with no reductions in size.
maximum slope of the vent section of the horizontal L 9.2.1 Stack Vent. The drainage stack vent
branch drain shall be one (1) inch per foot (83.2 shall have a stack vent of the same size terminat-
mm/m). The entire length of the vented section of ing to the outdoors.
the horizontal branch drain shall be sized for the
L 9.3 Branch Size. Horizontal branches connecting
total drainage discharge to the branch.
to a single-stack vent system shall be sized according
L 8.3.1 Size of Multiple Circuit Vent. Multiple to Table 7-5.
circuit vented branches shall be permitted to
Exceptions:
connect on the same floor level. Each separate
circuit-vented horizontal branch that is intercon- (1) A maximum of one water closet within eigh-
nected shall be sized independently in accor- teen (18) inches (457 mm) of the stack horizontal-
dance with Section L 8.3. The downstream ly shall be permitted on a three (3) inch (80 mm)
circuit-vented horizontal branch shall be sized horizontal branch.
for the total discharge into the branch, including (2) A water closet within eighteen (18) inches (457
the upstream branches and the fixtures within mm) of a stack horizontally and one other fixture
the branch. with up to one and one-half (1-1/2) inch (40
L 8.4 Relief Vent. A two (2) inch (50 mm) relief vent mm) fixture drain size shall be permitted on a
shall be provided for circuit-vented horizontal three (3) inch (80 mm) horizontal branch when
branches receiving the discharge of four or more connected to the stack through a sanitary tee.
water closets and connecting to a drainage stack that
receives the discharge of soil or waste from upper
L 9.4 Length of Horizontal Branches.
horizontal branches. L 9.4.1 Water closets shall be no more than four
(4) feet (1,219 mm) horizontally from the stack.
L 8.4.1 Connection and Installation. The relief
vent shall connect to the horizontal branch drain Exception: Water closets shall be permitted to be
between the stack and the most downstream up to eight (8) feet (2,438 mm) horizontally from
fixture drain of the circuit vent. The relief vent the stack when connected to the stack through a
shall be installed on the vertical to the horizontal sanitary tee.
branch. L 9.4.2 Fixtures other than water closets shall be
L 8.4.2 Fixture Drain or Branch. The relief vent not less than twelve (12) feet (3,658 mm) horizon-
is permitted to be a fixture drain or fixture tally from the stack.
branch for a fixture located within the same L 9.4.3 The length of any vertical piping from a
branch interval as the circuit-vented horizontal fixture trap to a horizontal branch shall not be
branch. The maximum discharge to a relief vent considered in computing the fixture’s horizontal
shall be four fixture units. distance from the stack.
L 8.5 Additional Fixtures. Fixtures, other than the
circuit-vented fixtures, are permitted to discharge to Vertical drops from fixture traps to horizontal
L 9.5 Maximum Vertical Drops From Fixtures.
the horizontal branch drain. Such fixtures shall be branch piping shall be one size larger than the trap
located on the same floor as the circuit-vented fix- size, but not less than two (2) inch (50 mm) in diame-
tures and shall be either individually or common ter. Vertical drops shall be four (4) feet (1,219 mm)
vented. maximum length. Fixture drains that are not
increased in size, or have a vertical drop exceeding 4
L 9.0 Single-Stack Vent System. feet (1,219 mm) shall be individually vented.
L 9.1 Where Permitted. Single-stack venting shall L 9.6 Additional Venting Required. Additional
be designed by a registered professional engineer as venting shall be provided when more than one water
an engineered design. A drainage stack shall be per- closet is on a horizontal branch and where the dis-
450
ALTERNATE PLUMBING SYSTEMS Appendix L
tance from a fixture trap to the stack exceeds the
limits in Section L 9.4. Where additional venting is
required, the fixture(s) shall be vented by individual
vents, common vents, wet vents, circuit vents, or a
combination waste and vent pipe. The dry vent
extensions for the additional venting shall connect to
a branch vent, vent stack, stack vent, or be extended
outdoors and terminate to the open air.
L 9.7 Stack Offsets. Where there are no fixture
drain connections below a horizontal offset in a
stack, the offset does not need to be vented. Where
there are fixture drain connections below a horizon-
tal offset in a stack, the offset shall be vented. There
shall be no fixture connections to a stack within two
(2) feet (610 mm) above and below a horizontal
offset.
L 9.8 Separate Stack Required. Where stacks are
more than two (2) stories high, a separate stack shall
be provided for the fixtures on the lower two (2)
stories. The stack for the lower two (2) stories shall
be permitted to be connected to the branch of the
building drain that serves the stack for the upper
stories at a point that is not less than ten (10) pipe
diameters downstream from the base of the upper
stack.
L 9.9 Sizing Building Drains and Sewers. In a
single-stack vent system, the building drain and
branches thereof shall be sized in accordance with
Table 7-5, and the building sewer shall be sized in
accordance with Table 7-8.
451
Appendix L UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE
Table L-5
Single-Stack Size
Maximum Connected Drainage Fixture Units
Stacks Less than 75 Feet Stack 75 Feet to Less Stack 160 Feet or
Stack Size in. (mm)
in Height than 160 Feet in Height Greater in Height
3 (80) 24 NP NP
4 (100) 225 24 NP
5 (125) 480 225 24
6 (150) 1,015 480 225
8 (200) 2,320 1,015 480
10 (250) 4,500 2,320 1,015
12 (300) 8,100 4,500 2,320
15 (380) 13,600 8,100 4,500
SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm
L-6
Size and Length of Vents
Size of
Fixture Diameter of Vent Required, in. (mm)
Soil or
Units
Waste
Con- 1 ¼ (32) 1 ½ (40) 2 (50) 2 ½ (65) 3 (80) 4 (100) 5 (125) 6 (150) 8 (200)
Stack,
nected
in (mm) Maximum Length of Vent, ft (m)
1 ½ (40) 8 50 (15.2) 150 (45.7)
2 (50) 12 30 (9.1) 75 (22.8) 200 (61)
2 (50) 20 26 (7.9) 50 (15.2) 150 (45.7)
2 ½ (65) 42 30 (9.1) 100 (30.5) 300 (91.4)
3 (80) 10 30 (9.1) 100 (30.5) 100 (30.5) 600 (182.9)
3 (80) 30 60 (18.3) 200 (61) 500 (152.4)
3 (80) 60 50 (15.2) 80 (27.8) 400 (122)
4 (100) 100 35 (10.7) 100 (30.5) 260 (79.2) 1000 (304.8)
4 (100) 200 30 (9.1) 90 (27.4) 250 (76.2) 900 (274.3)
4 (100) 500 20 (6.1) 70 (21.3) 180 (54.9) 700 (213.4)
5 (125) 200 35 (10.7) 80 (27.8) 350 (106.7) 1000 (304.8)
5 (125) 500 30 (9.1) 70 (21.3) 300 (91.4) 900 (274.3)
5 (125) 1100 20 (6.1) 50 (15.2) 200 (61) 700 (213.4)
6 (150) 350 25 (7.6) 50 (15.2) 200 (61) 400 (122) 1300 (396.6)
6 (150) 620 15 (4.6) 30 (9.1) 125 (38) 300 (91.4) 1100 (335.3)
6 (150) 960 24 (7.3) 100 (30.5) 250 (76.2) 1000 (304.8)
6 (150) 1900 20 (6.1) 70 (21.3) 200 (61) 700 (213.0)
8 (200) 600 50 (15.2) 150 (43.7) 500 (152.4) 1300 (396.6)
8 (200) 1400 40 (12.2) 100 (30.5) 400 (122) 1200 (365.8)
8 (200) 2200 30 (9.1) 80 (27.8) 350 (106.7) 1100 (335.3)
8 (200) 3600 25 (7.6) 60 (18.3) 250 (76.2) 800 (243.8)
10 (250) 1000 75 (22.9) 125 (38) 1000 (304.8)
10 (250) 2500 50 (15.2) 100 (30.5) 500 (152.4)
10 (250) 3800 30 (9.1) 80 (27.8) 350 (106.7)
10 (250) 5600 25 (7.6) 60 (18.3) 250 (76.2)
SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm
452
