Water piping below slab
Water piping below slab
(OP)
Is there a code that states you cannot run water piping (Domestic or Fire) below a new building slab? I have a unique project where at the last minute, the city decided to change where the service could connect to the city main and it basically forced a design to run below the slab for about 50 feet and then turn up into a mechanical room. I was not able to find a code saying you cannot do this, although it's not the best practice to do. Our hands were tied unless the building were to be redesigned which at that stage was not feasible.
Now the contractor is spreading word that it's "illegal" and everyone is freaking out.
Now the contractor is spreading word that it's "illegal" and everyone is freaking out.





RE: Water piping below slab
RE: Water piping below slab
RE: Water piping below slab
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RE: Water piping below slab
Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.
WWW.amlinereast.com
RE: Water piping below slab
RE: Water piping below slab
Expensive repairs and lots of damage. But it wasn't "illegal" per code.
Consider the dollars to run the water supply pipes through an "outside" larger conduit or "duct" under the concrete (even if that outside pipe were plastic) so the original steel/iron pipes can be replaced if a problem develops, and leakage is seen if any develops in a fire pipe. Pull the bad (or corroded) pipe, put a new one in, reconnect new pipe to good appliance or to supply pipe at the street.
RE: Water piping below slab
I also don't know exactly what the OP reference to "illegal" meant , and I am not a lawyer, but I have heard that various codes or standards, or language therefrom etc. have occasionally been written/pulled into some jurisdictional regulations and even laws. In this same regard, I have no idea exactly how regulators or legal entities would regard the juxtaposition of the specific language in the two quoted sections (that are about as clear as mud to me). One would think however the intent at the every least was some care shall be taken to avoid this practice, at least under "building" slabs, but where this "must" be done one shall take at least the multiple precautions directed therein. While I didn't happen to see the following listed, they also make some sense to me in such cases:
1. Use good design, pipe and installation practices.
2. Where possible put at least some kind of safe and at least diagnostic test on the piping installation before the slab is poured.