1 Scope
NOTE This standard establishes the common work results for plumbing piping - the materials, joining methods, workmanship, supports, penetrations, valves, gages, and field tests that apply uniformly to every plumbing piping system within a building. (1.1)
NOTE Plumbing piping sections repeat the same hanger spacing, sleeve, dielectric, pressure-test, and disinfection language unless it is consolidated. This standard is the umbrella "Chapter 1" that the system-specific sections reference, so those requirements are written once and inherited rather than restated and allowed to drift out of sync. (1.2)
NOTE The work covered begins at the building side of each utility service entrance and extends through all interior plumbing piping to the connections at equipment and fixtures. (1.3)
1.4Work of this standard shall include pipe joining workmanship, hangers and supports, pipe sleeves and sleeve seals, escutcheons, dielectric isolation, general-duty valves, pressure and temperature gages, vibration isolation, seismic restraint, pressure testing, and disinfection common to all plumbing piping systems.
1.5System-specific pipe materials, fitting schedules, pipe grades, slopes, and cleanout intervals shall be specified in the applicable system standard and are not duplicated here.
NOTE Where this standard and a system-specific plumbing standard both address a requirement, the system-specific standard governs for that system. (1.6)
2 Code Authority and Adopted Edition
NOTE Plumbing work in the United States is governed by one of two model codes - the International Plumbing Code (IPC) or the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) - depending on which the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) has adopted. The two differ in pipe-material lists, fixture-unit tables, venting methods, and test procedures, so the governing code must be identified before the work is detailed. (2.1)
NOTE California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and several other western states adopt the UPC; most eastern and central states adopt the IPC. A project cannot be specified to "the plumbing code" generically because the two codes diverge on material and test requirements. (2.2)
2.3The specifier shall identify the plumbing code and edition adopted by the AHJ and record it in the project data below.
● International Plumbing Code (IPC)
○ Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC)
○ Other state or local code (identify)
2.4All plumbing work shall comply with the adopted plumbing code and the building code.
2.5Pressure design of building services piping up to 150 psi shall comply with ASME B31.9.
NOTE Where a referenced consensus standard and the adopted code conflict, the adopted code shall govern unless the code permits the alternative and the Engineer of Record approves it in writing. (2.6)
3 Referenced Standards
3.1Materials, components, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited or the AHJ has adopted a different edition.
3.2Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
| Standard |
Title |
| IPC |
International Plumbing Code (locally adopted edition) |
| UPC |
Uniform Plumbing Code (locally adopted edition) |
| ASME B31.9 |
Building Services Piping |
| MSS SP-58 |
Pipe Hangers and Supports - Materials, Design, Manufacture, Selection, Application, and Installation |
| MSS SP-127 |
Bracing for Piping Systems - Seismic, Wind, and Dynamic Design, Selection, and Application |
| ASTM B88 |
Seamless Copper Water Tube |
| ASTM B828 |
Making Capillary Joints by Soldering of Copper and Copper Alloy Tube and Fittings |
| ASTM B32 |
Solder Metal |
| ASTM B813 |
Liquid and Paste Fluxes for Soldering of Copper and Copper Alloy Tube and Fittings |
| AWS A5.8M/A5.8 |
Filler Metals for Brazing and Braze Welding |
| ASME B16.18 |
Cast Copper Alloy Solder Joint Pressure Fittings |
| ASME B16.22 |
Wrought Copper and Copper Alloy Solder-Joint Pressure Fittings |
| ASME B16.51 |
Copper and Copper Alloy Press-Connect Pressure Fittings |
| ASTM D2665 |
Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Plastic Drain, Waste, and Vent Pipe and Fittings |
| ASTM D2564 |
Solvent Cements for Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Plastic Pipe and Fittings |
| NSF/ANSI 61 |
Drinking Water System Components - Health Effects |
| NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 |
Drinking Water System Components - Lead Content |
| ASME A13.1 |
Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems |
| ASSE 1010 |
Performance Requirements for Water Hammer Arresters |
| ASCE 7 |
Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (Section 13.6) |
| AWWA C651 |
Disinfecting Water Mains |
| IBC |
International Building Code (Section 714, through-penetration firestop systems) |
4 Submittals
4.1 Action Submittals
4.1.1The Contractor shall submit the following action items for review before fabrication or installation:
- Product data for pipe hangers, supports, riser clamps, and trapeze framing, identifying MSS SP-58 type number, material, finish, and load rating for each application.
- Product data for pipe sleeves, mechanical sleeve seals, and escutcheons.
- Product data for general-duty valves, dielectric unions and fittings, and pressure/temperature gages, including pressure class, body and trim materials, end connections, and certifications.
- Shop drawings for trapeze hanger assemblies and seismic restraint, showing pipe loads, rod sizes, attachment to structure, and restraint spacing, coordinated with the structural drawings.
- NSF/ANSI 61 and NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 certification for every component in contact with potable water.
☑ Hanger, support, and trapeze product data (MSS SP-58 type/load)
☑ Sleeve, sleeve-seal, and escutcheon product data
☑ Valve, dielectric fitting, and gage product data
☐ Trapeze and seismic restraint shop drawings (structural-coordinated)
☑ NSF 61 / NSF 372 potable-water certifications
4.2.1The Contractor shall submit the following informational items:
- Welder and brazer qualification records where brazed or welded joints are used.
- Manufacturer installation instructions for mechanical sleeve seals, press-connect fittings, and intumescent firestop collars.
- Field test plan identifying test medium, test pressure, hold time, and acceptance criteria for each piping system.
☐ Brazer/welder qualification records
☑ Manufacturer installation instructions (seals, press fittings, collars)
☑ Field test plan
4.3 Closeout Submittals
4.3.1The Contractor shall submit the following closeout items:
- Signed test reports for every pressure and leak test, recording date, system, test medium, test pressure, hold time, and result.
- Disinfection report for potable water piping, recording chlorine concentration, contact time, flush velocity, and final residual.
- Record drawings showing as-installed sleeve, valve, and restraint locations.
☑ Signed pressure/leak test reports
☑ Disinfection report (concentration, contact, residual)
☑ Record drawings of sleeves, valves, restraints
5 Quality Assurance
NOTE Workmanship determines whether a plumbing system performs for decades or fails slowly inside a wall, so the qualification of installers and the consistency of joints are treated as quality items, not paperwork. (5.1)
5.2Brazed and welded joints shall be made only by personnel qualified under a recognized procedure, with qualification records available on request.
5.3Soldered copper joints shall be made in accordance with ASTM B828, using lead-free solder to ASTM B32 and water-soluble lead-free flux to ASTM B813.
5.4Solvent-cemented PVC DWV joints shall be made with primer and solvent cement conforming to ASTM D2564, applied per the manufacturer's instructions.
5.5Press-connect copper joints shall use fittings conforming to ASME B16.51, made with the manufacturer's tool and verified for the leak-before-press indication where the fitting provides one.
5.6A representative sample of completed joints, hangers, and supports shall be available for inspection by the Engineer or AHJ before concealment.
5.7Piping shall not be concealed, insulated, or buried until it has passed the required pressure or leak test.
6 Materials and Joining
NOTE This section consolidates the workmanship and material rules that apply to copper, plastic, and steel piping regardless of which system the pipe serves; system-specific pipe and fitting schedules are in the applicable system standard. (6.1)
6.2 Copper Tube and Fittings
NOTE Copper water tube shall conform to ASTM B88, Type K, L, or M as scheduled for the system, with solder-joint fittings to ASME B16.18 (cast) or ASME B16.22 (wrought). (6.2.1)
NOTE Wrought solder-joint fittings to ASME B16.22 are the common case; cast fittings to ASME B16.18 are used where a wrought fitting is not made in the required configuration. (6.2.2)
6.2.3Copper joints shall be soldered, brazed, or press-connected as scheduled; the selected method shall be used consistently within a system.
● Soldered (lead-free, ASTM B828)
○ Brazed (silver filler, AWS A5.8)
○ Press-connect (ASME B16.51)
NOTE Brazed joints shall use BCuP or BAg filler metal conforming to AWS A5.8M/A5.8 where service pressure or temperature exceeds the limits of soldered joints. (6.2.4)
6.2.5Tube ends shall be cut square, reamed to full inside diameter, and cleaned bright before joining.
NOTE Flux shall be applied only to the cleaned surfaces and the excess removed after joining to prevent post-soldering corrosion. (6.2.6)
6.3 Plastic DWV Pipe and Fittings
NOTE PVC drain, waste, and vent pipe and fittings shall conform to ASTM D2665, solvent-cemented with cement to ASTM D2564. (6.3.1)
NOTE Solvent-cement joints shall be primed, cemented, and held until set per the manufacturer's cure schedule; joints shall not be disturbed during cure. (6.3.2)
NOTE Plastic DWV pipe shall not be used where the adopted code or the project fire-rating requirements prohibit combustible pipe without additional protection. (6.3.3)
NOTE Where copper connects to steel, galvanized steel, or cast iron, the two metals form a galvanic couple; without isolation the less-noble metal corrodes preferentially and a fitting eventually fails inside the wall, long after the installer has left. (6.4.1)
6.4.2Dielectric unions or dielectric fittings shall be installed at every connection between copper and ferrous piping or equipment.
6.4.3Dielectric fittings shall be rated for not less than 250°F and 125 psi, with an insulating sleeve or gasket separating the two metals.
● Dielectric union (threaded)
○ Dielectric nipple/fitting
○ Dielectric flange kit
250°F / 125 psi
210°F / 150 psi
250°F / 250 psi
6.5 Potable-Water Component Compliance
6.5.1Every component in contact with potable water - pipe, fittings, valves, gaskets, hanger coatings in wetted areas, and sealants - shall be certified to NSF/ANSI 61.
6.5.2Every wetted component shall comply with NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 for a weighted-average lead content not exceeding 0.25 percent.
NOTE NSF 61 and NSF 372 compliance is a Safe Drinking Water Act requirement, not a project option; uncertified wetted components are a code violation that surfaces at inspection even when they appear functionally equivalent. (6.5.3)
7 Hangers and Supports
NOTE Pipe support is the single most cited common-results item at inspection, because an undersized rod, the wrong hanger type, or excessive spacing is visible and unambiguous. Invoking MSS SP-58 by name fixes hanger type, material, load rating, and rod size; specifying a generic "pipe hanger" leaves all of that to the installer and invites an RFI. (7.1)
7.2Hangers, supports, rods, and structural attachments shall conform to MSS SP-58 for materials, design, selection, and installation.
NOTE MSS SP-58 is the consolidated reference; it absorbed the former SP-69, SP-77, SP-89, and SP-90, so only SP-58 should be referenced for hanger type, load, and installation. (7.3)
7.4 Hanger Type Selection
NOTE Horizontal bare and insulated pipe shall be supported by adjustable clevis hangers (MSS SP-58 Type 1) unless a trapeze or roller support is scheduled. (7.4.1)
7.4.2Vertical risers shall be supported at each floor by a riser clamp (MSS SP-58 Type 8) bearing on the structure.
7.4.3Multiple parallel pipes may be supported on a trapeze assembly of channel strut with clevis or roller drops, sized for the combined load.
7.4.4Piping near pumps and rotating equipment in mechanical rooms shall be supported by spring vibration-isolation hangers to break the structure-borne noise path.
● Adjustable clevis (SP-58 Type 1)
○ Trapeze on strut channel
○ Pipe roller (SP-58 Type 41/43)
○ Spring isolation hanger
Carbon steel, plain
Carbon steel, electro-galvanized
Copper-plated (for copper tube)
Stainless steel
7.4.5Hangers in direct contact with copper tube shall be copper-plated or otherwise isolated from the tube to prevent galvanic action at the contact point.
7.5 Hanger Spacing and Rod Size
7.5.1Horizontal piping shall be supported at intervals not exceeding the maximum span scheduled below for its material and size, and within 12 inches of each change of direction.
7.5.2Hanger rod diameter shall not be less than the value scheduled below for the supported pipe size.
7.5.3Cast-iron soil pipe shall be supported at not more than 5 ft intervals and at each hub or joint.
7.5.4Plastic DWV pipe shall be supported at not more than 4 ft intervals to control sag and protect drainage slope.
NOTE Trapeze and bracket spacing for grouped pipes shall be governed by the smallest pipe on the trapeze or by the combined load, whichever is more restrictive. (7.5.5)
8 Pipe Sleeves and Sleeve Seals
NOTE A pipe sleeve is the formed opening that lets piping pass through a wall or floor without bonding to the structure; the seal is what closes the annular space between pipe and sleeve. Sleeves are set during the structural work, before insulation and before firestopping, so they must be sized and located early or the penetration is wrong by the time the pipe arrives. (8.1)
8.3 Sleeves
8.3.1A pipe sleeve shall be installed at every point where piping passes through a wall, floor, or structural member.
8.3.2Sleeve material shall be selected for the assembly: galvanized steel or cast iron through floors and masonry, and PVC or galvanized steel through non-rated drywall partitions.
● Galvanized steel (slip type, 16 or 18 ga.)
○ Cast iron
○ PVC
○ HDPE
8.3.3Sleeve inside diameter shall provide an annular clearance of not less than 1 in. around bare pipe and not less than 2 in. around insulated pipe, measured to the outside of the insulation.
NOTE Sleeves for insulated pipe shall be sized to the insulation outside diameter, not the pipe outside diameter; sizing to the pipe leaves no room for the insulation that is applied after the sleeve is cast. (8.3.4)
8.3.5Sleeves through floor slabs in wet areas shall project not less than 1 in. above the finished floor to keep surface water out of the penetration.
8.3.6Sleeves in dry-area floor slabs may be set flush with the finished floor.
NOTE Plastic sleeves shall not be used in fire-rated floor or wall assemblies unless an intumescent collar is provided, because an unprotected plastic sleeve melts in a fire and opens the rated assembly. (8.3.7)
8.4 Sleeve Seals
8.4.1The annular space between pipe and sleeve shall be sealed by a method appropriate to the penetration: a mechanical link-type seal where a watertight or gas-tight seal is required, an intumescent collar where the penetration is in a rated assembly with combustible pipe, or a fire-rated sealant where the firestop matrix so directs.
NOTE Non-rated penetrations shall be sealed by a defined method - mechanical link seal, sealant, or grout - and shall not be left for the contractor to fill with whatever is cheapest, which may not be watertight in a wet area. (8.4.2)
● Mechanical link-type seal (modular rubber links)
○ Intumescent firestop collar
○ Fire-rated sealant in annular space
○ Hydraulic cement / grout (non-rated dry locations)
NOTE Mechanical link-type seals shall be EPDM links for general service and a chemically compatible elastomer where the pipe or environment requires it. (8.4.3)
9 Escutcheons
NOTE Escutcheons are the finish plates that close the gap where exposed pipe enters a wall, floor, or ceiling in a finished space; they are cosmetic in finished rooms and may be omitted in concealed or unfinished spaces. (9.1)
9.2Escutcheons shall be installed on exposed piping at each penetration of a finished wall, floor, or ceiling.
9.3Escutcheon type and finish shall match the exposure: chrome-plated in finished occupied spaces, and plain or painted in mechanical rooms and service areas.
○ One-piece
● Split (two-piece)
Chrome-plated (finished spaces)
Stainless steel
Painted to match (service areas)
NOTE Split (two-piece) escutcheons shall be used where the escutcheon must be installed after the pipe is in place. (9.4)
10 General-Duty Valves
NOTE General-duty valves are the isolation valves distributed through a plumbing system to section it for service - at branches, risers, and equipment - as distinct from specialty valves such as backflow preventers (
Backflow Prevention) or mixing valves (
Plumbing Specialties), which are specified with their systems.
(10.1) NOTE Isolation valve type shall be selected by pipe size: ball valves for pipe 3 in. and smaller, and butterfly valves for pipe 2-1/2 in. and larger, with the overlap resolved by the designer for the specific application. (10.2)
10.3Ball valves shall be installed for isolation duty on pipe 3 in. and smaller.
10.4Butterfly valves shall be installed for isolation duty on pipe 2-1/2 in. and larger.
10.5Ball valves shall be full-port unless a reduced-port valve is specifically scheduled.
NOTE A standard-port ball valve restricts flow in a way the flow calculations may not have accounted for; specifying full-port eliminates this hidden pressure drop. (10.6)
● Ball valve, full-port, bronze body, 150 psi WOG
○ Ball valve, full-port, bronze body, 400 psi WOG
○ Gate valve, bronze, rising stem
● Butterfly valve, lug, ductile iron, EPDM seat, 200 psi CWP
○ Butterfly valve, wafer, ductile iron, BUNA-N seat, 200 psi CWP
○ Gate valve, iron body, OS&Y
10.7Valves serving potable water shall be NSF/ANSI 61 and NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 certified.
10.8Lug-pattern butterfly valves shall be used where the valve must allow downstream piping to be removed without disturbing upstream service (dead-end service).
10.9Each valve shall be installed in an accessible location with the operator clear of obstructions and with room to remove the valve for service.
11 Meters and Gages
NOTE Pressure and temperature gages give the operator and the commissioning agent a window into the system; a gage in the wrong range or destroyed by pulsation reads worse than no gage at all. (11.1)
11.2Pressure gages shall be Bourdon-tube dial gages, not less than 4-1/2 in. dial diameter, with a range selected so the normal operating pressure falls in the middle third of the scale.
NOTE A 0 to 160 psi range is the common selection for domestic water service; the range shall be re-selected for any system whose operating pressure does not fall in the middle third of that scale. (11.3)
NOTE Glycerin- or silicone-filled gages shall be used wherever pulsation or vibration is present, such as adjacent to pumps, to damp needle flutter and protect the movement. (11.4)
○ Bourdon tube, dry
● Bourdon tube, glycerin-filled
○ Digital
2-1/2 in.
3-1/2 in.
4-1/2 in.
0 to 100 psi
0 to 160 psi
0 to 200 psi
11.5Each gage shall be installed with a shutoff cock or needle valve so it can be isolated and replaced without draining the system.
12 Vibration Isolation and Seismic Restraint
NOTE Two distinct problems share this section: vibration isolation keeps pump and equipment noise out of the structure, and seismic restraint keeps piping in place during an earthquake. They use different hardware and are triggered by different conditions, so they are specified separately even though both attach pipe to structure. (12.1)
12.2 Vibration Isolation
12.2.1Piping connected to pumps and rotating equipment shall be isolated from the structure by spring isolation hangers or supports for a defined distance from the equipment so structure-borne noise is not transmitted.
12.2.2Vibration isolation shall extend from the equipment connection to the first rigid support beyond the isolated run, with no rigid contact between the isolated pipe and the structure in that zone.
● Spring isolation hangers
○ Neoprene isolation hangers
○ Rigid (no isolation required)
12.3 Seismic Restraint
NOTE Whether seismic restraint is required is determined by the project Seismic Design Category (SDC) assigned under the building code and ASCE 7; restraint is a structural anchorage requirement, not a plumbing preference. (12.3.1)
12.3.2The specifier shall record the project Seismic Design Category, which governs whether and how plumbing piping must be restrained.
○ A or B (no plumbing pipe restraint required)
○ C
● D
○ E or F
12.3.3In Seismic Design Category C, lateral restraint shall be provided for piping 2-1/2 in. and larger.
12.3.4In Seismic Design Categories D, E, and F, lateral restraint shall be provided for piping 1-1/4 in. and larger.
12.3.5Seismic restraint shall be designed and installed in accordance with ASCE 7 Section 13.6 and MSS SP-127.
12.3.6Lateral restraint spacing shall not exceed 40 ft and longitudinal restraint spacing shall not exceed 80 ft, or closer where the restraint design requires.
NOTE Seismic restraint attachment points shall be coordinated with the structural drawings before installation; restraint rods that clash with structural framing are a frequent BIM coordination failure when the plumbing engineer specifies restraint without confirming attachment to structure. (12.3.7)
13 Testing
NOTE A pressure or leak test proves the joints before they are concealed; an air or hydrostatic test stated without a hold time and acceptance criterion can be signed off prematurely, so every test below specifies medium, pressure, duration, and pass/fail. (13.1)
13.2Pressurized water and similar systems shall be hydrostatically tested; DWV piping may be tested with water or air as the adopted code permits.
13.3Domestic water and pressurized piping shall be hydrostatically tested at 1.5 times the working pressure, but not less than 50 psi above the system working pressure, and held for 2 hours with no drop in pressure and no visible leakage.
13.4DWV piping tested by air shall be tested at 5 psi held for 15 minutes with no loss of pressure.
13.5Gas-piping segments shall be tested at not less than 10 psi as the adopted code requires.
13.6A system shall not be concealed, insulated, or placed in service until it has passed its required test and the result has been recorded and signed.
● Hydrostatic (water)
○ Air
14 Disinfection of Potable Water Piping
NOTE New potable water piping is contaminated during construction and must be disinfected and proven clean before it is placed in service; a disinfection step left undefined becomes a punch-list dispute and a health risk. (14.1)
14.2Potable water piping shall be flushed, disinfected, and re-flushed in accordance with AWWA C651 procedures as referenced by the adopted code, before the system is placed in service.
14.3The system shall first be flushed at a velocity of not less than 3 ft/s to remove construction debris.
14.4The system shall then be charged with a chlorine solution of not less than 50 ppm and held in contact for not less than 24 hours.
14.5After contact, the system shall be flushed until the free chlorine residual is below 0.2 ppm and matches the incoming supply.
14.6The disinfection result shall be recorded, reporting chlorine concentration, contact time, flush velocity, and final residual.
15 Installation
NOTE Piping shall be installed straight, plumb, and parallel to building lines, with changes of direction made with fittings, and with adequate clearance for insulation, valve operation, and service access. (15.1)
15.2Piping shall be routed to maintain the required slope for drainage systems and to avoid trapping in vented and pressurized systems.
15.3Piping shall be supported independently of equipment so that pipe weight is not carried by equipment connections.
NOTE Open pipe ends shall be capped or plugged during construction to keep debris and contamination out of the system. (15.4)
15.5Dielectric isolation, sleeves, valves, gages, and restraints shall be installed in coordination with the system-specific piping work so that common-results items are in place before the pipe is closed in.
NOTE Identification of exposed piping - legend, color band, and flow-direction arrows per ASME A13.1 - shall be provided per
Plumbing Piping Identification and is not duplicated here.
(15.6) 16 Delivery, Storage, and Handling
NOTE Pipe, fittings, valves, and supports shall be delivered in the manufacturer's original packaging and stored off the ground, under cover, and protected from weather and construction damage. (16.1)
16.2Pipe ends and valve openings shall be kept capped or plugged until the item is installed.
NOTE Components certified for potable-water contact shall be protected from contamination during storage and handling so their certification is not compromised before installation. (16.3)
17 Warranty
NOTE Plumbing materials and workmanship shall be warranted against defects for not less than the period scheduled below, commencing at Substantial Completion. (17.1)
17.2The Contractor shall correct leaks, joint failures, and support failures discovered within the warranty period at no cost to the Owner.
18 Spare Parts
NOTE The Contractor shall furnish the spare and maintenance items scheduled below for the Owner's continued operation. (18.1)
18.2Spare parts furnished shall be identical to the installed products and shall be delivered in labeled, protected packaging.
☑ Spare valve seats/seals (one set per valve type)
☐ Spare gage with shutoff cock
☐ Spare escutcheons (attic stock)