Important Changes to the NPC 2020 and NFC 2020
Julia Dalphy, Technical Advisor, Codes Canada
Video chapters
Video transcript
Introduction
Hi, my name is Julia Dalphy and I am a Technical Advisor supporting the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes – also referred to as the CBHCC.
This committee is the federal-provincial-territorial body responsible for developing and maintaining the National Model Codes in Canada.
I am a member of the Codes Canada team at the National Research Council of Canada.
Codes Canada acts as the secretariat to the CBHCC, providing administrative, technical and policy support, including publishing the National Model Codes.
To learn more about code changes and provisions in the National Model Codes, or about Canada’s national model code development system, please visit CBHCC’s website.
This presentation is part of a video series led by the CBHCC on the key technical changes incorporated in the 2020 editions of the National Model Codes.
This presentation will focus on important changes to the 2020 editions of the National Plumbing Code of Canada and the National Fire Code of Canada.
NPC 2020: Piping, water supply and drainage systems
There are five significant changes in the NPC 2020 related to piping, water supply and drainage systems:
- The pipe sizing designation was revised.
- Fittings that are permitted to be used with PEX tubing were reviewed.
- The uses of copper tube were revised.
- Requirements for the venting system of neutralization tanks were revised and clarified.
- Backflow protection options were revised.
NPC 2020: Nominal pipe size (NPS)
The NPC 2015 designated pipe size using the defined term "size.”
“Size” was defined as the nominal diameter by which a pipe, fitting, trap or other similar item is commercially designated.
The NPC 2020 introduces the abbreviation “NPS” (nominal pipe size) to replace the defined term “size,” since it is common industry practice to refer to pipe dimension using “NPS.”
This change will help facilitate enforcement of the Code by building officials and regulators.
NPC 2020: PEX fitting and tubing
PEX (or crosslinked polyethylene) tubing can be safely used with other polymer fittings. However, the NPC 2015 was overly restrictive, as it required that PEX tubing be only used with PEX fittings, which may have limited innovation.
Therefore, the NPC 2020 allows the use of PEX tubing with manufacturer-approved fittings and allows greater design flexibility.
Using manufacturer-approved fittings may provide designers with lower-cost options when compared with the use of PEX fittings in similar designs.
NPC 2020: Use of copper tube for urinals
In the 1970s, research and testing indicated that the corrosion of copper tube used for urinal waste was due to a lack of flushing and, in some cases, certain urinary tract infections.
Due to these results, the use of copper tube for flush-valve-operated urinals was prohibited.
Later, it was thought that automatically flushing urinals would prevent the corrosion of the copper tube, and they were exempted from this prohibition. However, this was not the case, mainly because of power source interruptions to the sensors.
Thus, the NPC 2020 prohibits the use of copper tube to all urinals, including those with automatic flush valves. This requirement is intended to avoid the perforation of the drainage system due to urinal waste acidity that corrodes copper piping.
This change does not involve any additional costs and would limit the probability of unsanitary conditions.
NPC 2020: Neutralization tanks
Neutralization tanks are used to alter the pH level of corrosive waste drainage—by dilution or chemical neutralization—so the treated effluent can be safely discharged into sanitary sewer systems in compliance with local regulations. A range of smaller point-of-use or larger centralized tanks are available.
As such, neutralization tanks can contain corrosive vapours and are not currently required to be independently vented to the outside.
When the venting systems of those tanks are interconnected with the sanitary venting systems, the deterioration of the vent piping could be accelerated and, when this happens, may lead to the entry of corrosive gases into the living spaces.
In addition, the NPC 2015 did not specify the size of vent pipes for neutralization tanks. Improperly sized vents could introduce potentially harmful chemicals into the building.
The NPC 2020 requires that neutralization tanks be vented directly to outdoor air and that they be properly sized.
Some jurisdictions already require separate venting for neutralization tanks, and the minimum size of the vent pipe is commonly used by industry in practice. In a jurisdiction where separate venting is not already required, additional costs are expected (estimated to be approximately $4,500). However, separate venting will prevent the high costs associated with replacing corroded vent piping that is encapsulated within the walls of a building.
NPC 2020: Protection from backflow
Closing a gate valve and screwing a cap onto a floor drain are both manual interventions that need to be performed early when backflow occurs, to minimize damage in the basement of a building, for example.
But what if the building is unoccupied when backflow occurs?
Now, many basements are constructed below the level of the adjacent street. Failure to close a gate valve or to screw a cap onto a floor drain when backflow occurs in these basements would likely result in significant losses.
To reduce the risk of flooding, gate valves and screw caps have been removed from the NPC 2020 as options for backflow protection; only backwater valves are required for backflow protection. Backwater valves are required for other plumbing applications, thus, no additional costs are expected when using these valves to protect floor drains and other fixtures that could have been protected by a gate valve or screw cap. In fact, the use of backwater valves may result in a cost reduction.
NPC 2020: Potable and non-potable water systems
The requirements for non-potable water systems have been revised and new requirements for rainwater harvesting have been added in the NPC 2020.
The presence of bacteria, viruses and chemicals in non-potable water may pose a health risk, particularly for persons with weak immune systems, who may be patients in a healthcare facility and for whom the effects may be severe, chronic or even fatal.
To reduce the potential for exposure of those persons to these pathogenic micro-organisms and chemicals, the NPC 2020 prohibits the use of non-potable water in these facilities.
Prohibiting the use of non-potable water systems is not expected to impose an economic burden.
The NPC 2015 addressed non-potable water systems but was silent on non-potable rainwater harvesting systems, although rainwater systems are becoming more and more popular in Canada.
The NPC 2020 clarifies the existing requirements for non-potable water systems and permits the use of rainwater harvesting systems (also known as “rainwater reclamation systems”).
These changes help to ensure:
- safe connection between potable and non-potable water systems,
- good engineering practice,
- properly labelled piping, and
- safe location of non-potable pipes to limit the chance that non-potable water will be discharged into an area where food, drink or products are produced in case of a leak in the piping system.
In many jurisdictions, the installation of non-potable water systems was implemented as an alternative solution. These new Code requirements will decrease the cost of implementation. In addition, using a non-potable rainwater harvesting system will likely:
- reduce the demand for potable water from purification plants and reduce the demand on the municipal water supply,
- allow for sequestration of seasonal rains for use in times of drought and/or urban water restriction,
- reduce surface erosion and the risk of both property flooding and the contamination of distribution infrastructure by capturing a portion of urban runoff.
NPC 2020: New materials and equipment
New references to standards have been introduced in the NPC 2020 to address new materials and equipment, including:
- personal hygiene devices for water closets,
- water temperature control,
- valves and connectors,
- polyethylene of raised temperature resistance (PE-RT) tubing,
- fibrocement pipe and pipe fittings, and
- cellular core PVC pipe.
NPC 2020: Personal hygiene devices for water closets
Personal hygiene devices, also known as “bidets,” are installed on water closets and are sold in Canada. To ensure that only devices with sufficient performance are installed, a reference to ASME A112.4.2/CSA B45.16 has been introduced in the NPC 2020.
The objective is to ensure that neither injury nor contamination of the building’s potable water system will occur. Personal hygiene devices conforming to ASME A112.4.2/CSA B45.16 are not expected to cost significantly more than non-conforming units.
NPC 2020: Water temperature control
The NPC 2015 limited only the temperature of water discharging from a fixed-location shower head and the water discharged into the bathtub. It was silent on the temperature of water discharging from other types of shower heads. This lack of requirements may have exposed users to excessively high water temperatures, causing scalding.
The change addresses all valves supplying all types of shower heads, as well as bathtub spouts, and introduces scald protection devices to help maintain safer temperatures for everyone.
Moreover, the NPC 2020 sets the maximum water temperature discharging into the bathtubs at 49°C. However, this temperature increases the potential for scalding for the elderly because of their thinner skin. For the elderly, a temperature of 43°C provides more appropriate protection against burns, which could only happen after a number of hours of exposure as opposed to two minutes when exposed to 49°C water.
Therefore, the maximum water temperature has been reset from 49°C to 43°C in healthcare facilities and seniors’ residences.
To summarize, the NPC 2020:
- includes a reference to ASSE 1070/ASME A112.1070/CSA B125.70, “Performance requirements for water temperature limiting devices,”
- sets a better and safer temperature limit for discharged water in a bathtub or a shower, and
- sets a maximum water temperature of 43°C in healthcare facilities and seniors’ residences.
This set of changes will likely reduce the associated healthcare costs related to scalding and is not expected to have any cost implications.
NPC 2020: Valves and connectors
In 2013, an interim change addressing low-lead plumbing fittings was introduced in the NPC 2010. Since then, new standards with new low lead requirements were published.
The NPC 2020 has a reference to these standards, which cover minimum performance for manually operated valves and flexible water connectors. References to these standards provide stakeholders with performance requirements for this type of valve and connector. In addition, these changes reduce potentially serious health issues related to lead content in potable water systems.
This change is not expected to have any cost implications.
PE-RT piping is currently being installed in Canada. However, the NPC 2015 did not list this piping as an acceptable plumbing material.
This absence from the NPC may create enforcement issues in some jurisdictions. Code users may ask to use PE-RT pipe as an alternative solution, requiring third-party validation, potentially leading to significant costs to a construction project as well as delays.
To address these potential issues, PE-RT piping has been introduced as an acceptable solution in the NPC 2020.
The change adds greater design flexibility by allowing a new acceptable solution for plumbing materials in the NPC. In addition, PE-RT is recyclable, which may reduce the environmental impact of using this material.
NPC 2020: Fibrocement pipes and fittings
In response to a new Canadian regulation banning the use of asbestos, asbestos cement products (drain, waste and vent pipe and pipe fittings) were removed from the NPC 2015 as an interim change in 2018.
Since then, the marketplace has identified the need to replace these products with fibrocement products.
For that reason, the NPC 2020 includes a reference to the new standard: CAN/CSA-B127.3. This standard was developed to cover fibrocement pipes and fittings to provide stakeholders with an acceptable solution that replaces the removed products and to ensure an equivalent level of performance in sanitary systems in buildings.
NPC 2020: Cellular core PVC pipe
The NPC 2020 provides Code users with an additional option for plastic drain pipe. Cell core PVC drain pipes have been introduced as an acceptable plumbing material by reference to ASTM F3128.
However, as this product is entirely new to the Canadian market, it was decided that the use of cell core PVC should be limited to residential installations. This gives designers and installers an opportunity to determine the most appropriate applications for this piping material.
This change allows significant cost reduction as it is estimated that the cost of cell core PVC is 15% to 20% lower than that of other materials, such as solid core PVC.
NFC 2020: Overview of changes
Three important changes were introduced in the NFC 2020:
- New provisions were added for the classification of mixtures of a water-miscible liquid (methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, acetone or acetic acid) and water, based on the concentration of the mixture.
- Clarification has been provided on the application of the 2019 edition of CSA B139 Series, "Installation Code for Oil-Burning Equipment.“
- All requirements regarding the fire safety plan were consolidated in Section 2.8. of Division B of the NFC 2020.
NFC 2020: Water-miscible liquid mixtures
The NFC currently classifies flammable and combustible liquids, such as gasoline, diesel, methanol and lubricating oil, based on their flash points – a characteristic of ignitability. The Code did not recognize that some of these liquids can be mixed with water, which changes the flash point of the mixture.
One of the most common applications of these mixtures is windshield washer fluid, which contains methanol. Based solely on the flash point of methanol, windshield washer fluid would be considered a flammable liquid and highly hazardous. This means that storing windshield washer fluid at stores or gas stations could result in the imposition of costly measures. However, windshield washer fluid, as a methanol-water mixture, is not as hazardous as pure methanol.
The 2020 edition of the NFC fixes this by providing guidance on how to classify five of the most widely used water-miscible liquid (WML) mixtures (methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, acetone and acetic acid), including windshield washer fluid, resulting in risk mitigation measures suited to the hazard.
Both the flash points and fire points were considered when classifying the water-miscible liquid mixtures in the NFC.
- The five most widely used water-miscible liquid mixtures are classified according to their concentrations by volume so that Code users do not need to test their WML mixtures.
- The new provisions also provide a test method if the WML mixture contains more than one flammable or combustible WML and water.
After WML mixtures are classified, the risks associated with the mixtures can be dealt with by the respective requirements for each classification in Part 4 of the NFC.
During the development of the new provisions, not only were the flammability properties of the water-miscible liquid mixtures taken into account but also their concentration in the water mixture. Thus, the classification of the flammable WML may change depending on concentration. In general, relaxations are provided for WML mixtures.
The new provisions provide guidance for authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) and the relevant industries on how to deal with WML mixtures. Another benefit is that greater quantities of flammable or combustible WML mixtures could be allowed to be stored in the same location, thus facilitating their handling in most of the related industrial occupancies and environments.
NFC 2020: Application of CSA B139 Series
The referenced standards, CSA B139 Series, “Installation Code for Oil Burning Equipment,” in the 2020 NFC, have been updated from the 2009 edition to the 2019 edition.
The changing scope of the CSA B139 Series, referenced in the NFC, may cause significant confusion for the industry, even amongst regulators and AHJs.
To avoid confusion and clarify the requirements, the 2020 NFC clearly denotes that:
- for small storage tanks, less than 2 500 L, CSA B139 Series is applicable, but
- for larger storage tanks, over 2 500 L, the NFC 2020 requirements for flammable and combustible liquids are applicable, instead.
NFC 2020: Consolidation of Fire Safety Plan requirements
The requirements for fire safety plans were found in different locations in the NFC 2015, which may have caused challenges for designers and regulators when ensuring Code compliance and enforcement. Critical information could have been missed in the development of a fire safety plan. As a result, for example, emergency responders could be exposed to life-threatening conditions because they were unaware of the presence of an unidentified hazard.
In the NFC 2020, these provisions are consolidated in Section 2.8. to facilitate compliance to and regulation of the requirements for fire safety plans.
Clarification on the requirements is also provided to facilitate the preparation and enforcement of a fire safety plan.
Conclusion
This concludes the presentation about important changes incorporated into the NPC 2020 and NFC 2020.
How to get involved
To participate in the code development process, visit the CBHCC’s website to find information about upcoming events and meetings, to submit a code change request, to comment on proposed changes during an open public review, or to volunteer to participate on a code development committee.
How to access the Codes
The National Model Codes are published by the National Research Council of Canada.
Visit Codes Canada publications web page on the NRC’s website to purchase a paper copy of the Codes or to access them in free electronic format.
Thank you.