Uniform Building Code for Plumbing Sewers

Adopted Building Codes

• The Washington State Building Code is an example of a state that has adopted the professional code standards as its own. This saves the state from having to develop from scratch a workable code. Any construction that is not done to code is subject to not being approved. There are some minor differences between the Washington code and the international codes, primarily relating to venting and combustion air of fuel-fired appliances. Section two of the Washington State Building Code references building sewers.

Sewer Definition

• Section 204.0 --205-0 of the Washington code defines "sewer" as any part of a horizontal drainage system pipe that picks up from the end of a building drain, receives its discharge and carries it to the public sewer. The sewer may be a sanitary sewer for sewage, a storm sewer for rainwater or a combined sewer. Any part of the plumbing within the home or commercial building is not part of the sewer.

Typical Sections

• An example of the code involving sewers includes the number and location of cleanouts for storm drainage into the sewers. The water must flow in the right direction to avoid any backup into a building, to flush debris down the sewer and to prevent congestion at the sewer end. Another section makes it illegal to put any material down any type of sewer that is not permitted by the building code. Gasoline, oil and antifreeze are examples of forbidden liquids.

Old Construction

• Sewer connections from existing construction can be blended with new construction after the existing construction pipes have been tested and qualified for use. If the code has changed since the prior work was approved, the older construction is not grandfathered in but must be brought up to current sewer code before it can be connected with the new construction. It is the responsibility of the building owner to make any necessary changes.

Considerations

• If a building has plumbing installed, it must have an independent hookup to either a sewer or an alternative such as a septic tank. Any potable water pipes run in the same trench as a sewer line must be clearly separated by at least 12 inches from the sewer pipe. Gravity is the preferred way to move material through sewer pipes, but approved pumps are allowed if the material must move uphill.