P2503.5 DWV systems testing. Rough and finished plumbing
installations shall be tested in accordance with Sections
P2503.5.1 and P2503.5.2.
P2503.5.1 Rough plumbing. DWV systems shall be tested
on completion of the rough piping installation by water or
air with no evidence of leakage. Either test shall be applied
to the drainage system in its entirety or in sections after
rough piping has been installed, as follows:
1. Water test. Each section shall be filled with water to a
point not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) above the highest
fitting connection in that section, or to the highest
point in the completed system. Water shall be held in
the section under test for a period of 15 minutes. The
system shall prove leak free by visual inspection.
I removed section 2 because it specifies "air test".
The key word "drainage system"
The IRC does not have a definition for drainage system. However the IPC does.
DRAINAGE SYSTEM. Piping within a public or private
premise that conveys sewage, rainwater or other liquid wastes
to a point of disposal. A drainage system does not include the
mains of a public sewer system or a private or public sewage
treatment or disposal plant.
The vent system does not dispose of sewage, rainwater or liquid wastes.
So a water test is required on the drainage system, not the venting system.
With that said, going back to P2503.5.1 Rough plumbing.
.....not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) above the highest
fitting connection in that section.
So if you have three separate branches to the system, each section must have not less than 10' of head pressure above the highest drainage fitting connection. If you read the code as stated that means you would need three stacks with 10' of head pressure!
Also some jurisdictions require a water test through the roof. Based on my opinion this is not required by code.
Our jurisdiction is one that does not require individual branches to be tested with 10' of head pressure. We require one stack on the entire system to be filled with water. Nor do we require a water test through the roof. Why would/do you require a test through the roof?
This is where the discussion begins.
installations shall be tested in accordance with Sections
P2503.5.1 and P2503.5.2.
P2503.5.1 Rough plumbing. DWV systems shall be tested
on completion of the rough piping installation by water or
air with no evidence of leakage. Either test shall be applied
to the drainage system in its entirety or in sections after
rough piping has been installed, as follows:
1. Water test. Each section shall be filled with water to a
point not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) above the highest
fitting connection in that section, or to the highest
point in the completed system. Water shall be held in
the section under test for a period of 15 minutes. The
system shall prove leak free by visual inspection.
I removed section 2 because it specifies "air test".
The key word "drainage system"
The IRC does not have a definition for drainage system. However the IPC does.
DRAINAGE SYSTEM. Piping within a public or private
premise that conveys sewage, rainwater or other liquid wastes
to a point of disposal. A drainage system does not include the
mains of a public sewer system or a private or public sewage
treatment or disposal plant.
The vent system does not dispose of sewage, rainwater or liquid wastes.
So a water test is required on the drainage system, not the venting system.
With that said, going back to P2503.5.1 Rough plumbing.
.....not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) above the highest
fitting connection in that section.
So if you have three separate branches to the system, each section must have not less than 10' of head pressure above the highest drainage fitting connection. If you read the code as stated that means you would need three stacks with 10' of head pressure!
Also some jurisdictions require a water test through the roof. Based on my opinion this is not required by code.
Our jurisdiction is one that does not require individual branches to be tested with 10' of head pressure. We require one stack on the entire system to be filled with water. Nor do we require a water test through the roof. Why would/do you require a test through the roof?
This is where the discussion begins.