+---
+title: HVAC Condensate Drainage Piping
+category: Mechanical / Piping & Pumps
+toc_depth: 3
+description: >
+ When to use: Primary and secondary (overflow) condensate drainage piping
+ serving HVAC cooling and dehumidification equipment — cooling coils,
+ evaporator coils, packaged rooftop units, split-system air handlers, fan
+ coil units, chilled beams, and dehumidifiers — in commercial, institutional,
+ and industrial buildings, new construction or renovation. Covers pipe
+ material and sizing, slope, support spacing, traps, condensate lift pumps,
+ overflow protection, insulation, and termination at the point of disposal.
+ Not intended for: refrigerant piping (see sync/refrigerant-piping); hydronic
+ chilled water supply/return (see sync/hydronic-piping and
+ sync/chilled-and-condenser-water-piping); fan coil unit equipment and
+ internal pan design (see sync/fan-coil-units); sanitary drainage specialties
+ downstream of the point of disposal — floor drains, indirect waste
+ receptors, cleanouts (see sync/sanitary-drainage-specialties); VAV terminal
+ units (see sync/variable-air-volume-terminals); makeup air units (see
+ sync/makeup-air-units); domestic water supply piping; and steam/boiler
+ condensate return, which is a different system class.
+---
+
+# Scope {toc}
+
+## This Standard covers the design, materials, fabrication, and installation of condensate drainage piping that collects and conveys condensate generated by HVAC cooling and dehumidification equipment to an approved point of disposal. {note}
+
+## Condensate is the liquid water that forms when moist air contacts a cooling surface below its dew point. Every air-conditioning coil, evaporator, fan coil, chilled beam, and dehumidifier that operates below the entering-air dew point produces it continuously during the cooling season. The drainage system described here is the path that carries that water away under gravity, or by pump where gravity is not achievable, without overflow, nuisance discharge, or biological fouling. {note}
+
+## The work of this Standard includes primary drain piping, secondary (overflow) drain piping or equivalent overflow protection, drain pans and auxiliary pans, condensate traps, condensate lift pumps, overflow safety switches, pipe insulation where required, and the connection to the point of disposal. {note}
+
+## Condensate is classified as indirect waste under the plumbing code; the point of disposal and the receiving fixture are designed by the plumbing engineer. {note}
+
+## The boundary of this Standard is the connection to that receiving fixture — an indirect waste receptor, floor drain, hub drain, or other approved termination. The fixture itself, its trap, its vent, and the sanitary branch downstream belong to [[sync/sanitary-drainage-specialties]]. Coordination of the termination point is a shared obligation and is addressed in the Installation section. {note}
+
+## Refrigerant piping that may share a routing path or a support trapeze with condensate piping is specified in [[sync/refrigerant-piping]] and is not part of this Standard. {note}
+
+## Hydronic chilled water and condenser water distribution piping is specified in [[sync/hydronic-piping]] and [[sync/chilled-and-condenser-water-piping]]; those systems are pressurized closed loops, not gravity drainage, and are governed by different material and pressure rules. {note}
+
+## Equipment that generates the condensate — fan coil units, VAV terminals with cooling, and makeup air units — is specified in [[sync/fan-coil-units]], [[sync/variable-air-volume-terminals]], and [[sync/makeup-air-units]] respectively; the internal drain pan furnished with that equipment is the equipment manufacturer's responsibility, and this Standard begins at the pan outlet connection. {note}
+
+# Referenced Standards {toc}
+
+## Equipment, materials, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited or a different edition is enforced by the authority having jurisdiction.
+
+## Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
+
+## The locally adopted mechanical and plumbing codes govern; the International Mechanical Code is referenced here as the predominant model code, but the adopted edition and any state amendments (for example the California Mechanical Code) shall be verified for each project. {note}
+
+| Standard | Title |
+|----------|-------|
+| IMC Section 307 | International Mechanical Code — Condensate Disposal (Sections 307.2 through 307.2.5) |
+| ASTM D1785 | Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Plastic Pipe, Schedules 40, 80, and 120 |
+| ASTM D2665 | Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Plastic Drain, Waste, and Vent Pipe and Fittings |
+| ASTM F441/F441M | Chlorinated Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (CPVC) Plastic Pipe, Schedules 40 and 80 |
+| ASTM B88 | Seamless Copper Water Tube |
+| UL 2043 | Fire Test for Heat and Visible Smoke Release for Products Installed in Air-Handling Spaces |
+| NFPA 90A | Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilating Systems |
+| ASHRAE 62.1 | Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality (Section 5.14, Drain Pans) |
+| ASME A112.18.8 / CSA B125.8 | Suction Fittings (cited by IMC 307.2.4.1 for approved trap compliance) |
+| IAPMO IGC 196 | Installation Guidelines and Code — Condensate Trap Devices |
+
+# Submittals {toc}
+
+## Action Submittals {toc}
+
+### The Contractor shall submit the following action submittals for review before fabrication and installation:
+- Product data for condensate drain pipe, fittings, solvent cement, and hangers, identifying material, schedule or wall thickness, and applicable ASTM designation.
+- Product data and a UL 2043 listing for any pipe or fitting routed within an air-handling plenum.
+- Product data and a manufacturer pump curve for each condensate lift pump, showing flow capacity against the design lift.
+- Product data for condensate overflow safety switches, including float type and electrical rating.
+- Product data for auxiliary (secondary) drain pans, including material and dimensions.
+- Shop drawings showing pipe routing, slope, trap details, support spacing, cleanout locations, and the coordinated point of disposal.
+- A condensate flow and pipe-sizing calculation for each drain main serving more than one unit.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Action submittals required
+type: checkbox
+options:
+ - Pipe, fitting, and cement product data
+ - Plenum pipe UL 2043 listing
+ - Condensate pump product data and pump curve
+ - Overflow safety switch product data
+ - Auxiliary drain pan product data
+ - Routing and slope shop drawings
+ - Trap and support detail drawings
+ - Condensate flow and pipe-sizing calculation
+default:
+ - Pipe, fitting, and cement product data
+ - Condensate pump product data and pump curve
+ - Overflow safety switch product data
+ - Routing and slope shop drawings
+```
+
+## Closeout Submittals {toc}
+
+### The Contractor shall submit the following closeout submittals before final acceptance:
+- Operation and maintenance data covering condensate pump servicing, trap cleaning, and recommended drain-line treatment intervals.
+- A record (as-built) drawing showing the final routing, slope, cleanout locations, and disposal connections.
+- A signed test report documenting the flow test of each completed drain run and the function test of each overflow safety device.
+- Warranty documentation for condensate pumps and any manufacturer-furnished pans.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Closeout submittals required
+type: checkbox
+options:
+ - Operation and maintenance data
+ - Record (as-built) drawings
+ - Signed flow and overflow test report
+ - Warranty documentation
+default:
+ - Operation and maintenance data
+ - Record (as-built) drawings
+ - Signed flow and overflow test report
+ - Warranty documentation
+```
+
+# Quality Assurance {toc}
+
+## Installer Qualifications {toc}
+
+### Condensate piping shall be installed by a contractor regularly engaged in HVAC mechanical piping installation and licensed for the work in the project jurisdiction.
+
+### Solvent-cement joints in PVC and CPVC pipe shall be made by personnel trained in the cement manufacturer's two-step prime-and-cement procedure.
+
+## Regulatory Requirements {toc}
+
+### Condensate drainage materials, sizing, slope, traps, overflow protection, and disposal shall comply with the adopted mechanical code and, for the receiving fixture, the adopted plumbing code.
+
+### Pipe and fittings installed within an air-handling plenum shall carry a UL 2043 listing for use in air-handling spaces.
+
+## Plenum-rated material is the single most common compliance failure on condensate work, so it is called out separately here and again under Materials. {note}
+
+## Standard Schedule 40 PVC is typically not listed under UL 2043 and is not permitted in a return-air plenum or other air-handling space. Inspectors routinely fail PVC found in plenums. Where any portion of a run passes through a plenum, that portion must be CPVC carrying the UL 2043 listing, or a listed metallic pipe. {note}
+
+# Environmental and Service Conditions {toc}
+
+## Condensate Temperature {note}
+
+## Condensate from standard comfort cooling leaves the coil at roughly 50 to 60°F, well within the service range of any candidate pipe material. The exception is equipment that can deliver warm or hot condensate to the drain — heat pumps in defrost, hot-gas defrost coils, and certain industrial dehumidifiers. PVC is limited to about 140°F continuous service; CPVC reaches about 200°F. Where elevated-temperature condensate is possible, CPVC or copper is required. {note}
+
+## The designer shall identify any equipment capable of discharging condensate above 140°F and shall specify CPVC or copper drain piping for that equipment.
+
+## Ambient and Condensation Control {note}
+
+## A cold condensate line in warm, humid, or unconditioned space will sweat exactly as the coil does, dripping secondary moisture onto ceilings, equipment, and finishes. This defeats the purpose of the drain. In high-humidity climates and in any unconditioned or below-dew-point space, the drain line is insulated to control surface condensation. {note}
+
+## Condensate drain piping installed in unconditioned, high-humidity, or below-grade space shall be insulated to control surface condensation.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Condensation-control insulation on drain piping
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Not required (conditioned interior routing)
+ - 1/2 in. closed-cell elastomeric foam
+ - 3/4 in. closed-cell elastomeric foam
+default: Not required (conditioned interior routing)
+```
+
+## Latent-Load Service {note}
+
+## Standard office and retail cooling produces roughly 0.5 GPH of condensate per ton at design conditions of 80°F dry bulb and 67°F wet bulb entering air. High-latent applications — natatoriums, commercial kitchens, laboratories, and dedicated dehumidification — can generate 1.0 to 1.5 GPH per ton or more. For these services, drain piping and pumps are sized from an explicit condensate flow calculation, not from the rule-of-thumb table. {note}
+
+## For high-latent-load applications the designer shall size drain piping and pumps from a calculated condensate generation rate rather than the per-ton default.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Condensate generation basis for sizing
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Standard comfort cooling (0.5 GPH per ton)
+ - High latent (1.0 GPH per ton)
+ - High latent (1.5 GPH per ton)
+ - Calculated (per project psychrometrics)
+default: Standard comfort cooling (0.5 GPH per ton)
+```
+
+# Pipe Materials {toc}
+
+## Material Selection {note}
+
+## Material is driven by three questions: does the run pass through a plenum, can the condensate be hot, and does the local code restrict plastics. Schedule 40 PVC is the default for non-plenum, standard-temperature runs — it is inexpensive, corrosion-proof, and universally available. CPVC is the default in plenums and wherever elevated temperature is possible. Type L copper and galvanized steel are used where metallic pipe is required by code or by an air-handling-space restriction that a plastic listing does not satisfy. {note}
+
+## Primary and secondary condensate drain piping shall be one of the materials listed below, selected for the routing and temperature conditions of each run.
+
+## Pipe shall not decrease in diameter at any point downstream of the drain pan outlet.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Primary condensate drain pipe material
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Schedule 40 PVC (ASTM D1785), non-plenum
+ - PVC DWV (ASTM D2665) for larger mains, non-plenum
+ - Schedule 40 CPVC (ASTM F441), plenum-rated / UL 2043
+ - Type L copper (ASTM B88)
+ - Galvanized steel
+default: Schedule 40 PVC (ASTM D1785), non-plenum
+```
+
+## Joints and Fittings {note}
+
+## PVC and CPVC are joined with solvent cement using the appropriate primer and cement for the material; PVC cement is not interchangeable with CPVC cement. Drainage fittings are used so the invert stays smooth and the slope is continuous through each fitting. Long-sweep fittings are preferred at direction changes to limit turbulence and solids deposit. {note}
+
+## PVC and CPVC joints shall be solvent-cemented using primer and cement listed for the specific pipe material.
+
+## Direction changes shall be made with drainage-pattern (long-sweep) fittings to maintain a smooth invert and continuous slope.
+
+## Plenum Routing {note}
+
+## Where any portion of a drain run passes through a return-air plenum or other air-handling space, that portion is held to the air-handling-space material rule regardless of what the rest of the run uses. The transition from PVC to CPVC, where used, is made outside the plenum boundary. {note}
+
+## Drain piping within an air-handling plenum shall be CPVC carrying a UL 2043 listing or a listed metallic pipe; standard PVC shall not be used in a plenum.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Plenum routing present on this project
+type: radio
+options:
+ - No plenum routing
+ - Plenum routing - CPVC (UL 2043)
+ - Plenum routing - metallic (copper or steel)
+default: No plenum routing
+```
+
+# Pipe Sizing and Slope {toc}
+
+## Minimum Size {note}
+
+## The drain connection from an equipment pan is never smaller than the pan outlet, and in no case smaller than 3/4 in. inside diameter. The line is then sized up for tonnage and for the number of units feeding a shared main. A frequent error is leaving a common main at 3/4 in. while several branches feed it — each added unit adds flow, and the main must grow accordingly. {note}
+
+## The primary drain line shall be not less than 3/4 in. inside diameter and not smaller than the equipment drain pan outlet connection.
+
+## Where multiple units discharge to a common drain main, the main shall be sized for the combined condensate flow, not the size of an individual branch.
+
+## Sizing by Tonnage {note}
+
+## For a single unit on a gravity drain, the following sizes are a practical starting point at standard latent load: 3/4 in. serves up to about 20 tons, 1 in. serves about 21 to 40 tons, and 1-1/4 in. serves about 41 to 90 tons. These are confirmed against the sizing table in the adopted code edition and against the calculated flow for high-latent service. {note}
+
+## The designer shall confirm drain size against the condensate sizing provisions of the adopted code edition and against the calculated flow for high-latent applications.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Primary drain line nominal size
+type: radio
+options:
+ - 3/4 in. (up to ~20 tons)
+ - 1 in. (~21 to 40 tons)
+ - 1-1/4 in. (~41 to 90 tons)
+ - 1-1/2 in.
+ - 2 in.
+default: 3/4 in. (up to ~20 tons)
+```
+
+## Slope {note}
+
+## Condensate moves by gravity, so the horizontal drain must fall continuously toward the disposal point. The code minimum is 1/8 in. per foot, a 1% grade. A steeper 1/4 in. per foot is preferred wherever ceiling space allows: it clears solids better, drains faster after a cycle, and needs cleaning less often. Slope is held through fittings, not just along straight pipe. {note}
+
+## Horizontal drain piping shall slope continuously toward the point of disposal at not less than 1/8 in. per foot.
+
+## A slope of 1/4 in. per foot should be used on long horizontal runs and wherever ceiling space permits.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Horizontal drain slope
+type: radio
+options:
+ - 1/8 in. per foot (code minimum, 1%)
+ - 1/4 in. per foot (preferred)
+ - 3/8 in. per foot
+default: 1/4 in. per foot (preferred)
+```
+
+# Traps {toc}
+
+## Why a Trap, and Why Unit-Type Matters {note}
+
+## A draw-through air handler holds its drain pan under negative pressure — the fan pulls air across the coil and the pan sits on the suction side. Without a trap, that negative pressure holds the condensate in the pan and air is drawn up the open drain; the pan floods even though the line is clear. A liquid-seal trap deep enough to overcome the unit's static pressure lets the pan drain while blocking air infiltration. A blow-through unit, where the pan is on the discharge (positive-pressure) side, does not need a trap; adding one there only creates a stagnant pocket that breeds growth. The trap requirement is therefore unit-type specific. {note}
+
+## Each draw-through (negative-pressure) unit drain connection shall be provided with a liquid-seal trap or a listed dry-trap device.
+
+## Blow-through (positive-pressure) unit drain connections shall not be trapped.
+
+## Trap Seal Depth {note}
+
+## The trap seal must be deeper than the unit's external static pressure expressed in inches of water column, or the negative pressure simply pulls the seal through. A unit at 1.0 in. WG external static needs at least a 2 in. seal; 3 in. is recommended to keep a margin and to survive evaporation between cycles. The trap is fitted with a cleanout so the seal can be cleared and re-primed. {note}
+
+## The trap seal depth shall be not less than 2 in. of water column and shall exceed the unit's external static pressure expressed in inches of water column.
+
+## Each trap shall be provided with a cleanout to allow the seal to be cleared and re-primed.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Condensate trap type
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Field-fabricated liquid-seal P-trap
+ - Listed dry / anti-siphon trap device (IAPMO IGC 196)
+ - No trap (blow-through / positive-pressure unit)
+default: Field-fabricated liquid-seal P-trap
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Trap seal depth
+type: range
+unit: in
+min: 2
+max: 5
+step: 0.5
+default: 3
+```
+
+# Overflow Protection {toc}
+
+## Why Secondary Protection Is Required {note}
+
+## A primary drain can and does block — algae, scale, a kinked pump line, a lost trap seal. When it does, the pan overflows. If that overflow reaches occupied space below, the result is ceiling and finish damage and a mold complaint. The code therefore requires a second line of defense on equipment where overflow could cause damage. Three methods are permitted, and the designer must choose and document one of them. {note}
+
+## The designer shall provide one of the permitted overflow protection methods on every unit where a primary drain blockage could cause water damage to the structure or its contents.
+
+## The Three Permitted Methods {note}
+
+## The permitted methods are: a separate secondary (overflow) drain piped from a second pan outlet to a conspicuous point of disposal, where a visible discharge warns occupants of a primary blockage; a condensate overflow safety switch, a float device that detects rising water and shuts the associated HVAC unit down before the pan overflows; or an auxiliary drain pan installed beneath the equipment with its own independent drain to a conspicuous location. The switch is the most common choice on modern equipment because it stops the source rather than merely relocating the spill, but it requires a control connection that the electrical and controls scope must carry. {note}
+
+## Where a condensate overflow safety switch is used, it shall be wired to shut down the associated HVAC unit and the shutdown shall be reflected in the equipment sequence of operations.
+
+## Where a secondary drain or auxiliary pan drain is used, it shall terminate at a conspicuous location so that discharge signals a primary-drain failure.
+
+## Coordination of the overflow safety switch shutdown wiring between the mechanical and electrical drawings is a recurring miss; the switch is only protective if the control connection is actually made. {note}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Overflow protection method
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Overflow safety switch wired to unit shutdown
+ - Secondary (overflow) drain to conspicuous location
+ - Auxiliary drain pan with independent drain
+default: Overflow safety switch wired to unit shutdown
+```
+
+## Auxiliary Drain Pan {note}
+
+## Where an auxiliary pan is used, it is sized to catch the full footprint of the equipment plus a margin so that an offset leak is still caught. A pan that extends at least 3 in. beyond the equipment on all sides is the common rule. The pan is galvanized steel or molded polymer and drains independently of the primary line. {note}
+
+## An auxiliary drain pan, where provided, shall extend not less than 3 in. beyond the equipment footprint on all sides and shall drain independently of the primary condensate line.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Auxiliary drain pan material
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Galvanized steel
+ - Molded polymer
+ - Manufacturer-furnished with equipment
+default: Galvanized steel
+```
+
+# Condensate Pumps {toc}
+
+## When a Pump Is Required {note}
+
+## Gravity drainage is always the preferred and primary path; a pump is used only where the disposal point is above the equipment drain or too far away for the available slope — a basement air handler, a unit below the nearest hub drain, a long interior run with no fall. The pump is not a substitute for an undersized or under-sloped gravity line where gravity would have worked. Where a pump is required, the gravity portion upstream still complies with the size and slope rules. {note}
+
+## Condensate lift pumps shall be used only where gravity drainage to the point of disposal cannot be achieved.
+
+## A pump shall not be substituted for gravity drainage on runs where adequate fall is available.
+
+## Pump Selection {note}
+
+## The pump is chosen from its curve at the actual static lift plus friction, with the design point taken at 2 to 3 times the equipment condensate generation rate to absorb peaks. The shut-off lift must exceed the required lift with a margin of about 20%. Single-unit light-commercial pumps typically deliver 80 to 120 GPH against 15 to 22 ft of lift on 120V; commercial collection stations reach 200 to 480 GPH against 30 to 65 ft on 120V, 230V, or 460V. The reservoir carries a float switch wired both to run the pump and to alarm and shut the unit down on high level. {note}
+
+## Each condensate pump shall be selected from its published curve at the design lift, with flow capacity not less than 2 times the equipment condensate generation rate.
+
+## The pump shut-off lift shall exceed the required static lift plus friction by not less than 20%.
+
+## Each condensate pump reservoir shall include a float switch wired to alarm and shut down the associated HVAC unit on high level.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Condensate pump class
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Light commercial (80 to 120 GPH, 15 to 22 ft, 120V)
+ - Commercial station (200 to 480 GPH, 30 to 65 ft)
+ - Not required (gravity drainage)
+default: Not required (gravity drainage)
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Pump electrical supply
+type: radio
+options:
+ - 120V / 1Φ
+ - 230V / 1Φ
+ - 460V / 3Φ
+default: 120V / 1Φ
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Required pump lift
+type: range
+unit: ft
+min: 5
+max: 65
+step: 5
+default: 15
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: High-level alarm / shutdown setpoint
+type: range
+unit: '% reservoir capacity'
+min: 70
+max: 90
+step: 5
+default: 80
+```
+
+# Drain Pans {toc}
+
+## Pan Slope and Drainage {note}
+
+## A pan that holds standing water grows biofilm and degrades indoor air quality, which is why the ventilation standard requires the pan to slope to its outlet. The equipment-furnished pan must drain completely; field-set pans and auxiliary pans are pitched to their outlet at not less than 1/8 in. per foot. {note}
+
+## Drain pans shall slope toward the drain outlet at not less than 1/8 in. per foot so that the pan drains completely and does not retain standing water.
+
+## Drain pan outlet connections shall be sized not smaller than the connecting drain line.
+
+# Pipe Support {toc}
+
+## Support Spacing {note}
+
+## Plastic drain pipe sags between supports, and a sag becomes a low spot that holds water and collects solids — the same failure the slope is meant to prevent. Horizontal PVC and CPVC are supported at not more than 4 ft on center; vertical runs at not more than 10 ft. Metallic pipe follows the support table of the applicable plumbing code. Hangers do not crimp or restrict the pipe. {note}
+
+## Horizontal PVC and CPVC drain piping shall be supported at intervals not exceeding 4 ft.
+
+## Vertical PVC and CPVC drain piping shall be supported at intervals not exceeding 10 ft.
+
+## Metallic condensate piping shall be supported per the applicable plumbing code support schedule for the material and size.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Horizontal support spacing (plastic pipe)
+type: range
+unit: ft
+min: 3
+max: 4
+step: 0.5
+default: 4
+```
+
+# Cleanouts and Drain-Line Treatment {toc}
+
+## Cleanouts {note}
+
+## Algae and mineral scale accumulate inside condensate lines and are the leading cause of blockage in humid climates. A drain that cannot be rodded or flushed will eventually fail. Cleanout access tees are provided on horizontal runs and at direction changes so the line can be cleared without cutting pipe. {note}
+
+## Cleanout access fittings shall be provided on horizontal runs exceeding 10 ft and at changes in direction.
+
+## Drain-Line Treatment {note}
+
+## Slow-release algaecide tablets or pan strips suppress the biological growth that blocks drains. They are specified together with accessible maintenance points so the building operator can replace them. Treatment selection and placement are coordinated with the equipment and the maintenance plan. {note}
+
+## Drain pan treatment (slow-release algaecide tablets or pan strips) shall be provided where biological fouling is anticipated.
+
+## Accessible maintenance points shall be provided at drain pans and treatment locations to allow replacement of treatment material without removing finishes or cutting pipe.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Drain-line / pan treatment
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Slow-release algaecide tablets
+ - Pan treatment strips
+ - None (low-humidity climate)
+default: Slow-release algaecide tablets
+```
+
+# Termination and Disposal {toc}
+
+## Point of Disposal {note}
+
+## Condensate is an indirect waste; it discharges to an approved receptor through an air gap, never with a direct connection to the sanitary system. The receiving fixture — an indirect waste receptor, floor drain, or hub drain — is provided under [[sync/sanitary-drainage-specialties]] and its location is coordinated with the plumbing engineer. The condensate line terminates above that receptor with the required air gap. {note}
+
+## Condensate shall discharge to an approved indirect waste receptor, floor drain, or hub drain through an air gap, with no direct connection to the sanitary drainage system.
+
+## The point of disposal shall be coordinated with the plumbing engineer and shown on the coordinated drawings.
+
+## Nuisance Discharge {note}
+
+## The code prohibits condensate discharge that creates a nuisance. Discharge onto a roof membrane, a walkway, a paved entry, or anywhere it can stain, ice, or pool is not acceptable and is a common rejection at inspection. Where an exterior termination is contemplated, it is confirmed as permitted locally and coordinated with the civil and architectural scope. {note}
+
+## Condensate shall not discharge onto a roof surface, walkway, paved entry, or any location where it would create a nuisance or a hazard.
+
+## Where an exterior termination is used, it shall be confirmed as permitted by the authority having jurisdiction and coordinated with the civil and architectural drawings.
+
+## The location, routing, and extent of condensate piping and its termination shall be as shown on the drawings. [[drawing: condensate routing and termination plan]]
+
+```datasheet
+label: Point of disposal
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Indirect waste receptor
+ - Floor drain (hub drain)
+ - Exterior termination (where permitted)
+ - Holding / collection tank
+default: Indirect waste receptor
+drawing_ref: true
+```
+
+# Testing {toc}
+
+## Flow Test {note}
+
+## Each completed drain run is proven before concealment by pouring water into the pan or test point and confirming it flows to the disposal point without leaking, backing up, or pooling at any low spot. The trap is confirmed to hold its seal and to pass water. This catches reverse slope, missing primer, and crimped pipe while they can still be fixed. {note}
+
+## Each completed drain run shall be flow-tested by introducing water at the equipment pan and verifying free flow to the point of disposal without leakage, backup, or standing water.
+
+## Each trap shall be verified to hold its liquid seal and to pass condensate during the flow test.
+
+## Overflow Device Test {note}
+
+## Every overflow safety switch is function-tested by raising the float and confirming that the associated HVAC unit shuts down. A switch that is wired but never proven is not protection. Secondary drains and auxiliary pan drains are confirmed clear to their conspicuous termination. {note}
+
+## Each overflow safety switch shall be function-tested by raising the float and confirming shutdown of the associated HVAC unit.
+
+## Each secondary drain and auxiliary pan drain shall be verified clear to its termination point.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Required field tests
+type: checkbox
+options:
+ - Flow test of each drain run
+ - Trap seal verification
+ - Overflow switch function test
+ - Secondary / auxiliary drain clearance test
+default:
+ - Flow test of each drain run
+ - Trap seal verification
+ - Overflow switch function test
+ - Secondary / auxiliary drain clearance test
+```
+
+# Installation {toc}
+
+## General {note}
+
+## Installation follows the routing, slope, and support rules established above, with the run kept as short and direct as the architecture allows. The drain is installed so that it can be maintained — traps, cleanouts, and pumps reachable without cutting finishes. Coordination with adjacent trades is continuous, because the condensate line shares ceilings and chases with refrigerant, hydronic, and electrical work. {note}
+
+## Condensate piping shall be installed with continuous slope to disposal, supported at the specified intervals, and routed to keep traps, cleanouts, and pumps accessible for maintenance.
+
+## Coordination with Other Trades {note}
+
+## Where condensate piping shares a routing path with refrigerant piping under [[sync/refrigerant-piping]], the condensate line is positioned so that its support and any drip cannot penetrate or saturate the refrigerant line insulation. Shared trapeze supports are coordinated so neither system is crimped. The electrical and controls scope carries the overflow-switch and pump-alarm connections established in the Overflow Protection and Condensate Pumps sections. {note}
+
+## Condensate piping routed with refrigerant piping shall be positioned and supported so that it does not penetrate, saturate, or compromise the refrigerant line insulation.
+
+## Overflow-switch shutdown wiring and pump high-level alarm wiring shall be coordinated with the electrical and controls scope and shown on the coordinated drawings.
+
+## Connections to Equipment {note}
+
+## The drain connects to the equipment pan outlet with a union or other removable joint so the equipment can be serviced without destroying the drain. {note}
+
+## Each equipment drain connection shall include a union or removable joint to allow equipment service without cutting the drain line.
+
+## Each condensate pump shall include a union or removable joint at its inlet and outlet connections.
+
+## Each condensate trap that lacks an integral cleanout shall include a union or removable joint to allow trap removal and cleaning.
+
+# Delivery, Storage, and Handling {toc}
+
+## All condensate drainage materials shall be received, stored, and protected as follows: pipe, fittings, pumps, switches, and pans are delivered in the manufacturer's original packaging and stored under cover away from dirt, sunlight, and physical damage; solvent cement and primer are kept within the temperature range and shelf life printed on the container; PVC and CPVC pipe is shielded from prolonged direct sunlight to prevent ultraviolet degradation before installation. {note}
+
+# Warranty {toc}
+
+## Condensate pumps and manufacturer-furnished pans carry the manufacturer's standard warranty; the installation is warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for one year from substantial completion. The warranty period and any extended-warranty option are as established in the project general conditions. {note}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Installation warranty period
+type: radio
+options:
+ - 1 year
+ - 2 years
+ - Per project general conditions
+default: 1 year
+```
+
+# Spare Parts {toc}
+
+## Where condensate pumps are installed, spare float switches and a spare pump head or complete spare pump should be furnished for critical-service equipment so that a failed pump can be replaced without an extended outage. {note}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Spare parts furnished
+type: checkbox
+options:
+ - Spare overflow / pump float switches
+ - Spare pump (critical service)
+ - Drain-line treatment tablets / strips (one year supply)
+default:
+ - Spare overflow / pump float switches
+ - Drain-line treatment tablets / strips (one year supply)
+```