Florida PVC Pipe Law

Considerations

• Florida residents who install new PVC plumbing or replace or renovate existing plumbing must obtain permits before conducting work, according to Chapter 1, Section 105 of the Florida Building Code. A county inspector will conduct a rough inspection to determine whether residents use the proper grade of PVC piping and whether they install piping according to code. Requirements for pipe depth are determined by local municipalities.

Exceptions

• Florida residents do not have to obtain permits for small fixes if a PVC pipe becomes damaged. Residents do not have to comply with Florida plumbing laws if they install PVC piping in buildings regulated by the federal government, railroads, nonresidential farm buildings, sheds and temporary structures.

Quality

• The Florida Building Code requires all chlorinated PVC, or CPVC, pipe used for distributing potable water to meet American Society for Testing and Materials D 2846, F 441 or F442 standards or Canadian Standards Association B 137.6 standards. Regular PVC pipe must meet ASTM D 1785, D 2241 or D 2672 or CSA B 137.3 standards. Residents who install pipe for draining or venting toxic fumes must purchase PVC that meets higher-grade ASTM standards to prevent corrosion and breakage.

Support

• Residents must use plumbing hangers to support long stretches of PVC pipe per Table 308.5 of the Florida Building Code. CPVC pipe 1 inch in diameter or less must have hangers every 3 horizontal feet and every 10 inches vertically. All larger sizes of CPVC and PVC piping require hangers at least every 4 feet if laid horizontal and every 10 inches if vertical.

Connections

• Pipes commonly connect via solvent cement or threaded joints. With solvent cement, Florida residents must use a primer before they apply the cement and cannot get the glue on inside surfaces of the pipe. Threaded joints must meet ASTM B 1.20.1 standards. Installers do not have to use pipe sleeves when running PVC piping through concrete or cinderblock, but must cover pipe with a protective sleeve if it passes through other corrosive materials.