Small Diameter Piping in Condensate Drainage Systems
Description:
This proposed change introduces requirements for condensate drainage systems that serve heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems.
Related Proposed Change(s):
PCF 1690, PCF 1959, PCF 2014
Problem
The National Plumbing Code of Canada (NPC) 2020 does not currently permit small-diameter piping with drain-waste-vent ratings for the drainage of condensate systems. As a result, Code users are not permitted to use piping of less than nominal pipe size (NPS) 1-1/4, except as a connection to a macerating toilet system. This situation also leads to the issue of not being able to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, which usually state that the evacuation tube or pipe should be NPS 1/2 or NPS 3/4.
This problem may lead to faulty installation, leading to leaks, mould, odours and the blocking or clogging of the evacuation pipe. All of these issues can cause harm to persons, unsanitary conditions, and the deterioration of property. This situation may also potentially lead to an increase in the amount of insurance claims submitted, especially in the case of mould.
Justification
This proposed change would allow existing piping and common practice for small-diameter condensate drainage systems to comply with the NPC. Code users would be able to refer to Code requirements for use of smaller diameter tubes or pipes.
The proposed change provides clarity on how to approach condensation, building size and occupancy in multi- or single-appliance systems.
The probability of faulty leaks, mould, odours and blocking would be reduced, thus also reducing the risk of harm to persons or property.
[1] 1)This Section applies to sanitary drainage systems, storm drainage systems, condensate drainage systems,combined building drains or combined building sewers.
[2.4.2.1.] 2.4.2.1.Connections to Sanitary Drainage Systems
[1] 1)Except as provided in Sentence (2)-2025,Ffixtures shall be directly connected to a sanitary drainage system, except that
[a] a)drinking fountains are permitted to be
[i] i)indirectly connected to a sanitary drainage system, or
[ii] ii)connected to a storm drainage system, provided that where the system is subject to backflow, a backwater valve is installed in the fountain fixture drain (see Note A-2.4.2.1.(1)(a)(ii) and (e)(vi)PROPOSED CHANGE A-2.4.2.1.(1)(a)(ii) and (e)(vi)Note A-2.4.2.1.(a)(ii) and (2)),
[b] b)drainage pans on heating/cooling units and condensate drainage systems serving heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems are permitted to be connected to a storm drainage system, provided that where the system is subject to backflow, a backwater valve is installed,
[c] c)a floor drain is permitted to be connected to a storm drainage system, provided it is located where it can receive only clear-water waste or storm water, and
[d] d)fixtures or appliances that discharge only clear-water waste are permitted to be connected to a storm drainage system or be drained onto a roof., and
[e] e)the following devices shall be indirectly connected to a drainage system:
[i] i)a device for the display, storage, preparation or processing of food or drink,
[ii] ii)a sterilizer,
[iii] iii)a device that uses water as a cooling or heating medium,
[iv] iv)a water operated device,
[v] v)a water treatment device, or
[vi] vi)a drain or overflow from a water system or a heating system (see Note A-2.4.2.1.(1)(a)(ii) and (e)(vi)PROPOSED CHANGE A-2.4.2.1.(1)(a)(ii) and (e)(vi)).
[2] --)Except as provided in Sentences 2.4.2.3.(2) and (3), the following devices shall be indirectly connected to a drainage system:
[a] --)a device for the display, storage, preparation or processing of food or drink,
[b] --)a sterilizer,
[c] --)a device that uses water as a cooling or heating medium,
[d] --)a water-operated device,
[e] --)a water treatment device,
[f] --)a drain or overflow from a water system or a heating system,
[g] --)a device that produces clear-water waste as condensate, and
[h] --)a device that produces condensate from a combustion process (see Note A-2.4.2.1.(a)(ii) and (2)).
[3] 2)The connection of a sanitary drainage pipe to a nominally horizontalsanitary drainage pipe or to a nominally horizontaloffset in a stack shall be not less than 1.5 m measured horizontally from the bottom of a stack or from the bottom of the upper vertical section of the stack that
[a] a)receives a discharge of 30 or more fixture units, or
[b] b)receives a discharge from fixtures located on 2 or more storeys.
(See Note A-2.4.2.1.(2)PROPOSED CHANGE A-2.4.2.1.(2).)
[4] 3)No other fixture shall be connected to a lead bend or stub that serves a water closet.
[5] 4)Where a change in direction of more than 45° occurs in a sanitary drainage pipe that serves more than one clothes washer, and in which pressure zones are created by detergent suds, no other sanitary drainage pipe shall be connected to it within a length less than
[a] a)40 times the nominal pipe size of the sanitary drainage pipe or 2.44 m maximum vertical, whichever is less, before changing direction, and
[b] b)10 times the nominal pipe size of the nominally horizontalsanitary drainage pipe after changing direction.
(See Note A-2.4.2.1.(4) and (5)PROPOSED CHANGE A-2.4.2.1.(4) and (5).)
[6] 5)Where a vent pipe is connected into the suds pressure zone referred to in Sentence (4), no other vent pipe shall be connected to that vent pipe within the height of the suds pressure zone. (See Note A-2.4.2.1.(4) and (5)PROPOSED CHANGE A-2.4.2.1.(4) and (5).)
[2.4.2.3.] 2.4.2.3.Direct Connections
[1] 1)Two or more fixture outlet pipes that serve outlets from a single fixture that is listed in Clause 2.4.2.1.(1)(e)Sentence 2.4.2.1.(2) are permitted to be directly connected to a branch that
[a] a)has a nominal pipe size of not less than NPS 1¼, and
[b] b)is terminated above the flood level rim of a directly connected fixture to form an air break.
[2] 2)Fixture drains from fixtures that are listed in Subclauses 2.4.2.1.(1)(e)(i), (e)(ii)Clauses 2.4.2.1.(2)(a), (b) and (h)-2025 are permitted to be directly connected to a pipe that
[a] a)is terminated to form an air break above the flood level rim of a fixture that is directly connected to a sanitary drainage system, and
[b] b)is extended through the roof when fixtures on 3 or more storeys are connected to it (see Note A-2.4.2.1.(1)(a)(ii) and (e)(vi)PROPOSED CHANGE A-2.4.2.1.(1)(a)(ii) and (e)(vi)Note A-2.4.2.1.(1)(a)(ii) and (2)).
[3] 3)Fixture drains from fixtures that are listed in Subclauses 2.4.2.1.(1)(e)(iii)to (e)(vi)Clauses 2.4.2.1.(2)(c) to (g)-2025 are permitted to be directly connected to a pipe that
[a] a)is terminated to form an air break above the flood level rim of a fixture that is directly connected to a storm drainage system, and
[b] b)is extended through the roof when fixtures on 3 or more storeys are connected to it.
[2.4.3.] 2.4.3. Location of Fixtures
[2.4.3.1.] 2.4.3.1.Urinals
[2.4.3.2.] 2.4.3.2.Restricted Locations of Indirect Connections and Traps
[2.4.3.3.] 2.4.3.3.Equipment Restrictions Upstream of Grease Interceptors
[2.4.3.4.] 2.4.3.4.Fixtures Located in Chemical Storage Locations
[2.4.3.5.] 2.4.3.5.Macerating Toilet Systems
[2.4.3.6.] 2.4.3.6.Drains Serving Elevator Pits
[2.4.3.7.] ---Condensate Drainage and Macerating Toilet Systems
[1] --)Piping in condensate drainage systems and macerating toilet systems that is less than NPS 1¼ shall comply with Subsections 2.2.5. to 2.2.7. (See Note A-2.2.5. to 2.2.8.)
[2.4.5.] 2.4.5. Traps
[2.4.5.1.] 2.4.5.1.Traps for Sanitary Drainage Systems
[2.4.5.2.] 2.4.5.2.Traps for Storm Drainage Systems
[2.4.5.3.] 2.4.5.3.Connection of Subsoil Drainage Pipe to a Sanitary Drainage System
[2.4.5.4.] ---Traps for Condensate Drainage Systems
[1] --)Where a condensate drainage system is connect to equipment in two or more rooms, traps shall be installed between the equipment connection and the condensate drainage system. (See Note A-2.4.5.4.(1)-2025.)
[2.4.5.5.] 2.4.5.4.Location and Cleanout for Building Traps
[2.4.5.6.] 2.4.5.5.Trap Seals
Note A-2.4.5.4.(1)-2025Traps for Condensate Drainage Systems.
Manufacturers may specify additional requirements for traps for condensate drainage systems beyond the prescriptive requirement of Sentence 2.4.5.4.(1)-2025.
[2.4.9.] 2.4.9. Size of Drainage Pipes
[2.4.9.1.] 2.4.9.1.No Reduction in Size
[2.4.9.2.] 2.4.9.2.Serving Water Closets
[2.4.9.3.] 2.4.9.3.Size of Fixture Outlet Pipes
[1] 1)Except as provided in Sentence (2), the nominal pipe size of fixture outlet pipes shall conform to Table 2.4.9.3.
[2] 2)The part of the fixture outlet pipe that is common to 3 compartments of a sink shall be one NPS larger than the largest fixture outlet pipe of the compartments that it serves. (See Note A-2.4.9.3.(2)PROPOSED CHANGE A-2.4.9.3.(2).)
Table [2.4.9.3.] 2.4.9.3. Minimum Permitted Size of Fixture Outlet Pipe and Hydraulic Loads for FixturesPROPOSED CHANGE Table 2.4.9.3. Footnote (1) Forming Part of Sentences [2.4.9.3.] 2.4.9.3.([1] 1)and 2.4.10.2.(1)
Fixture
Minimum Nominal Pipe Size of Fixture Outlet Pipe, NPS
(a) single or double units or 2 single units with common trap
1½
1½
(b) 3 compartments
1½
2
Lavatory
(a) barber or beauty parlor
1½
1½
(b) dental
1¼
1
(c) domestic type, single or
1¼
1 with NPS 1¼trap
2 single with common trap
1½ with NPS 1½trap
(d) multiple or industrial type
1½
according to Table 2.4.10.2.
Macerating toilet system
¾
4
Potato peeler
2
3
Shower drain
Total volume of discharge from all shower heads and body sprays:
(a) < 9.5 LPM
1½
1½
(b) 9.5 LPM to 20 LPM
2
3
(c) > 20 LPM
3
6
Sink
(a) domestic and other small types with or without garbage grinders, single, double or 2 single with a common trap
1½
1½
(b) Other sinks
1½
1½ with NPS 1½trap
2 with NPS 2trap
3 with NPS 3trap
Urinal
(a) pedestal, siphon-jet or blowout type
2
4
(b) stall, washout type
2
2
(c) wall
(i) washout type
1½
1½
(ii) other types
2
3
Water closet
(a) with flush tank
3
4
(b) with direct flush valve
3
6
[3] 3)Where clothes washers do not drain to a laundry tray, the trap inlet shall be not less than NPS 2 and be fitted with a vertical standpipe that is not less than 600 mm long measured from the trap weir and terminates above the flood level rim of the clothes washer. (See Note A-2.4.9.3.(3)PROPOSED CHANGE A-2.4.9.3.(3).)
[2.4.9.4.] 2.4.9.4.Size of Building Drain and Building Sewer
[2.4.9.5.] 2.4.9.5.Offset in Leaders
[2.4.9.6.] ---Condensate Drainage Systems
[1] --)Except as provided in Sentences (2) and 2.4.2.3.(1), the size of piping in a condensate drainage system shall be not less than NPS ¾.
[2] --)Piping in condensate drainage systems serving dwelling units shall be not less than NPS ½.
Impact analysis
No increase in cost is expected as this proposed change provides clarity about the pre-existing provision on the evacuation of condensation.
This proposed change may reduce the cost of maintenance as it may be more costly to correct issues caused by improper installation.
Enforcement implications
This proposed change clarifies the application of the Code for plumbing drainage systems.
Additional training or resources required for enforcement officials (authorities having jurisdiction) are not expected as a result of the proposed change.
Who is affected
Designers, installers, suppliers, regulators and building owners.
OBJECTIVE-BASED ANALYSIS OF NEW OR CHANGED PROVISIONS