Activity 3.

2 Student Resource
Example Commercial Plumbing Code
Requirements
Assume the following code requirements apply when designing the plumbing systems for your project.
These requirements are part of the International Code Council’s 2012 International Plumbing Code (IPC);
however, the IPC requirements are much more detailed and cover many issues not addressed here. You
may access the full IPC using the International Code Council ICC publicACCESS web site
(http://codes.iccsafe.org/).

For minimum number of plumbing fixtures see IBC table 2902.1.

SECTION 405 INSTALLATION OF FIXTURES

405.3.1 Installation of Fixtures, Water closets, urinals, lavatories and bidets. A water closet,
urinal, lavatory, or bidet shall not be set closer than 15 inches (381 mm) from its center to any side
wall, partition, vanity or other obstruction, or closer than 30 inches (762 mm) center to center between
adjacent fixtures. There shall be not less than a 21-inch (533 mm) clearance in front of the water
closet, urinal, lavatory or bidet to any wall, fixture or door. Water closet compartments shall be not
less than 30 inches (762 mm) in width and not less than 60 inches (1524 mm) in depth for floor-
mounted water closets and not less than 30 inches (762 mm) in width and 56 inches (1422 mm) in
depth for wall- hung water closets.

SECTION 603 WATER SERVICE

603.1 Size of water service pipe. The water service pipe shall be sized to supply water to the
structure in the quantities and at the pressures required in this code. The water service pipe shall be
not less than 3/4 inch (19.1 mm) in diameter.
603.2 Separation of water service and building sewer. Water service pipe and the building sewer
shall be separated by not less than 5 feet (1524 mm) of undisturbed or compacted earth. [See IPC for
Exceptions]
Size of fixture supply. For this assignment, assume a minimum supply pipe size of ½ in.
Inadequate water pressure. For this assignment use, the following required minimum flow and
pressure for the indicated fixture:
 Drinking Fountain—0.75 gpm, 8psi
 Water closet with a flushometer valve—25 gpm, 45 psi
 Urinal—12 gpm, 25 psi
 Lavatory—2 gpm, 8 psi
 Shower—3 gpm, 20 psi
604.8 Water-pressure reducing valve or regulator. Where water pressure within a building
exceeds 80 psi (552 kPa) static, an approved water-pressure reducing valve conforming to ASSE
1003 or CSA B356 with strainer shall be installed to reduce the pressure in the building water
distribution piping to not greater than 80 psi (552 kPa) static.
SECTION 704 DRAINAGE PIPING INSTALLATION
704.1 Slope of horizontal drainage piping. Horizontal drainage piping shall be installed in uniform
alignment at uniform slopes. The slope of a horizontal drainage pipe shall be not less than that
indicated in table 704.1.

SECTION 708 CLEANOUTS

708.3.1 Horizontal drains within buildings. All horizontal drains shall be provided with cleanouts
located not more than 100 feet (30,480 mm) apart.
708.3.2 Building sewers. Building sewers shall be provided with cleanouts located not more than
100 feet (30,480 mm) apart measured from the upstream entrance of the cleanout. For building
sewers 8 inches 9203 mm) and larger, manholes shall be provided and located not more than 200
feet (60 960mm) from the junction of the building drain and building sewer, at each change in
direction and at intervals of not more than 400 fee (122 m) apart. Manholes and manhole covers shall
be of an approved type.
708.3.5 Building drain and building sewer junction. There shall be a cleanout near the junction of
the building drain and the building sewer. The cleanout shall be either inside or outside the building
wall and shall be brought up to the finished ground level or to the basement floor level. An approved
two-way cleanout is allowed to be used at this location to serve as a required cleanout for both the
building drain and building sewer. The cleanout at the junction of the building drain and building
sewer shall not be required if the cleanout on a 3-inch (76 mm) or larger diameter soil stack is located
within a developed length of 10 feet (3048 mm) of the building drain and building sewer connection.
The minimum size of the cleanout at the junction of the building drain and building sewer shall comply
with Section 708.7.
708.5 Opening direction. Every cleanout shall be installed to open to allow cleaning in the direction
of the flow of the drainage pipe or at right angles thereto.

SECTION 709 FIXTURE UNITS

709.1 Values for fixtures. Drainage fixture unit values as given in table 709.1 (partial table given
below) designate the relative load weight of different kinds of fixtures that shall be employed in
estimating the total load carried by a soil or waste pipe, and shall be used in connection with Tables
710.1(1) and 710.1(2) of sizes for soil, waste and vent pipes for which the permissible load is given in
terms of fixture units.

2012 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, International Code council, Inc. Washington, D.C.
Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. www.iccsafe.org.

© 2017 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Civil Engineering and Architecture Example Commercial Plumbing Code Requirements—Page 2
2012 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, International Code council, Inc. Washington, D.C.
Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. www.iccsafe.org.

© 2017 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Civil Engineering and Architecture Example Commercial Plumbing Code Requirements—Page 3
SECTION 710 DRAINAGE SYSTEM SIZING

710.1 Maximum fixture unit load. The maximum number of drainage fixture units
connected to a given size of building sewer, building drain or horizontal branch of the
building drain shall be determined using table 710.1(1). The maximum number of
drainage fixture units connected to a given size of horizontal branch or vertical
soil or waste stack shall be determined using Table 710.1(2).

2012 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, International Code council, Inc. Washington, D.C.
Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. www.iccsafe.org.

© 2017 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Civil Engineering and Architecture Example Commercial Plumbing Code Requirements—Page 4
2012 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, International Code council, Inc. Washington, D.C.
Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. www.iccsafe.org.

© 2017 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Civil Engineering and Architecture Example Commercial Plumbing Code Requirements—Page 5