that provides free circulation of air between the branch vent and the vented trunkline. Every vent utilized in a combination waste-and-vent system is required to be no less than one-half the cross-sectional area of the drainline at its point of connection. Thus, the vent-pipe area will always be at least equal in area to the area of the top half of the drainpipe to which it connects, the top half of the horizontal drainpipes being entirely dedicated to venting. Four questions have been asked of representatives of IAPMO and the International Code Council (ICC) relative to Figure 1.
length shall be separately vented in an approved manner (Section 910.3). Unvented branch length is limited to 15 ft in an effort to minimize anaerobic fouling of the branch piping. ICCs response: This is an acceptable installation. The distance between the floor drain trap and the dry vent is unlimited if the fixture drain is sized in accordance with Table 912.3.
CODE UPDATE
application); or at the supplemental vent installed on branch piping when the branch exceeds 15 ft in length. Each of these vent sources must be within 15 ft of the fixture served. The third option would apply to the submitted drawing. ICCs response: See the answer to question 1. noted earlier, every vent pipe serving a combination waste-and-vent system shall have an area of at least one-half the cross-sectional area of the drainpipe to which it is connected. A floor drain requires no less than a 2-in. diameter tailpiece, so the trap and trap arm (branch) can be no less than 3-in. in diameter. Appendix B of the UPC notes that pipe sizing for this purpose shall be recognized as the following: 2 in., 21/2 in., 3 in., 31/2 in., 4 in., 41/2 in., 5 in., 6 in., etc. The words found in many code sections are inferential rather than explicit. The venting requirements found in Section 910.0 of the UPC are a good example of inferential intent. Section 910.0 addresses venting with language that has been interpreted and applied in ways that may not have been intended by its authors. Some jurisdictions accept connection to the sanitary system at the lower-end vent source to ensure free circulation of air inside the combination waste-and-vent system. There is a high probability that this sanitary system will be subjected to surge discharges, hydraulic jump, or other full-pipe conditions that will frequently close off or restrict access to the sanitary systems vent piping. In reality, the combination waste-andvent system is a stand-alone plumbing system that is bound by unconventional limitations and mandates. Consequently, all stipulations and requirements found in UPC Section 910.0 and its subsections should be recognized as requiring independence from any portion of the sanitary system to which the combination wasteand-vent system is eventually connected. Reliance upon the sanitary system to fulfill any part of the combination waste-and-vent system venting stipulations is a risky design concept. Sanitary-system venting can be located some distance from the last downstream waste-and-vent branch connection, and it may be inadequate (onehalf of the cross-sectional area), even when close to the termination point of the combination waste-and-vent system. To ensure free circulation of air inside a combination waste-and-vent system, there must be vents at both ends of the system dedicated specifically and independently to serving the needs of this system. ICCs response: Table 709.1 requires a minimum 2-in. trap for a floor drain and is assigned a 2-fixtureunit value as a load factor. The waste pipe is sized by Table 912.3 and is required to have a minimum size of 2 in. The vent pipe is sized in accordance with Section 916.2 and is required to be a minimum of 1-1/4 in. Note: The views expressed in the ICC response are those of Carl Marbery, Senior Technical Staff at ICC, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of ICC.
Ray Moore is a principal with Professional Engineering Services, Salt Lake City, UT. As ASPE Secretary and Treasurer, he is a member of the ASPE Board of Directors. He also is chair of the Utah Building Codes Commission Plumbing Advisory Committee and past president of the ASPE Intermountain Chapter. He teaches seminars in plumbing and mechanical codes throughout the Intermountain area. His e-mail address is aspesect@aspe.org.