Dunbar Plumbing
Master Plumber
What are the requirements for the plumbing code section of the IRC series, and not the UPC? Just curious because I have never seen the counter airgap in any new construction installation of a DW.
With that being said, it was told to me (not taught) that the loop in the drainline, along with the termination point at the disposal or neck above the trap is acceptable.
Please educate me with your opinion but please quote a code section from the IRC if you do.
Principle No. 15. Prevent contamination. Proper protection shall be
provided to prevent contamination of food, water, sterile goods, and similar
materials by backflow of sewage. When necessary, the fixtures, device, or
appliance shall be connected indirectly with the building drainage system.
provided to prevent contamination of food, water, sterile goods, and similar
materials by backflow of sewage. When necessary, the fixtures, device, or
appliance shall be connected indirectly with the building drainage system.
Principles are not code. It's what is expected to produce a plumbing system over and above all implied thinking, rules and revisions to protect the safety of others.
My "opinion" on these matters:
Any time you directly connect a potentially harmful substance to any device that provides a product for use or to ingest *water/dishes/utensils* you open up the possibility for harmful bad things to happen.
This reference of Air Gaps isn't even a discussion at the Commercial/Industrial level because it is CODE in all 50 states. That caters to mass contamination when the probability arises.
Shrink that down to the residential level, now we are dealing with less people involved, less probability, less chance of affecting many.
"Many" and "few" is an interpretation of the code in many states. Degree of hazard follows another line of thinking as well.
In KY it is absolutely necessary, California as well.
I don't care if the code is relaxed in other states, the world of thinking in protection overrides. I wish people would die untimely deaths as a result of "high looping".
It shouldn't be legal in the same state on commercial/industrial applications, then all of a sudden relax to the residential.
I think if you are allowed to high loop in residential in your state, then it should apply to commercial/industrial as well. You'll be stacking dead people up like concentration camps.
Sometimes death is the only thing to fix stupid.
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