UPC Plumbing Code, Helpful Hints by Bert Polk Plumbing inspector

[Terry]

Here is a nice link to Bert Polk's plumbing tips

States that use the UPC

Alaska UPC adopted at State level but IPC in use locally
Arizona UPC adopted at State level but IPC in use locally
California UPC applicable Statewide
Colorado UPC adopted at State level but IPC in use locally
Hawaii UPC, with local ammendments.
Indiana UPC base document for State code
Iowa UPC effective Statewide, IPC adopted by Local Governments
Kansas UPC adopted at State level but IPC in use locally
Minnesota UPC effective Statewide(1)
Missouri TBD either IPC or UPC effective Statewide
Montana UPC effective Statewide
Nebraska UPC adopted at State level but IPC in use locally
Nevada UPC adopted at State level but IPC in use locally
New Mexico UPC adopted at State level but IPC in use locally
North Dakota UPC effective Statewide
Oregon UPC effective Statewide
South Dakota UPC 2003 version effective Statewide
US Virgin Is. UPC Island wide
Washington UPC effective Statewide, with amendments
Wisconsin Plumbing Code Link
Wyoming Both IPC & UPC used by Local Governments

[Winslow]

Hawaii also uses the UPC, with local ammendments.

Thanks, I added Hawaii to the UPC page.
Terry

[jimbo]

That link to Bert is a great resource. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. How many thousand words have been posted here trying to explain the concept of not draining second floor waste into the vent from first floor! One of the earyl pics in the series shows that so well!!!!!!!

[Hairyhosebib]

This is a great resource and helps me out a lot. I am curious about why water heater T&P valves can be plumbed with multiple elbows and several feet of pipe here in the Phoenix area. I sure don't have mine like that. Every elbow causes the water to be slowed down as it escapes the tank! I sure would not want mine to blow up.

[Terry]

You are allowed fittings on the relief line. I've never heard of a working T&P with 3/4" drain that was ever a problem. The problems occur when someone puts a cap or plug in the relief line to stop a leak. At best, as long as they are allowed to drip out the pressure, you should be fine. In apartments and condo's, with stacked units, they normally let us run two heaters on 3/4" and then start bumping up the sizing as we go down.

[Hairyhosebib]

I'm thinking you are only allowed 2 fittings after the T&P according to the UPC code. And it is to terminate six inches above the floor. Just like in the picture of the link above. Water heaters are time bombs. When I was in plumbing school we were shown a picture of a grade school building that had pretty much blown up because the maintenance guy removed the old leaking T&P valve and plugged it off and did not turn the water heater off. While he was gone getting a new valve the water heater blew up killing several people. I think this may have happened in the 60"s but I don't know where it occurred.