GENERAL REGULATIONS

Philadelphia Code tit. 4, pt. P, ch. 3

in effect

Philadelphia Code Subcode P, § 301 GENERAL

SECTION 301 GENERAL * * * P-301.3 Connections to drainage system. Plumbing fixtures, drains, appurtenances and appliances used to receive or discharge liquid waste or sewage shall be directly connected to the sanitary drainage system of the building or premises, in accordance with the requirements of this code. This section shall not be construed to prevent indirect waste systems required by Chapter 8. Exception: Bathtubs, showers, lavatories, clothes washers and laundry trays shall not be required to discharge to the sanitary drainage system where such fixtures discharge to an approved system in accordance with Chapters 13 and 14. * * *

Philadelphia Code Subcode P, § 304 RODENT PROOFING

SECTION 304 RODENT PROOFING * * * P-304.3 Meter boxes. Meter boxes shall be constructed in such a manner that rodents are prevented from entering a structure by way of the water service pipes or water distribution pipe connecting the meter box and the structure. * * *

Philadelphia Code Subcode P, § 305 PROTECTION OF PIPES AND PLUMBING SYSTEM COMPONENTS

SECTION 305 PROTECTION OF PIPES AND PLUMBING SYSTEM COMPONENTS * * * P-305.4 Freezing. Water, soil and waste pipes shall not be installed outside of a building, in attics or crawl spaces, concealed in outside walls, or in any other place subjected to freezing temperatures unless adequate provision is made to protect such pipes from freezing by insulation or heat or both. Exterior water supply and water distribution system piping shall be installed not less than 36" minimum below grade to the top of the pipe. 6 inches (152 mm) below the frost line and not less than 12 inches (305 mm) below grade. Where water distribution pipe and water service pipe connect at the curb or curb stop, the piping shall be a minimum of 48" below grade to the top of the pipe. P-305.4.1 Sewer depth. Building sewers that connect to private sewage disposal systems shall be installed not less than [NUMBER] 36 inches (914 mm) below finished grade to the top of the pipe at the point of septic tank connection. Building sewers shall be installed not less than [NUMBER] 36 inches (914 mm) below grade to the top of pipe. * * *

Philadelphia Code Subcode P, § 306 TRENCHING, EXCAVATION AND BACKFILL

SECTION 306 TRENCHING, EXCAVATION AND BACKFILL * * * P-306.2.3 Soft load-bearing materials. If soft materials of poor load-bearing quality are found at the bottom of the trench, stabilization shall be achieved by overexcavating not less than two pipe diameters and backfilling to the installation level of the bottom of the pipe with fine gravel, crushed stone or a concrete foundation. The concrete foundation shall be bedded with sand tamped into place so as to provide uniform load-bearing support for the pipe between joints. When drainage is installed in filled or unstable ground, pipe shall be supported on concrete piers, seven feet apart, or a constant bed of concrete or clevis hangers attached to reinforcing rods in the concrete floor above the piping. * * * P-306.4 Tunneling. Where pipe is to be installed by tunneling, jacking or a combination of both, the pipe shall be protected from damage during installation and from subsequent uneven loading. Where earth tunnels are used, adequate supporting structures shall be provided to prevent future settling or caving. Tunneling shall be limited to only that required to clear the obstacle above. P-306.5 Shoring. Shoring shall be installed in ditches and trenches as per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Excavation standards, 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Subpart P. * * *

Philadelphia Code Subcode P, § 308 PIPING SUPPORT

SECTION 308 PIPING SUPPORT * * * P-308.3 Materials. Hangers, anchors and supports shall support the piping and the contents of the piping. Hangers and strapping material shall be of approved material that will not promote galvanic action. * * * TABLE P-308.5 HANGER SPACING PIPING MATERIAL | MAXIMUM HORIZONTAL SPACING (feet) | MAXIMUM VERTICAL SPACING (feet) PIPING MATERIAL | MAXIMUM HORIZONTAL SPACING (feet) | MAXIMUM VERTICAL SPACING (feet) Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) pipe | 4 c | 10 b Aluminum tubing | 10 | 15 Brass pipe | 10 | 10 Cast-iron pipe | 5 a | 15 Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) pipe and tubing, 1 inch and smaller | 3 | 10 b Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) pipe and tubing, 1-1/4 inches and larger | 4 c | 10 b Copper or copper-alloy pipe | 12 | 10 Copper or copper-alloy tubing, 1-1/4 inch diameter and smaller | 6 | 10 Copper or copper-alloy tubing, 1-1/2 inch diameter and larger | 10 | 10 Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) pipe 1 inch and smaller | 2.67 (32 inches) | 10 b Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) pipe 1-1/4 inch and larger | 4 c | 10 b Cross-linked polyethylene/aluminum/cross-linked polyethylene (PEX-AL-PEX) pipe | 2.67 (32 inches) | 4 Lead pipe | Continuous | 4 Polyethylene/aluminum/polyethylene (PE-AL-PE) pipe | 2.67 (32 inches) | 4 Polyethylene of raised temperature (PE-RT) pipe 1 inch and smaller | 2.67 (32 inches) | 10 b Polyethylene of raised temperature (PE-RT) pipe 1-1/4 inch and larger | 4 c | 10 b Polypropylene (PP) pipe or tubing 1 inch and smaller | 2.67 (32 inches) | 10 b Polypropylene (PP) pipe or tubing, 1-1/4 inches and larger | 4 c | 10 b Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe | 4 c | 10 b Stainless steel drainage systems | 10 | 10 b Steel pipe | 12 | 15 For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm. a. The maximum horizontal spacing of cast-iron pipe hangers shall be increased to 10 feet where 10-foot lengths of pipe are installed. b. For sizes 2 inches and smaller, a guide shall be installed midway between required vertical supports. Such guides shall prevent pipe movement in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the pipe. c. The maximum horizontal spacing of hangers shall be decreased to 3 feet where temperatures exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit. * * *

Philadelphia Code Subcode P, § 309 FLOOD HAZARD RESISTANCE

SECTION 309 FLOOD HAZARD RESISTANCE * * * P-309.2 Flood hazard. For structures located in flood hazard areas, the following systems and equipment shall be located and installed as required by Section 1612 of the International Building Code. 1. Water service pipes Water distribution pipe. * * *

Philadelphia Code Subcode P, § 311 TOILET FACILITIES OF WORKERS

SECTION 311 TOILET FACILITIES OF WORKERS P-311.1 General. Toilet facilities shall be provided for construction workers and such facilities shall be maintained in a sanitary condition. Construction worker toilet facilities of the nonsewer type shall conform to PSAI Z4.3 and Table P-311.1, provided there shall not be less than one water closet on every three floors. The owner and contractors are responsible to prevent any other places on or about the site from being used for toilet purposes. Temporary toilets shall only be utilized until such time as the building drain is installed and there is a concrete slab or permanent flooring to accommodate a water closet. It is the responsibility of the General Contractor to assure that construction of the main drain proceeds as rapidly as is reasonably possible. TABLE P-311.1 MINIMUM NUMBER OF TOILET FACILITIES NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES | MINIMUM NUMBER OF TOILET FACILITIES NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES | MINIMUM NUMBER OF TOILET FACILITIES If serviced once per week 1 - 10 | 1 11 - 20 | 2 21 - 30 | 3 31 - 40 | 4 Over 40 | 1 additional facility for each 10 additional employees If serviced more than once per week 1 - 15 | 1 16 - 35 | 2 36 - 55 | 3 56 - 75 | 4 76 - 95 | 5 Over 95 | 1 additional facility for each 20 additional employees P-311.2 Removal. Portable and temporary water closet facilities shall be removed, and the site shall be cleaned upon completion of construction.

Philadelphia Code Subcode P, § 312 TESTS AND INSPECTIONS

SECTION 312 TESTS AND INSPECTIONS * * * P-312.2 Drainage and vent water test. A water test shall be applied to the drainage system either in its entirety or in sections. If tested in sections, not more than 30 feet in height on any one system shall be tested at any one time. If applied to the entire system, all openings in the piping shall be tightly closed, except the highest opening, and the system shall be filled with water to the point of overflow. If the system is tested in sections, each opening shall be tightly plugged (except the highest opening of the water) but no section (except the building (house) drain and its connected yard and area drains) shall be tested with less than a 10-foot (3048 mm) head of water. except the highest openings of the section under test, and each section shall be filled with water, but sections shall not be tested with less than a 10-foot (3048 mm) head of water. In testing successive sections above the building (house) drain, at least the upper 10 feet of the next preceding section shall be re-tested so that no joint or pipe in the building (except the building (house) drain and the uppermost 10 feet of the system) shall have been submitted to a test of less than a 10-foot head of water. The water shall be kept in the system or in the portion under test for at least 15 minutes before inspection starts; the system shall then be tight at all points. * * * P-312.6 Gravity sewer test. Gravity sewer tests shall consist of plugging the end of the building sewer at the curb line point of connection with the public sewer, filling the building sewer with water, testing with not less than a 10-foot (3048 mm) head of water and maintaining such pressure for 15 minutes. P-312.6.1 Separate test. The building (house) drain and yard area drains, including all piping to a height of 10 feet above the highest point of the building (house) drain, shall be tested separately. All traps, pipe fittings and joints shall be exposed to view when the test is made. Water shall be introduced into the system in the quantity deemed necessary by the Department. To be approved, the flow of water through the system shall be unobstructed, and there shall be no leakage through any pipe, joint, trap, or fitting and maintaining such pressure for 15 minutes. P-312.7 Forced sewer test. Forced sewer tests shall consist of plugging the end of the building sewer at the curb line point of connection with the public sewer and applying a pressure of 5 psi (34.5 kPa) greater than the pump rating, and maintaining such pressure for 15 minutes. * * * P-312.11 Completion of work. After tests have been made and approved by the inspector, covering, insulation, coating or painting of the drain, vent and water piping shall be permitted. Decals on soil, waste, and vent piping, and hot, cold and return water piping shall be installed every 10 feet on covered and uncovered lines. * * *

Philadelphia Code Subcode P, § 314 CONDENSATE DISPOSAL

SECTION 314 CONDENSATE DISPOSAL * * * 314.2 Evaporators and cooling coils. Condensate drain systems shall be provided for equipment and appliances containing evaporators or cooling coils. Condensate drain systems shall be designed, constructed and installed in accordance with Sections 314.2.1 through 314.2.5. 314.2.1 Condensate disposal. Condensate from all cooling coils and evaporators shall be conveyed from the drain pan outlet to an approved place of disposal. Such piping shall maintain a horizontal slope in the direction of discharge of not less than one-eighth unit vertical in 12 units horizontal (1-percent slope). Condensate shall not discharge into a street, alley or other areas so as to cause a nuisance. 314.2.1.1 Condensate discharge. Condensate drains shall not directly connect to any plumbing drain, waste or vent pipe. Condensate drains shall not discharge into a plumbing fixture other than a floor sink, floor drain, trench drain, mop sink, hub drain, standpipe, utility sink or laundry sink. Condensate drain connections to a lavatory wye branch tailpiece or to a bathtub overflow pipe shall not be considered as discharging to a plumbing fixture. Except where discharging to grade outdoors, the point of discharge of condensate drains shall be located within the same occupancy, tenant space or dwelling unit as the source of the condensate. P-314.2.1.1 Disposal into clothes washer box. Condensate shall be permitted to discharge into a clothes washer box with dual drainage outlets with one outlet dedicated to the clothes washer discharge and one outlet dedicated to condensate discharge. Condensate shall also be permitted to discharge into a clothes washer box with a single drainage outlet where the inlet of the clothes washer box outlet is sized to accommodate both the clothes washer discharge and the condensate discharge. * * *

Source: City of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Code and Home Rule Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/philadelphia/latest/philadelphia_pa/0-0-0-270726Fetched: 10/27/2026