Is it normal to have this many Fernco fittings?

[Canada_DIY_Plumber]

There is a leak in my condo building. The restoration company opened the ceiling to find this. What am I looking at? Is it normal to have this many Fernco fittings? Is it possible this was done during construction or does this mean that repairs were previously done on this section of pipe?

 

[Jeff H Young]

The plumbing dosent worry me. I see the red fire stop caulking and then some bad gaps that arent closed it looks incompleted.
those are called no hub couplings normal to see

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

Those are NO Hub Bands. Most cast iron plumbing is done using them. Every fitting has to be connected to each pipe using one of these bands. Each pipe section should have 2 hanger supports at each end (some very short pipe might only need 1).

 

[wwhitney]

Each pipe section should have 2 hanger supports at each end (some very short pipe might only need 1).

That's way beyond what the IPC and UPC require, so I looked up those provisions. UPC says https://up.codes/viewer/washington/upc-2021/chapter/3/general-regulations#313.3

Cast Iron Hubless -- Shielded Couplings -- Every other joint, unless over 4 feet then support each joint
1 Support adjacent to joint, not to exceed 18 inches (457 mm).
2 Brace not to exceed 40 foot (12 192 mm) intervals to prevent horizontal movement.
3 Support at each horizontal branch connection.

IPC says https://up.codes/viewer/pennsylvania/ipc-2018/chapter/3/general-regulations#308.5

Cast Iron Pipe -- Maximum Horizontal Support Spacing 5'
a The maximum horizontal spacing of cast-iron pipe hangers shall be increased to 10 feet where 10-foot lengths of pipe are installed.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Jeff H Young]

That's way beyond what the IPC and UPC require, so I looked up those provisions. UPC says https://up.codes/viewer/washington/upc-2021/chapter/3/general-regulations#313.3

Cast Iron Hubless -- Shielded Couplings -- Every other joint, unless over 4 feet then support each joint
1 Support adjacent to joint, not to exceed 18 inches (457 mm).
2 Brace not to exceed 40 foot (12 192 mm) intervals to prevent horizontal movement.
3 Support at each horizontal branch connection.

IPC says https://up.codes/viewer/pennsylvania/ipc-2018/chapter/3/general-regulations#308.5

Cast Iron Pipe -- Maximum Horizontal Support Spacing 5'
a The maximum horizontal spacing of cast-iron pipe hangers shall be increased to 10 feet where 10-foot lengths of pipe are installed.

Cheers, Wayne

I dont get ipc so a 9 ft or even less piece of pipe might require 3 hangars (if not placed strategicaly)? and a full 10 ft stick only needs 1 hangar, anywhere in its lenght

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

That's way beyond what the IPC and UPC require, so I looked up those provisions. UPC says https://up.codes/viewer/washington/upc-2021/chapter/3/general-regulations#313.3

Cast Iron Hubless -- Shielded Couplings -- Every other joint, unless over 4 feet then support each joint
1 Support adjacent to joint, not to exceed 18 inches (457 mm).
2 Brace not to exceed 40 foot (12 192 mm) intervals to prevent horizontal movement.
3 Support at each horizontal branch connection.

IPC says https://up.codes/viewer/pennsylvania/ipc-2018/chapter/3/general-regulations#308.5

Cast Iron Pipe -- Maximum Horizontal Support Spacing 5'
a The maximum horizontal spacing of cast-iron pipe hangers shall be increased to 10 feet where 10-foot lengths of pipe are installed.

Cheers, Wayne

OK.. poor wording. I meant 2 supports for a length of pipe.. 1 at each end. Not 2 at each end.

 

[Jeff H Young]

But acorrding to code one hangar can meet code on some shorter length pipe in varing instances depending on code involved . our code dosent allow a hangar on couplings .
Im sure the standard up north on a high quality job we dont put one hangar 4 inches from end and another 18 unless there is a reason duct work or sprink line above we shoot for 12 inches generally.

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

Yes, shorter than 4ft. I didn't clarify length in my response. The question wasn't how to build the system, just asking what they were looking for. For posterity sake, the answer could have and should have been more precise.. but I am just a dumb plumber after all. (a quip one of my local teaching inspectors makes)

In one of my code classes the instructor who was also the chief plumbing inspector and also a good friend of my dads would insert erroneous "code" that sounded like it could be but wasn't. One of them was that Long lengths of pipe need to be labeled LONG.. conversely Short SHORT.

 

[Jeff H Young]

my concern is mostly fire rating , but the question too many fittings, Its not uncommon to get into jam where creative use of offsets is required. sometimes after your done you say why didnt I do it this way instead.