3

Introduction
Vents and
Venting

Venting the sanitary drainage system goes back to the

mid-1800s when there were severe problems of smell
6. All fixture vents must rise above the flood level
of a fixture or piece of equipment served to avoid
the vent being used as an alternate waste line if
the true waste line is obstructed or blocked.
and explosions in the sewer lines, both in the street
and inside buildings. The plumbers, not plumbing Vent piping is a gravity circulation system intended
engineers, discovered a vent pipe added to the sanitary to limit the pneumatic fluctuations within the sani-
piping let air into the sanitary system and mostly tary drainage-piping network to plus or minus one
solved the problem. After some years of discovery and inch of water column. The main reasons the vent
trial and error, an elemental solution was found. In system is integral and necessary to any drainage
modern times, the venting of the sanitary system has network are:
been refined and codified. The sanitary vent is closely 1. It prevents the loss of fixture trap seals.
integrated with sanitary drainage. This chapter will
provide the necessary principals governing the design 2. It allows for the smooth flow of water in the drain-
and sizing of a modern vent system. The principals age system.
of design are as follows. 3. It limits movement of water levels in water closet
1. When any individual fixture or stack exceeds the bowls.
design flow, a slug of water completely fills the 4. It eliminates the possibility of foul gas escaping
sanitary pipe. This slug of water compresses air from traps into living spaces and prevents the
in front of it and creates a partial vacuum behind growth of slime and fungi.
the water. The compressed air or vacuum must 5. It eliminates the “gurgling” of water in the drain-
be relieved. age system.
2. Air moving in the vent pipe has velocity and fric- Many types of venting schemes and methods are
tion losses similar in theory to flowing water. For
used in modern codes. Authorities having jurisdic-
this reason, the longer the pipe, the larger the
tion (AHJ) throughout the country do not recognize
size.
some schemes and methods. The vent system to be
3. The amount of air required is proportional to the discussed is a “conventional” two-pipe system with a
amount of water flowing in the drainage pipe. The separate waste or soil stack and a vent stack. There
faster the waste moves, the faster the air flows. are other total systems, such as the Sovent and
The flow of wastewater is found using the table “Philadelphia” one-pipe networks that have been suc-
of Drainage Fixture Units (DFU) in the code ap- cessfully installed and operate satisfactorily in parts of
propriate for the project location. the United States and various other countries. They
4. The vent stack size should be a minimum of one- are considered alternative systems because they are
half the size of the drainage branch it serves but not fully recognized. These are discussed in Chapter
no less than 1¼ inches. 1, Sanitary Drainage Systems.
5. In the applicable plumbing code, where the table
heading refers to a size for the soil or waste stack, Definitions
it should also be used for the horizontal branch The following definitions and illustrations will be
soil or waste stack. Since venting requirements of used to avoid any confusion resulting from differences
a stack are more severe than a horizontal drain- among the various codes. In addition, these defini-
age line, there will be a small safety factor. tions will be necessary for a full understanding and
38 ASPE Plumbing Engineering Design Handbook — Volume 2

interpretation if an engineer is required to alter an side the building, which prevents the circulation of
existing project constructed under a previous code. air between the house sewer and the public sewer.
A fresh air inlet, based upon code requirements, is
1. BRANCH INTERVAL
often provided on the inlet side of the house trap
A branch interval is the distance, measured verti- and opens to the atmosphere at the nearest floor
cally along a stack, within which the horizontal above the house trap. There is no requirement to
drainage branches from one floor or story are have it terminate at the roof. A building (house)
connected to a drain or soil stack. This distance trap is illustrated in Figure 3-3.
is usually one story, but never less than 8 feet
(2.4 m). A branch interval is illustrated in Figure
3-1.

Figure 3-3 Building Trap

4. COMMON VENT
A common vent connects two fixtures with a single
Figure 3-1 Branch Interval
vent line to serve both fixtures. It may be used for
two fixtures set on the same floor level but con-
2. BRANCH VENT
necting at different levels in the stack, provided
A branch vent connects one or more individual the vertical drain is one pipe diameter larger than
or common vents to a vent stack or a stack vent. the upper fixture drain but in no case smaller than
A branch vent is illustrated in Figure 3-2. the lower fixture drain, or whichever is larger,
and both drains conform to the distances from
trap to vent for various size drains. When fixtures
are connected to one horizontal branch through a
double wye or a sanitary tee in a vertical position,
BRANCH VENT a common vent for each two fixtures back-to-back
with a double connection shall be provided. The
common vent shall be installed in a vertical posi-
tion as a continuation of the double connection. A
common vent is illustrated in Figure 3-4.

INDIVIDUAL
VENTS TO
FIXTURES
VENT STACK
Figure 3-2 Branch Vent

3. BUILDING (HOUSE) TRAP

A building trap, or house trap, is a fitting or as-
sembly in the form of a trap installed in a building
house sewer on the outlet of the building drain in- Figure 3-4 Common Vent
Chapter 3 — Vents and Venting Systems 39

5. CIRCUIT AND LOOP VENT branch connection shall be taken off at a vertical
A circuit vent is a branch vent that serves at angle or from the top of the horizontal branch.
least two but not more than eight traps. The vent Figure 3-5 illustrates typical loop-vented and cir-
extends from in front of the last fixture on a drain- cuit vented arrangements. A circuit vent is similar
age line serving multiple fixtures and connects to to a loop vent except a circuit vent connects into
a vent stack. Fixtures that may be vented by this the vent stack.
means are water closets (except blowout type), 6. CONTINUOUS VENT
pedestal urinals, shower stalls, or floor drains
connected in a battery. A loop vent is a branch A continuous vent is a vertical vent that is a
vent serving two or more traps and extends from continuation of the drainage pipe to which it is
in front of the last fixture to its connection with connected. A continuous vent is illustrated in
a stack vent. The basic principal of this type of Figure 3-6.
vent is that the flow of drainage does not exceed
a one-half flow condition.
  Additionally, lower-floor branches serving more
than three water closets shall be provided with
a relief vent taken off in front of the first fixture
connection. When lavatories or similar fixtures
discharge above such branches, each vertical
branch shall be provided with a continuous vent.
When the circuit, loop, or relief vent connections
are taken off the horizontal branch, the vent

Figure 3-6 Common Vent

7. END VENTING
End venting is a method of venting a series of floor
drains with a vent connected to the drainage pipe
at the beginning of the run before the first drain.
The entire drain line, from the first floor drain to
the connection with a main drain, shall be pitched
at 1/8 inch per foot (1 percent) and be sized two
pipe sizes larger than called for in the code. The
theory is that the system is oversized allowing
the sewer to flow partially full, thus permitting
air to circulate above the water in the pipe. This
configuration is similar to a combination waste-
and-vent system.
Circuit Vent
8. FIXTURE BATTERY
A fixture battery is any group of two or more simi-
lar, adjacent fixtures discharging into a common,
horizontal waste or soil branch. A fixture battery
is illustrated in Figure 3-7.

9. FIXTURE UNIT.
A fixture unit is a dimensionless measure of the
probable discharge from any fixture into the
drainage system compared to that of a lavatory.
There are different fixture units assigned to
both the water system (WSFU) and the sanitary
drainage system (DFU) that would appear in the
project location code. The actual flow of waste
from the sanitary drainage is obtained from a
Loop Vent conversion table found in Chapter 1, Sanitary
Figure 3-5 Circuit and Loop Vent Drainage Systems.
40 ASPE Plumbing Engineering Design Handbook — Volume 2

Figure 3-7 Fixture Battery

  The selection of the size and length of vent 1. Offsets may be vented as two separate soil
piping requires design or installation informa- or waste stacks, namely, the stack section
tion about the size of the soil and /or waste stack below the offset and the stack section above
and the fixture unit (derived from the supply the offset.
system design) loads connected to the stack. 2. Offsets may be vented by installing a relief
Total fixture units connected to the stack can be vent as a vertical continuation of the lower
computed in accordance with Table 1-4 in Chapter section of the stack or as a side vent connected
1, Sanitary Drainage Systems. Fixture units are to the lower section between the offset and
really weighting factors that effectively convert the next lower fixture or horizontal branch.
the various types of fixtures, having different The upper section of the offset shall be pro-
probabilities of use, to equivalent numbers of an vided with a yoke vent. The diameter of the
arbitrarily chosen type of fixture with a single vents shall be not less than the diameter of
probability of use. In other words, the fixture unit the main vent or of the soil and waste stack,
assigned to each kind of fixture represents the whichever is smaller. Figure 3-9 illustrates
degree to which it loads the system. The designer typical offsets.
should confirm or adjust this data based on the
local code.

10 . INDIVIDUAL VENT
An individual vent connects directly to only one
fixture and extends to either a branch vent or
vent stack. Another name for the individual vent
is a revent. An individual vent is illustrated in Figure 3-9 Typical Offsets
Figure 3-8.

11. OFFSETS 12. RELIEF VENT

In order to balance the pressures that are con-
stantly changing within the plumbing system, it is
necessary to provide an auxiliary vent at various
intervals, particularly in multistory buildings.
Soil and waste stacks in buildings having more
than 10 branch intervals shall be provided with a
relief vent at each tenth interval installed, begin-
ning with the top floor.
  The size of the relief vent shall be equal to the
Figure 3-8 Individual Vent size of the vent stack to which it connects. The
lower end of each relief vent shall connect to the
An offset is a run of piping consisting of a combi- soil or waste stack through a wye below the hori-
nation of elbows or bends that brings one section zontal branch serving the floor, and the upper end
of the pipe out of line but into a line approximately shall connect to the vent stack through a wye not
parallel with the other section. Offsets less than less than 3 ft (0.9 m) above the floor level. Figure
45 degrees from the horizontal in a soil or waste 3-10 illustrates important requirements for the
stack shall comply with the following: installation of a relief vent.
Chapter 3 — Vents and Venting Systems 41

Figure 3-11 Stack Vent

Figure 3-10 Venting at Stack Offsets Figure 3-12 Side Vent

12. STACK VENT 14. SIDE VENT
A stack vent is the extension of a soil or waste A side vent connects to a drainpipe through a
stack above the highest horizontal connection to fitting with an angle not greater than 45 degrees
that stack and terminates through the roof. Fix- to the vertical. A side vent is illustrated in Figure
tures may be installed without individual fixture 3-12.
vents in a one-story building or on the top floor of
a building, provided each fixture drain connects 15. TRAP ARM
independently to the stack, and the water closet The trap arm is that portion of the drainage pipe
and bathtub or shower-stall drain enters the stack between the trap and the vent.
at the same level and in accordance with trap-arm
requirements. 16. VENT HEADERS
It is also the name of a method of venting using Stack vents and vent stacks may be connected
the stack vent for a branch vent connection. A into a common vent header at the highest level
stack vent is illustrated in Figure 3-11. of a structure above the connected stacks and
then extended to the open air at a single point.
13. SUDS VENTING This header shall be sized in accordance with
Suds venting is a method of relieving suds being the requirements of Table 3-1, the number of
forced from a stack through the trap and into fixture units being the sum of all fixture units on
the facility. This is further covered later in this all stacks connected thereto, and the developed
chapter. length being the longest vent length from the
intersection at the base of the most distant stack
42 ASPE Plumbing Engineering Design Handbook — Volume 2

Table 3-1 Size and Length of Vents

Size of
Soil or Fixture Diameter of Vent Required, in. (mm)
Waste Units
Stack, Con- 1¼ (32) 1½ (38) 2 (51) 2½ (63) 3 (76) 4 (101) 5 (127) 6 (152) 8 (203)
in (mm) nected Maximum Length of Vent, ft (m)
1½ (38) 8 50 (15.2) 150 (45.7)
2 (51) 12 30 (9.1) 75 (22.8) 200 (61)
2 (51) 20 26 (7.9) 50 (15.2) 150 (45.7)
2½ (63) 42 30 (9.1) 100 (30.5) 300 (91.4)
3 (76) 10 30 (9.1) 100 (30.5) 100 (30.5) 600 (182.9)
3 (76) 30 60 (18.3) 200 (61) 500 (152.4)
3 (76) 60 50 (15.2) 80 (27.8) 400 (122)
4 (101) 100 35 (10.7) 100 (30.5) 260 (79.2) 1000 (304.8)
4 (101) 200 30 (9.1) 90 (27.4) 250 (76.2) 900 (274.3)
4 (101) 500 20 (6.1) 70 (21.3) 180 (54.9) 700 (213.4)
5 (127) 200 35 (10.7) 80 (27.8) 350 (106.7) 1000 (304.8)
5 (127) 500 30 (9.1) 70 (21.3) 300 (91.4) 900 (274.3)
5 (127) 1100 20 (6.1) 50 (15.2) 200 (61) 700 (213.4)
6 (152) 350 25 (7.6) 50 (15.2) 200 (61) 400 (122) 1300 (396.6)
6 (152) 620 15 (4.6) 30 (9.1) 125 (38) 300 (91.4) 1100 (335.3)
6 (152) 960 24 (7.3) 100 (30.5) 250 (76.2) 1000 (304.8)
6 (152) 1900 20 (6.1) 70 (21.3) 200 (61) 700 (213.0)
8 (203) 600 50 (15.2) 150 (43.7) 500 (152.4) 1300 (396.6)
8 (203) 1400 40 (12.2) 100 (30.5) 400 (122) 1200 (365.8)
8 (203) 2200 30 (9.1) 80 (27.8) 350 (106.7) 1100 (335.3)
8 (203) 3600 25 (7.6) 60 (18.3) 250 (76.2) 800 (243.8)
10 (254) 1000 75 (22.9) 125 (38) 1000 (304.8)
10 (254) 2500 50 (15.2) 100 (30.5) 500 (152.4)
10 (254) 3800 30 (9.1) 80 (27.8) 350 (106.7)
10 (254) 5600 25 (7.6) 60 (18.3) 250 (76.2)

to the vent terminal in the open air as a direct of fixtures may be installed with a drain from a
extension of one stack. back-vented lavatory, kitchen sink, or combina-
tion fixture serving as a wet vent for a bathtub
17. VENT STACK or shower stall and for the water closet, provided
A vent stack is a vertical pipe extending one or that:
more stories in height and terminating above the 1. Not more than one fixture unit is drained
highest point of a structure, allowing circulation into a 1½-in (38-mm) diameter wet vent or
of air into and out of the drainage system. not more than four fixture units drain into a
2‑in (51-mm) diameter wet vent.
18. VENT STACK TERMINAL
2. The horizontal branch connects to the stack
A vent stack terminal is the part of the venting at the same level as the water-closet drain or
system that extends through the roof, thus keep- below the water-closet drain when installed
ing the drainage system open to atmospheric on the top floor.
pressure.
On the lower floors of a multistory building, the
19. WET VENT waste pipe from one or two lavatories may be used
A wet vent is a continuous vent, other than from as a wet vent for one or two bathtubs or showers,
a water closet, which also receives and conveys provided that:
drainage from additional fixtures. The principal 1. The wet vent and its extension to the vent
of design is to use oversized piping to allow for the stack is 2 in (51 mm) in diameter.
flow of water above the flow of the drainage water. 2. Each water closet below the top floor is indi-
Consult the local code for requirements. These vidually back-vented.
fixtures can discharge without being vented. If
allowed by local codes, a single-bathroom group
Chapter 3 — Vents and Venting Systems 43

Bathroom groups consisting of two lavatories and sizing the vent system
two bathtubs or shower stalls back-to-back on a top
floor may be installed on the same horizontal branch
DEVELOPED LENGTH
with a common vent for the lavatories and with no The developed length of an individual or common
back vent for the bathtubs or shower stalls and for vent is calculated from its connection with the fixture
the water closets, provided the wet vent is 2 in (51 trap arm to the connection with the branch vent or
mm) in diameter and the length of the fixture trap vent stack. A branch vent developed length is taken
arm conforms to Table 3-2. A wet vent is illustrated from the furthest connection with a waste branch to
in Figure 3-13. the point being sized. The developed length of a vent
stack is taken from its connection with the soil or
waste stack to the highest point outside the structure.
Table 3-2 Maximum Length of
Trap Arm The developed length must include an allowance for
Diameter of Trap Distance – Trap
fittings, similar to water lines. The developed length
Arm, in. (mm) to Vent, ft (m) is one of the items necessary to size a vent.
1¼ (32) 2½ (0.76)
1½ (38) 3½ (1.1) FIXTURE UNITS
2 (51) 5 (1.5) One of the other items, the Sanitary Fixture Units,
3 (76) 6 (1.8) is associated with the drainage line or stack for the
4 (101) 10 (3.0)
vent being sized. The actual total of sanitary fixture
units is obtained from a conversion table found in
Chapter 1, Sanitary Drainage Systems.

SIZE OF THE SOIL OR WASTE BRANCH

OR STACK
The size of the drainage line for which the vent is
provided shall be calculated for each design point.

CALCULATING THE VENT SIZE

Using Table 3-1, each of the above three items will be
used to size both the main vent stack and the branch
vent associated with the specific drainage stack. Enter
Figure 3-13 Wet Vent
the table with the largest soil, waste stack pipe size,
or the greatest number of sanitary fixture units for
20. YOKE VENT the whole stack. Read horizontally until you come to
A yoke vent is a vent connected to a soil or waste a figure equal to or exceeding the developed length
stack that continues upward to a connection with previously calculated. Read up to find the correct
a vent stack. A yoke vent is illustrated in Figure vent size. Please be advised the table presented is to
3-14. illustrate the procedure involved. The information
in the plumbing code for the project location must
be used.
The following shall be used as an additional guide
when calculating the vent size:
1. For vent stacks, use the total DFU (DFU values
found in Table 3-2) for the drainage stack and
the full-developed length of the vent to find the
size. Vent stacks must be undiminished in size for
their entire length. For branch vents, the longest
developed length is calculated from the design
point to the furthest connection to the drainage
line and the DFU.
2. For the size of individual vents, use a table found
in the code for the project location. It is usually
in the “Typical Plumbing Fixture Schedule” that
appears in some form in all of the codes.
Figure 3-14 Yoke Vent 3. For building (house) trap fresh air inlets, the size
should be a minimum of one-half the size of the
44 ASPE Plumbing Engineering Design Handbook — Volume 2

building sewer. The need for a fresh air inlet must tem. Protective devices are available but may be
be confirmed by the local code. susceptible to frost closure or the accumulation
4. Based on the size of the trap, the maximum of snow. Care must also be taken when locat-
length of the trap arm shall be as shown in ing the vent terminals with respect to building
Table 3-2 walls, higher adjacent roofs, parapet walls, etc.,
as these may affect the proper flow of air into and
VENT TERMINALS out of the venting system as well as provide an
Vent pipes passing through the roof must remain undesirable smell if drawn into an HVAC intake.
open under all circumstances. Two conditions that If necessary, electrical heat tracing or insulation
would cause the exposed pipe to become blocked are could maintain a temperature high enough to
prevent ice from forming.
frost closure and snow. Field test has shown that a
4-in (100-mm) size pipe at the roof level is capable The vent extension shall not be located under or
of remaining open under all but the most severe within 10 ft (3 m) of any window, door, or venti-
conditions. lating opening, unless it is 2 ft (0.8 m) above such
Though it may be small by comparison to the over- an opening. If the terminal is through a building
all sanitary drainage piping, the vent stack terminal wall it shall be located a minimum of 10 ft (3 m)
is an important portion of the system. Through the from the property line, and if above grade, a mini-
terminal vent, air at atmospheric pressure enters mum of 10 ft (3 m) above grade and not under an
the drainage system to hold in balance the water overhang.
seal contained in each fixture trap. The balance of
RELIEF VENTS
atmospheric air pressure and gravitational pull on
Soil or waste stacks with no offsets, in buildings hav-
the wastewater mass follows the principles outlined
ing more than 10 branch intervals, shall be provided
in Chapter 1, Sanitary Drainage Systems. Vent stack
with relief vents every tenth branch vent interval
terminals need to be sized in accordance with local
starting with the top floor. Offsets in the waste stacks
codes and /or good engineering practices, which in-
may also be required to have a relief vent if the code
cludes the following:
requires it. Several configurations are possible by
1. Increase the terminal pipe by two sizes at 18 in various codes. In general, the lower end of the relief
(455 mm) below the roofline. This allows for the vent shall be connected to the waste stack below the
interior building space (which is usually warmer) horizontal branch serving the floor required to have
to provide a convective flow of interior building the relief vent. The upper end of the relief vent shall
heat, keeping the vent terminal at the roof from connect to the vent stack no less than 3 ft (1 m) above
freezing closed.
that same floor level. Its size shall be equal to the vent
2. Project the vent terminal in accordance with juris- stack to which it is connected or the drainage stack,
dictional building codes and locate an appropriate whichever is smaller.
distance from air intake louvers, windows, doors, The purpose of differentiating between branch
and other roof openings, 10 ft (3 m) minimum. intervals and the actual number of horizontal soil or
Sewer gases will be forced upward through the waste branch lines entering the stack is to prevent
terminal stack by the weight of the water in the overloading the stack in a short distance. Many
trap, therefore, the vent pressures versus the air codes limit the number of DFUs allowed in a branch
intake volumes need to be considered. interval.
3. Provide minimum 4-in (100-mm) diameter vent
stack terminals. Experience has proven a 4-in CIRCUIT AND LOOP VENTS
(100-mm) terminal allows an adequate volume of These venting schemes are intended to provide a
air to enter the plumbing system, and its effective more economical means of venting than provided by
opening is not as easily constricted by foreign the individual vent. In the Uniform Plumbing Code
matter, ice, snow, or vermin, as the opening of (UPC), it is allowed only for venting of floor-mounted
a smaller diameter pipe would be. (It should be fixtures, such as water closets, showers, and floor
noted most codes require only one 3-in [75-mm] drains, and may not be acceptable in all jurisdictions.
vent to atmosphere be provided for each building The International Plumbing Code (IPC) does not
drain.). Winds of sufficient force can affect the have the same restrictions. Any fixture, as long as the
function of the venting system and in situations connection is on the horizontal, may be vented in this
of high winds and high moisture (such as at Ni-
manner. The circuit-venting principal is allowed for
agara Falls), the vent size should be increased to
the venting of branch waste lines serving floor drains
6 in (150 mm). A strong wind blowing across the
and other floor-mounted fixtures in some codes.
effective opening of the vent stack terminal can
create unbalanced air pressures within the sys- Circuit venting requires a uniformly sized drain-
age line with at least two, but not more than eight,
Chapter 3 — Vents and Venting Systems 45

fixtures connected in a battery arrangement. The The National Standard Plumbing Code, one of the
circuit vent is connected to the horizontal drain line traditional codes, lists the following special require-
between the two most remote fixtures and is con- ments to avoid suds problems:
nected to the vent stack. In addition to the circuit 1. Where required. Where kitchen sinks, laundry
vent, a relief vent is required to be connected to the trays, laundry washing machines, and similar
vent stack. In addition to the circuit vent, a relief fixtures in which sudsy detergents are normally
vent is required to be connected to the horizontal used and discharge at an upper level into a soil
drain line at the end of the battery, or every eight or waste stack. The drainage and vent piping for
fixtures. The size of each shall be one-half the size such lower fixtures shall be arranged so as to
of the horizontal drainage line or the full size of the avoid connection to suds pressure zones in the
vent stack, whichever is smaller. sanitary drainage and vent systems, or provide a
Loop venting is the same as circuit venting except suds relief vent, relieving to a no-pressure zone.
for the connection of the branch vent to the building Relief vents shall be provided at each suds pres-
system. The loop vent “loops” back to the stack vent sure zone where such connections are installed. In
instead of the vent stack. multistory buildings, with more than six branch
intervals of fixtures described above, separate
SUDS VENTING waste and vent stacks for the lower four branch
High-sudsing detergents are used in kitchen sinks, intervals of fixtures shall be required as indicated
dishwashers, and clothes washing machines in resi- in Table 3-3.
dential occupancies and commercial laundries. These 2. Suds pressure zones. Suds pressure zones shall
suds disrupt the venting action and spread through be considered to exist at the following locations in
the lower portions of multistory drainage systems. sanitary drainage and vent systems as indicated
The more turbulence there is, the greater the suds. in Figure 3-15.
In some cases, suds back up through the traps and Zone 1. In a soil or waste stack that serves
even spill out on the floor. They cause an increase in fixtures on two or more floors and receives
the pressure and vacuum levels in the systems. They wastes from fixtures wherein sudsy deter-
affect both single-stack and conventional systems. gents are used, a zone shall be considered to
Solutions to the problem may involve avoiding suds exist in the vertical portion upstream of an
pressure zones, connecting the suds-producing stack offset fitting and the riser to the upper section
downstream of all other stacks, and increasing the of the system, in the horizontal portion down-
size of the horizontal building drain to achieve less stream of this fitting, and in the horizontal
restrictive flow of air and water. Using streamline fit-
tings, such as wyes, tends to reduce suds formation.
Check valves in fixture tailpieces have been used to
fix problem installations.

Table 3-3 Suds Pressure-Relief Vents

Waste Size, Relief Vent Size,
in. (mm) in. (mm)
1½ (38) 2 (51)
2 (51) 2 (51)
2½ (63) 2 (51)
3 (76) 2 (51)
4 (101) 3 (76)
5 (127) 4 (101)
6 (152) 5 (127)
8 (203) 6 (152)
Extent of Suds Pressure Zones for Various Size
Soil and Waste Piping,
Extent of Zone (Measured from Fittings)
Stack Size, Upstream, Downstream,
in. (mm) U, ft (m) D, ft (m)
1½ (38) 5 (1.5) 1½ (0.45)
2 (51) 7 (2.1) 1½ (0.45)
2½ (63) 8 (2.4) 2 (0.61)
3 (76) 10 (3.0) 2½ (0.76)
4 (101) 13 (4.0) 3½ (1.1)
5 (127) 17 (5.2) 4 (1.2)
6 (152) 20 (6.1) 5 (1.5)
Note: For use with Figure 3-15. Figure 3-15 Suds Pressure Zones
46 ASPE Plumbing Engineering Design Handbook — Volume 2

exhaust. The best way to think about it is as a vent

terminal. It must be located on the outside wall of a
building venting to the atmosphere. Its use is contro-
versial and not accepted in some codes but permitted
in others. Its use and sizing must be confirmed with
the AHJ.
Individual vents, common vents, circuit, and
branch vents could terminate locally in the atmo-
sphere with the installation of local air admittance
valves at the fixtures, thereby saving the expense of a
vent running through the roof. The plumbing system
still requires venting in the conventional manner
with one vent or vent stack extended to the open air
to provide a method of relieving positive pressure in
the drainage system. A majority of the venting from
fixtures would be eliminated and replaced with the
air admittance valve.
There are some general limitations regarding
where use is permitted.
1. The valve must be located in a ventilated space,
which may include under a sink, in a vanity cabi-
Figure 3-16 Illustration of Suds Pressure Connections net, in an attic, and in a ventilated wall space.
portion upstream of the offset immediately 2. The valve must be accessible, located above the
preceding the next offset fitting. Refer to horizontal drain or fixture drain, a minimum of
Table 3-3 for the size of suds pressure zone 4 inches above the trap but could be below the
relief vents. flood level of the fixture.
Zone 2. In a soil or waste stack, which 3. The valve cannot be used where the system is
serves fixtures on two or more floors and subject to a pneumatic pressure exceeding 1 inch
receives wastes from fixtures where sudsy of water column.
detergents are used, a zone shall be con- 4. The valve cannot be used to vent a sump, used
sidered to exist at the base of the stack in any chemical waste system, or be installed in
and extending upstream as illustrated in a plenum.
Figure 3-16.
5. The distance from the fixture trap to the con-
Zone 3. In a soil or waste system, which serves nection must be within the developed length
fixtures on two or more floors and receives permitted for the vent.
wastes from fixtures wherein sudsy deter-
gents are used, a zone shall be considered 6. When installed above the ceiling, the air admit-
to exist downstream in the horizontal drain tance valve must be installed a minimum of 6
from the base of the stack and both upstream inches above the insulation material.
and downstream of the next offset fitting 7. An air admittance valve may vent an island fix-
downstream. ture.
Zone 4. In a soil or waste system, which serves There is alternative venting associated with
fixtures on two or more floors and receives several other drainage systems. These systems are
wastes from fixtures wherein sudsy deter- discussed in Chapter 1, Sanitary Drainage Systems,
gents are used, a zone shall be considered to under Alternative Drainage Systems.
exist in the vent stack extending upstream Since traps are a very critical part of the waste and
from the point of connection to the base of vent network, the following discussion will clarify the
the soil or waste stack as illustrated in Figure role venting plays in the protection of trap seals.
3‑16.
traps and trap seals
AIR ADMITTANCE VALVES The primary purpose of the venting system is to
An air admittance valve is a gravity-operated me- protect all of the trap seals in the drainage systems
chanical device that allows air to enter a piping system from backpressure and siphonage. This is achieved
when a less-than-atmospheric pressure exists but by providing a venting system designed to permit
closes upon a positive pressure, not permitting air to gases and odors to circulate through the system and
Chapter 3 — Vents and Venting Systems 47

eventually escape into the atmosphere. It also permits not be exceeded when the fixture drains or horizontal
the addition of air into the system and the emission branches connect to the building drains or stacks.
of air from all parts of the drainage system. Venting When water flows down a stack or when it flows
requirements relate to this addition and emanation along a sloping drain, for most conditions, the cross
of air from the drainage system as a whole. section the pipe is only partially filled with water.
The purpose of traps in any building drainage Since this means it is also partially filled with air, the
system is to prevent sewer gas from entering into moving water tends to drag the air along with the flow.
the building from the building system, including the This flow might be blocked toward the outlet in many
stacks, branches, and building (house) drain. The ways, for example by a hydraulic jump in the building
water seal in the trap prevents the backflow of sewer drain or a submerged outlet to the public sewer. This
gas into the fixture and from there into a room. There creates a considerable positive pneumatic pressure to
are two major ways in which trap seals are reduced. be built up in the building drain. This pressure may
The first is the pneumatic pressure fluctuations in the extend up the stack for some distance, decreasing as
system. The negative part of the fluctuations caused it travels upwards. If this excessive pressure is to be
by the discharge of fixtures in the system (other than permitted from occurring, adequate venting must be
the fixture in question to which the trap is attached) provided near the bottom of the stack, so air may be
may suck water out of the trap. Then the positive part carried away without developing a pressure of more
of the fluctuation can force sewer gas past the reduced than 1-inch water column in the stack to which the
trap seal. This is called “induced siphonage.” The vent is connected. This is why all of the codes call for
second is where the reduction of the trap seal of the relief vents at various locations in the vent stack.
fixture in question is caused by the discharge of the Water flows down a vertical pipe in what is called
fixture itself. This is referred to as “self-siphonage.” sheet flow. This means the water forms a sheet flowing
The reduction of trap seals of fixture traps will be around the perimeter of the pipe with a hollow core.
the basis for deciding the limitations of drain lengths The outer layer of the sheet of falling water down a
and slope; therefore, a discussion of what trap seal stack exerts a frictional drag on the core of air inside
losses or remaining trap seals are to be considered as the sheet of water. If the drain does not flow full in
necessary. The adequate protection of the building any one section, the stream of air dragged down by
interior against the penetration of sewer air by pas- the water is more or less allowed to flow out of the
sage of that air through or past the trap seal depends outlet end of the drain and into the atmosphere. Some
on the depth of the seal that can be maintained under retardation of the air will occur if the hydraulic jump
all conditions and the effects of air fluctuations on may fill the cross section of the drain. This will create
induced siphonage and self-siphonage. The important a backpressure, which will be felt part way up the
thing to remember is what would be the remaining stack. If the drain is completely blocked at some sec-
trap seal if we limited the trap seal losses. It is a code tion, the airflow will be blocked also. In the absence
requirement for each fixture trap to have a water of vents, the air pressure in the drain might get to
seal of not less than 2 inches. This figure of 2 inches be very high.
allows for the fouling of the fixture drain in time.
The remaining trap seal will still protect against the REFERENCES
passage of air back into the building as long as the 1. American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE)
excess pressure in the stack does not exceed twice the Research Foundation. 1978. Reduced-size venting
depth of water in the seal. design, by E. Brownstein. Westlake Village, CA.
The maximum trap seal loss due to pressure
2. Copper Development Association, Inc. ­ Copper
fluctuations considered to be permissible is 1 inch
sovent single-stack plumbing ­ system handbook
of water. When a “P” trap is used this means the
supplement. New York.
negative pressure of 2 inches of water is required to
reduce the trap seal by approximately this amount 3. Manas, Vincent T. 1957. National plumbing code
for a single pressure fluctuation. Experiments have handbook. New York: McGraw-Hill.
found further trap seal losses will occur if the same 4. National Association of Home Builders Research
pressure reduction is applied to the trap without any Foundation. 1971. Performance of reduced-size
refilling occurring in the meantime. On the basis of venting in residential drain, waste and vent sys-
these considerations, it has arbitrarily been decided to tem. Report LR 210-17.
keep the pressure fluctuations in a building drainage 5. National Association of Plumbing-Heating-
system to a maximum of 1 inch of water. It is not nec- Cooling Contractors and American Society of
essary for these fluctuations to be exceeded anywhere Plumbing Engineers. 1973. National standard
in the system. The important thing is that they shall plumbing code.
48 ASPE Plumbing Engineering Design Handbook — Volume 2

6. National Bureau of Standards. 1923. Recom-

mended minimum requirements for plumbing
in dwellings and similar buildings, by Dr. R.
Hunter.
7. National Bureau of Standards. 1974. Laboratory
studies of the hydraulic performance of one-story
and split-level residential plumbing systems with
reduced-size vents, by R. S. Wyly, G. C. Sherlin,
and R. W. Beausoliel. Report no. BBS 49.
8. National Bureau of Standards. n.d. Monograph
no. 31.
9. Stevens Institute of Technology. 1973. An in-
vestigation of the adequacy of performance of
reduced-size vents installed on a ten-story drain,
waste and vent system, by T. K. Konen and T.
Jackson. Report SIT-DL-73-1708.