Floor drain traps requirements 1

[josemg]

I am looking for a code (IPC 2003)interpretation regarding trap requirements. I am designing a plumbing system in a mechanical room which is completely independent of all the other building areas. The plumbing system consist of a network of floor drains and one sink all in the mechanical room. These drains discharge into an atmospheric lift station in the same room and then the waste is transferred to another lift station prior going to the waste water treatment plant. Since there is no sanitary waste attached to it and the lift station is in the same room, migration of gases shouldn't be an issue. Have any one had this scenario before?

 

[nomad42]

Er, what is the question?

 

[PEDARRIN2]

Per code you do have sanitary (drain) system. Discharge from a sink and floor drains is considered sanitary waste. Now you do not have a "soils or waste" situation since you do not have a toilet. You still must follow chapters 7 and 9 of the IPC.

Per code, all these fixtures must be trapped. Your "lift station" is really a sewage ejector which by code, must be air tight and vented.

 

[ChrisConley]

Another point to consider is, although I'm not conversant with IBC, Canada's National Plumbing Code now requires all floor drains to have trap primers to prevent them from drying out. Does IBC have this provision as well?

 

[PEDARRIN2]

The IPC does require trap primers on floor drains. They used to allow for deep seal traps but not anymore.

But what happens with the trap primers is they are installed with a shut off valve in an access panel in the wall for maintenance purposes. After final inspection, though, the building maintenance people sometimes go back and shut them off because they do not want to deal with them since they sometimes tend to get stuck in the flow position which wastes water.

I like to use the ones that are connected to a water closet flushometer valve. When the water closet is flushed, water goes to the trap of the floor drain. That way they cannot be turned off after inspection.