BUILDING SERVICES PIPING TESTING REQUIREMENTS

TYPE OF PIPING SYSTEM TEST OR PROCEDURE

REQUIRED

Water pressure test

or
Air pressure test (not
for plastic pipe)
Drainage and Vent or
Final air test (after
fixtures are connected)
maybe with smoke or
peppermint
Water pressure test
or
Air pressure test (not
for plastic pipe)
Plumbing Fixture Water Supply

Disinfection

Water pressure test

or
Storm Drainage
Air pressure test
(not for plastic pipe)

Water flow tests

Underground Fire Protection Water Supply Flushing

Hydrostatic test (water)

TEST PRESSURE OR METHOD TEST DURATION 

10-foot head of water 15 minutes

5 psi or sufficient to balance a 10-inch column of mercury 15 minutes

1-inch water column 15 minutes prior to

inspection

10% > working pressure 15 minutes

50 psi 15 minutes

Standing time is 3
hours or 24 hours
Flush with potable water until clear, fill with water/chlorine solution, stand for (depending upon
designated time, flush with potable water water/chlorine
solution
concentration)
10-foot head of water 15 minutes

5 psi 15 minutes

Record static pressure on hydrant A, then open hydrant B and use pitot tube to
Until pressure
measure flow pressure from hydrant B, measure residual pressure at hydrant A while stabilizes
flowing hydrant B

Flow need to achieve 10 ft/sec Until clear

200 psi or 50 psi above working pressure in excess of 150 psi (whichever is larger) 2 hours
 CODE
LEAKAGE PERMITTED OR SECTION
RESULT
REFERENCE
None OPC 312.2

None OPC 312.3

None OPC 312.4

None OPC 312.5

None OPC 312.5

N/A OPC 610.1

None OPC 312.2

None OPC 312.3

OBC 901.5,
Record residual pressure NFPA 13:
15.2.1.2
OBC 901.5,
N/A NFPA 13:
10.10.2.1
OBC 901.5,
2 quarts per hour per 100
gaskets or joints NFPA 13:
10.10.2.2
List of abbreviations used in this table:
IFGC-International Fuel Gas Code
NFPA-National Fire Protection Association
OBC-Ohio Building Code
OMC-Ohio Mechanical Code
OPC-Ohio Plumbing Code
TBD-To be determined 

BUILDING SERVICES PIPING TESTING REQUIREMENTS

TYPE OF PIPING SYSTEM TEST OR PROCEDURE REQUIRED TEST PRESSURE OR METHOD TEST DURATION 

Water pressure test 10-foot head of water 15 minutes

or
5 psi or sufficient to balance a 10-inch column
Air pressure test (not for plastic pipe) 15 minutes
of mercury
Drainage and Vent
or
Final air test (after fixtures are
15 minutes prior to
connected) maybe with smoke or 1-inch water column
inspection
peppermint
Water pressure test 10% > working pressure 15 minutes
or

Air pressure test (not for plastic pipe) 50 psi 15 minutes

Plumbing Fixture Water Supply Standing time is 3

hours or 24 hours
Flush with potable water until clear, fill with
(depending upon
Disinfection water/chlorine solution, stand for designated
water/chlorine
time, flush with potable water
solution
concentration)

Water pressure test 10-foot head of water 15 minutes

or
Storm Drainage
Air pressure test
5 psi 15 minutes
(not for plastic pipe)
Record static pressure on hydrant A, then open
hydrant B and use pitot tube to measure flow Until pressure
Water flow tests
pressure from hydrant B, measure residual stabilizes
pressure at hydrant A while flowing hydrant B
Underground Fire Protection
Flushing Flow need to achieve 10 ft/sec Until clear
Water Supply
200 psi or 50 psi above working pressure in
Hydrostatic test (water) 2 hours
excess of 150 psi (whichever is larger)
200 psi or 50 psi above working pressure in
Hydrostatic test (water) 2 hours
excess of 150 psi (whichever is larger)
All Aboveground Fire Protection
Water Supply (including dry pipe Operating test (wet pipe systems only) Open inspector’s test connection 5 minutes
systems)
Record static pressure, then open main drain Until pressure
Main drain test
valve stabilizes

Pneumatic (air) test 40 psi 24 hours

Dry Pipe Fire Protection Water

Supply
Operating test Open inspector’s test connection TBD

Field test of high- pressure and low-

pressure sides using an inert test gas Not less than the lower of the design pressures
Field-constructed Refrigerant
such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide (air on the compressor/ condensing unit or the N/A
Piping
is permitted only for R-717 ammonia setting of the relief device(s)
…never use oxygen
 Hydronic Piping (hot water
heating, chilled water cooling,
dual temperature water, condenser 1.5 times the maximum system design pressure
Hydrostatic test (water) 15 minutes
and cooling tower water, steam but not less than 100 psi
and steam condensate, and solar
heating)

Ground Source Heat Pump Loops Hydrostatic test (water) 100 psi 30 minutes

Hydrostatic test 1.5 times the max working pressure, not less
than 5 psi. Not to impose a pressure >10 psi on 30 minutes
(water) a connected tank
or
1.5 times the max working pressure, not less
Fuel Oil Pneumatic test (air) than 5 psi. Not to impose a pressure >10 psi on 30 minutes
a connected tank
or

Vacuum test for suction lines 20 inches of mercury 30 minutes

30 minutes for each

500 cubic feet of
pipe or fraction
1.5 times the maximum working pressure but thereof, but not more
Pressure test using air, nitrogen, carbon not less than 3 psig. (Where the test pressure than 24 hours.
dioxide or an inert test gas …never >125 psig, the test pressure shall not exceed a
Fuel Gas oxygen value that produces a hoop stress in the piping
>50% of the min. yield strength of the pipe) If system has a
volume <10 cubic
feet or a single
family dwelling, 10
minutes.

Leakage test with fuel gas in piping Design pressure N/A

MENTS
LEAKAGE PERMITTED OR CODE SECTION
RESULT REFERENCE
None OPC 312.2

None OPC 312.3

None OPC 312.4

None OPC 312.5

None OPC 312.5

N/A OPC 610.1

None OPC 312.2

None OPC 312.3

OBC 901.5,
Record residual pressure
NFPA 13: 15.2.1.2
OBC 901.5,
N/A
NFPA 13: 10.10.2.1
2 quarts per hour per 100 gaskets or OBC 901.5,
joints NFPA 13: 10.10.2.2
OBC 901.5,
None
NFPA 13: 16.2.1.10
OBC 901.5,
Alarm received
NFPA 13: 16.2.3.1
OBC 901.5,
Record residual pressures
NFPA 13: 16.2.3.4
OBC 901.5,
1.5 psi
NFPA 13: 16.2.2.1
OBC 901.5,
Record elapsed time & pressure for the
valve to trip and time for water to reach NFPA 13: 16.2.3.2.3
test outlet; ensure alarm received and 7.2.3.3

None OMC 1108.1

None OMC 1208.1

None OMC 1208.1.1

OMC 1308,
None
NFPA 31: 8.8

OMC 1308,
None
NFPA 31: 8.8

OMC 1308,
None
NFPA 31: 8.8

OMC 301.3,

None

IFGC 406.4

OMC 301.3,
None
IFGC 406.6