1987-1271804L
NOTE THIS ORDINANCE HAS BEEN AMENDED BY ORDINANCE NO 87-140
ORDINANCE NO ~
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE I OF CHAPTER 17 OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS ("PLUMBING CODE") TO
PROVIDE FOR ADOPTION OF THE 1985 UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE, ADOPTION
OF AMENDMENTS TO THE UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR
ADDITIONS THERETO, REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH,
PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY IN AN AMOUNT OF $1,000 00 THEREFOR, AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON HEREBY ORDAINS
SECTION I That Section 17-2 of Article I of Chapter 17 of
the Code of Ordinances of the City of Denton, Texas is hereby
amended to read as follows
(a) The Uniform Plumbing Code, 1985 Edition, and Appendices A
through I thereto, as recommended by the International Association
of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, a copy of which shall be
filed with the office of the City Secretary as Document No 4 and
shall be available for public inspection, ~s hereby adopted and
designated as the Plumbing Code of the City of Denton, Texas, the
same as though said edztlon of such code and the appendices
thereto were copied at length herein, subject to the additions,
deletions, and amendments enumerated hereafter
(1) Delete Part I, Administration
(2) Amend Section 209 to read as follows
Back water valves shall have cast Iron, brass, PVC or ABS
bodies, non-corrosive beartngs, seats and self-aligning
discs, and shall be so constructed as to insure a
positive mechanical seal and to remain closed except when
discharging wastes Such valves shall remain
sufficiently open during periods of low flows to avoid
screening of solids and shall not restrict capacities or
cause excessive turbulence during peak loads Unless
otherwise listed, valve access covers shall be a bolted
type with gasket and each valve shall bear the
manufacturer's name cast into the body and cover
(3) Amend Section 5iS(f) to read as follows
No soil or waste pipe shall be Installed or permitted
outside of a building or in an exterior wall unless
adequate provision is made to protect such pipe from
freezing All water piping which runs in an exterior
wall, attic, or crawl space shall be adequately insulated
to protect from freezing
{4) Amend 317(a) to read as follows
No requirements
(S) Add Section 317(e) to read as follows
Ail underground lines shall be run in separate ditches
and shall be separated by a minimum horizontal distance
of thirty (30) inches except that water and gas lines or
water and sewer lines may be run in the same ditch when
all of the following conditions are met
i) Ditches are dug at least eighteen (18) inches wide
2) Water and gas lines or water and sewer lines shall be
at least twelve (12) inches apart measured
horizontally between outside surfaces
3) When gas lines are steel, wrapped, or extrusion-
coated to prevent corrosion
4) The bottom of water lines at all points shall be at
least twelve (12) inches above the top of the sewer
line and the water service shall be placed on a solid
shelf excavated at one side of the common ditch
S) Each line must rest on undisturbed or compact earth
(6) Amend Section 318(b)(2) to read as follows
Media The piping of the plumbing, drainage and venting
systems shall be tested with water or air The
administrative authority may require the removal of any
cleanouts, etc , to ascertain if the pressure has reached
all parts of the system After the plumbing fixtures
have been set and their traps filled w~th water, they
shall be submitted to a final test Ail fixtures,
designed to retain water, such as lavatories, sinks,
bathtubs, laundry trays, etc shall be filled with water
to the overflow level and shall retain same for fifteen
(1S) minutes without leakage when requested by the
plumbing inspector
(7) Amend Section 401(a) to read as follows
(a) Drainage pipe shall be cast iron, galvanized steel,
galvanized wrought iron, lead, copper, brass, ABS or
PAGE 2
PVC having a smooth and uniform bore, except
1) That no galvanized pipe shall be used underground
and shall be kept at least six (6) inches (152 4
mm) above ground
2) ABS and PVC D~V piping installations shall be
limited to those structures permitted to be of com-
bustible construction Combustible construction
is defined by Table i?-A of the Uniform Building
Code, 198S edition as Building Construction Types
III, IV, and V
3) ABS and PVC D~V piping installations may also be
used in Type II construction where the occupancy
classification and building size are such that the
structure could have been built using Types III,
IV, or V construction
4) ABS and PVC D~V piping installations shall be
limited to those structures three (3) stories in
height or less
(b) Drainage fittings shall be of cast iron, malleable iron,
lead, brass, copper, ABS or PVC having a smooth interior
waterway of the same diameter as the piping served and
all such fittings shall conform to the type of pipe used
1) Flttlngs on screwed pipe shall be of the recessed
drainage type Burred ends shall be reamed to the
full bore of the pipe
2) The threads of drainage fittings shall be tapped so as
to allow one-fourth (1/4) inch per foot (20 9 mm/m)
grade
(8) Add Section 406(1) to read as follows
Cleanout fittings shall be not less in size than those
~lven in Table 2-3 Cleanouts serving residential
ulldlngs of not more than four (4) family units, where
located outside the building in unpaved areas and within
three {3) feet of the building exterior wall l~ne, may be
terminated six (6) inches below finished grade, and all
such cleanouts shall be provided with a brass disk, not
less than one inch in diameter, stamped "CO", and
attached to the building wall with a concrete nail twelve
(12) inches above the finished grade directly in line
with the cleanout Cleanouts located under cover plates
shall be so installed as to provide the clearances and
accessibility required by this section Cleanout cover
PAGE 3
plates in floors shall be two piece cast-brass type,
arranged for flush mounting
(9) Amend Section 409(a) to read as follows
Drainage plplng serving fixtures, the flood level rims of
which are located below the elevation of the curb or
property line, at the point where the building sewer
crosses under the curb or property line, and above the
crown level of the sewer main, shall drain by gravity
into the sewer main, and shall be protected from backflow
of sewage by installing an approved type of backwater
valve
(10) Amend 608(c) to read as follows
No domestic dlshwashlng machine shall be d~rectly
connected to a drainage system or food waste d~sposer
without
1) An approved dishwasher air-gap fitting on the dis-
charge side of the dishwasher, or
2) The waste line from the dlshwashlng machine shall be
looped upward as high as possible beneath the drain
board either ~nternally or externally to the machine
and provided with a brass horizontal swing check
valve at the point of connection to the sink waste or
garbage disposal outlet
(11) Amend 703(c) to read as follows
The size (nominal diameter) of a trap for a g~ven
fixture shall be sufficient to drain the fixture
rapidly, but in no case, less than given in Table 4-1
No trap shall be larger than the trap arm to which ~t is
connected
{12) Amend 805(f) to read as follows
Female PVC screwed fittings for water piping are
prohibited except for specialty valves or systems which
may be approved for specific installations such as
chemical systems, ductile iron systems, Irrigation
systems and swimming pools
(13) Amend 8OS(b) to read as follows
No requirements
(14) Delete Section 904(b) Connections
PAGE 4
(15) Amend Section 1003(h) to read as follows
Lawn sprinkler systems shall have a cut-off valve at
each point where the sprinkler system is connected to
the potable water supply and shall be further equipped
with an approved vacuum breaker on the discharge side of
each cut-off valve Each vacuum breaker shall be
installed at least slx (6) inches above the highest
sprinkler head served by it Systems w~th zone control
valves which allow the vacuum breaker to remain under
pressure shall be provided with a pressure type vacuum
breaker which has been approved for this type of
application A manual drain valve shall be provided in
the sprinkler system supply l~ne near its connection to
the water supply source A manual or automatic drain
valve shall be provided in the sprinkler system supply
l~ne near the discharge side of the vacuum breaker
Drain valves shall be ~nstalled in approved valve boxes
(16) Amend Section 1004(a) to read as follows
Water pipe and f~tt~ngs shall be of brass, copper, cast
iron, galvanized malleable iron, galvanized wrought
iron, galvanized steel or lead Schedule 40 PVC and
AWWA C900 p~p~ng having the National Sanitation
Foundation seal followed by the letters PW may be used
for cold water d~strlbutlon systems outside of buildings
All materials used ~n the water supply system, except
valves and similar devices, shall be of a like mater~al,
except where otherwise approved by the administratIve
authority
(17) Amend Section 1005(b) to read as follows
A fullway valve and dra~n valve controlling all outlets
shall be ~nstalled on the discharge side of each water
meter and on each unmetered water supply Water piping
supplying more than one building on any one premises
shall be equipped with a separate fullway valve and
dra~n valve to each building so arranged that the water
supply can be turned on or off to any individual or
separate building, provided however, that supply p~plng
to a single famlly residence and building accessory
thereto, may be controlled on one valve Such shutoff
valves shall be accessible at all times A fullway
valve shall be installed on the d~scharge piping from
PAGE 5
water supply tanks at or near the tank A fullway valve
shall be installed on the cold water supply pipe to each
water heater at or near the water heater A fullway
valve and drain valve shall be installed for each apart-
ment or dwelling of more than one {1) family In lieu
of the main supply shutoff in each apartment, ~ndlvldual
shutoff valves may be provided at each f~xture
(18) Amend Section 1008(f) to read as follows
Unions may be ~nstalled ~n the water supply piping with-
in twelve (lZ} inches ( 3 M) of regulating equipment,
water heating, conditioning tanks and similar equipment
which may require service by removal or replacement in a
manner which will facilitate ~ts ready removal
(19) Amend Section 1009(d) to read as follows
Where the maximum length of supply piping is two hundred
(200} feet (60 Sm) or less, each water piping system of
fifty (SO) fixture units or less shall be sized in
accordance w~th the values set forth ~n Section 1010 of
this ordinance Other systems of more than f~fty (SO)
fixture units and within the range of Section 1010 may
be sized from Section 1010 or by the method set forth in
subsection {e) of the Uniform Pluming Code Section 1009
(20) Amend Section 1009(g) to read as follows
On any proposed water piping installation sized using
Section 1010 the following conditions shall be deter-
mined
1) Total number of fixture units as determined from the
table of Equivalent Fixture Units (Table 10-1) for
the fixtures to be ~nstalled
2) Developed length of supply pipe from meter to most
remote outlet
3) Difference in elevation between the meter or other
source of supply and the highest fixture or outlet
4) Pressure ~n the street ma~n or other source of supply
at the locality where the installation is to be made
$) In localities where there ~s a fluctuation of
pressure ~n the main throughout the day, the water
p~plng systems shall be designed on the basis of the
m~n~mum pressure available
(21) Amend Section 1009{h} to read as follows
PAGE 6
Size of Meter and Building Supply Pipe Using Section
1010 Knowing the available pressure at the water meter
or other source of supply, and after subtracting one
half {1/2) pound per square Inch pressure for each foot
(11 3kPa per m) of difference in elevation between such
source of supply and highest water supply outlet in the
building or on the premises, use the "Pressure Range"
group within which this pressure will fall Select the
"length" column which is equal to or longer than the
required length Follow down the column to a fixture
unit value equal to or greater than the total number of
fixture units required by the installation Having
located the proper fixture unit value for the required
length, sizes of meter and building supply p~pe will be
found in the two left-hand columns
No building supply pipe shall be less than three-
quarter (3/4) inch (19 1 mm) in diameter
(22) Amend Section 1009(j) to read as follows
Sizing for Flushometer Valves Branches and mains
serving water closet or similar flushometer valves may
be sized from Section 1010 when the following values are
assigned to each flushometer valve beginning with the
most remote valve on each branch
For the first flushometer valve 40 fixture units
For the second flushometer valve 30 fixture units
For the third flushometer valve 20 fixture units
For the fourth flushometer valve IS fixture units
For the fifth flushometer valve 10 fixture units
Five (S) fixture unit flushometer valves may be com-
puted at half (1/2) the above values assigned, but in no
case less than five (S) fixture units After the fifth
valve on any branch or main, subsequent fixture unit
loading may be computed using the value of the fifth
flushometer Piping supplying a flushometer valve shall
not be less in size than the valve inlet
(23) Amend Section 1009 (k) to read as follows
Sizing Systems with Hot Water Piping In sizing a water
piping system having a total demand of f~fty
fixture units or less, the greatest developed length of
the cold water supply piping may be used from Section
1010 and the length of the hot water piping ignored when
the hot water piping friction loss is compensated for by
the following method
PAGE 7
1) Compute the total hot water fixture unit demand,
using those values given in Table 10-1 for the
combined hot and cold water use
2) Assign the total demand computed as required in (1)
above, as the fixture unit demand at the hot water
heater inlet
3) Starting at the most remote outlet on the cold water
piping and working back toward the water meter,
compute the pipe Slzlng for the system from the
column originally selected in Section 1010 using the
fixture unit values given in Table 10-1, and adding
in the fixture unit demand of the hot water heater
supply inlet as computed in (1) above, at the point
where it occurs The final size of the cold water
branch of main need not exceed the originally
established size of the building supply
(24) Amend Section 1009(1) to read as follows
Except as provided in subsection (k), water plpang
systems may be deszgned by taking the total length of
the supply piping from the source of cold water supply
through the water heater, to the most remote hot water
outlet and assessing flow values of seventy-five (7S)
percent of the combined hot and cold water demand as
given in Table 10-1, to the piping supplying either hot
or cold water to those fixtures served by both Piping
serving water heaters shall be sized to deliver the
above required hot water demand, plus all required cold
water demands, but ~n no case need the p~p~ng be larger
in size than that required by Section 1010, as it
presently appears ~n the Code of Ordinances
(25) Add Section 1010 as follows
Size of potable water piping in residential and small
commercial installations
(a) The size of water service lines to buildings in this
category shall conform to Table 10-3 below The
water service line shall extend undiminished in size
from the water meter to the water heater or if no
water heater exists to the f~rst opening
PAGE 8
TABLE 10-5
WATER SERVICE LINE SIZES
(MINIMUM)
NUMBER OF LENGTH OF RUN, METER TO BUILDING
FIXTURES 0' SO Si' 100 101' ~ UP
1-0S 3/4" 3/4" 3/4"
6-10 3/4" 5/4" 1"
Il-iS 1" 1" 1"
16-20 1" 1" 1-1/4"
21-40 1-1/4" 1-1/4" 2"
(b) The size of water piping within buildings in this
category, or branch lines connected to water service
lines, shall conform to Table 10-4
TABLE 10-4
BRANCH WATER LINE SIZES
(MINIMUM)
NUMBER OF LENGTH OF RUN OF BRANCH
FIXTURES 0' - 25 26' - SO Sl' ~ UP
1 1/2" 1/2" 1/2"
2 l/Z,, ii2,, 314"
3-06 3/4" 3/4" 3/4"
7-10 3/4" 3/4" 1"
11-18 1" 1" 1"
19-40 1-1/4" 1-1/2" 1-1/2"
(c) For the purposes of Tables 10-3 and 10-4, any fix-
ture wlth a flushometer valve shall be counted as
four fixtures, and any fixture or equipment Item
other than a water closet, lavatory, sink, bathtub,
shower, urinal, service sink, or drinking fountain
shall be considered as that number of fixtures
corresponding to the lower limit of any fixture
range matching in the 0-2S' category the connection
size to such fixture
(d) Potable water systems serwng in excess of forty (40)
fixtures or their equivalent as defined herein,
shall be designed by a registered professional
mechanical engineer
{26) Amend Section 1107 to read as follows
(a) Cleanouts shall be placed Inside the building near
PAGE 9
the connection between the building drain and
building sewer or installed outside the building at
the lower end of a building drain and extended to
grade One additional cleanout shall be Installed
at the property line and connected to the building
sewer in such a manner that It opens in the
direction of the flow of soil or waste
Additional building sewer cleanouts shall be
installed at ~ntervals not to exceed one hundred
(100) feet (30 4m) in straight runs
(b) When a building sewer or branch thereof does not
exceed ten (10) feet (3m) in length and is a
straight line projection from a building drain which
is provided with a cleanout, no cleanout will be
required at its point of connection to the building
drain
(c) Every change in alignment or grade in excess of
twenty-two and one-half (22 1/2) degrees ~n a build-
lng sewer shall be served by a cleanout, except that
no cleanout shall be required for not to exceed one
(1) forty-five (45) degree change of direction or (1)
forty-five (45) degree offset All required building
sewer cleanouts shall be extended to grade When
building sewers are located under buildings, the
cleanout requirements of Section 406 shall apply
(d) Each cleanout shall be installed so that it opens in
a direction opposite to the flow of the soil or
waste or at right angles thereto, and except in the
case of "wye" branch and end-of-line cleanouts,
vertically above the flow of the pipe
(e) Cleanouts installed under concrete or asphalt paving
shall be made accessible by yard boxes, or extending
flush with paving with approved materials and be
adequately protected
(f) Approved manholes may be installed xn lieu of clean-
outs when first approved by the Administrative
Authority The maximum distance between manholes
shall not exceed 300 feet (91 2m)
(27) Amend Section 1108 to read as follows
Building sewers or drainage piping materials which are
not approved for use within a building shall not be run
or laid in the same trench as the water p~pes unless all
of the followxng requirements are met
PAGE 10
1) Ditches are dug at least eighteen (18) inches wide
2) Water and sewer lines shall be at least twelve (12)
Inches apart measured horizontally between outside
surfaces
5) The bottom of water lines at all points shall be at
least twelve (12) inches above the top of the sewer
line and the water line shall be placed on a solid
shelf excavated at one s~de of the common ditch
4) Bach line shall rest on undisturbed or compact earth
(28) Amend Section 1201 as follows
The regulations of this chapter shall govern the in-
stallation of all fuel gas piping in or in connection
with any building or structure or within the property
lines of any premises, other than service pipe All
service piping or service lines shall be installed in
accordance with the Department of Transportation,
Hazardous Materials Regulations Board specifications,
Subpart H, as written in the Federal Register, Volume
35, No 1§1, Part II, August 19, 1970 or as amended
thereafter and as specified under Subpart I, as added
August 1, 1971
(29) Add Section 1203{c) to read as follows
It shall be unlawful for the gas service to be turned on
in any building which has been damaged by fire without
the owner or his plumbing contractor first obtaining a
plumbing permit and testing the gas piping in accordance
with Section 1206 of this code
(30) Amend Section 1210 to read as follows
Where temporary use of gas is desired and the
administrative authority deems the use necessary, a
permit may be issued for such use for a period of time
not to exceed sixty (§0) days, provided that such gas
piping system otherwise conforms to the requirements of
this code regarding material, sizing and safety
(31) Amend Section 1212(a) to read as follows
All gas piping used for the installation, extension,
alteration or repair of any gas piping shall be standard
weight wrought iron or steel (galvanized or black),
yellow brass {containing not more than seventy-five (75)
PAGE 11
percent copper), or internally tinned or equivalently
treated copper or iron pipe size Approved PE pipe may
be used in exterior-buried piping systems
(32) Amend Section 1212(c) to read as follows
All fittings used in connection with the above piping
shall be of malleable iron, yellow brass (containing not
more than seventy-five percent (?5%) copper) or approved
plastic fittings Solvent cement or mechanical compres-
sion fittings are prohibited
(33) Amend Section 1213(f) to read as follows
All gas piping shall be adequately supported by metal
straps or hooks at intervals not to exceed those shown
in Table 12-2 Gas piping ~nstalled below grade shall
be effectively supported at all points on undisturbed or
well compacted soil or sand Material used for backfill
around the pipe shall be free o£ rocks, building
materials, ashes and trash
(34) Amend Section 1307(c)(1) to read as follows
Permanent openings or ducts leading from the water
heater location to other Interior areas, except
unventilated attics, which meet the minimum required
volume specified in subsection (b) at this section
Ducts conveying air from an attic space shall extend at
least two (2) Inches above insulation or other
obstructions The attic space shall be ventilated by
fresh air openings or louvers on a vertical wall or at
two (2) different levels or elevations
(35) Amend Section 1308 to read as follows
Unlnsulated water heaters shall not be installed closer
than six (6) inches (152 4 mm) to unprotected combustible
construction nor closer than three (3) inches (76 2 mm)
to protected combustible construction Insulated water
heaters shall not be Installed closer than two (2)
~nches (S0 8 mm) to unprotected combustible construction
nor closer than one [1) inch (25 4 mm) to protected
combustible construction The clearances may be reduced
for water heaters which are designed and listed or
approved for installation adjacent to combustible
materials and installed in accordance with the
conditions of such approval Protected combustible
construction will be considered as such if it is of not
PAGE 12
less than one (1) hour fire resistive construction
covered with a No 26 gauge metal covering
(36) Amend Section 1309 to read as follows
No water heater which depends on the combustion of fuel
for heat shall be installed in any room used or designed
to be used for sleeping purposes, bathroom, clothes
closet, or in any closet or other confined space opening
into any bath or bedroom Fuel burning water heaters
shall not be located under stairways or landing
Exception Sealed combustion chamber-type water
heaters Where not prohibited by other regulations,
sealed combustion chamber-type water heaters may be
located under a stairway or landing
(37) Amend Section 1310(a) to read as follows
Water heaters which generate a glow or spark or flame
capable of igniting flammable vapors may be located in
residential garages provided their pilots and burners or
heating elements and switches are located at least
eighteen (18) inches above the floor level and further
prowded that such water heaters are located in an
approved compartment having a tight fitting door
assembly adequately sealed to retard the entrance of
flammable vapors Ail combustion air for such instal-
latlons shall be supplied from outside the building or
from a properly ventilated attic space Water heaters
located in commercial garages shall be installed at
least eight (8) feet above the floor
(38) Amend Section 1311(b) to read as follows
Water heaters located on or in every attic, roof,
mezzanine or platform more than eight (8) feet above the
ground or floor level shall be made accessible by a
stairway, ladder, passageway, trap door or catwalk
Ladder and stairways shall be permanently fastened to
the building Such ladder shall have rungs spaced not
more than fourteen (14) ~nches (355 6m) center to center
and not less than six (6) inches (152 4 m) from face
wall
(b) Ail plumbing pipes, fittings and fixtures for water and
sewerage and methods of ~nstallatlon shall comply with the
requirements of the Un~form Plumbing Code, 1985 Edition and the
additions, deletions, and amendments enumerated under subsection
(a) of this section
PAGE
(c) It shall be unlawful for any individual, corporation or
association to violate any provision of this Chapter
SECTION II Ail ordinances or parts of ordinances in force
when the provisions of this ordinance become effective which are
inconsistent or in conflict with the terms or provisions con-
talned in this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of any
such conflict
SECTION III Any person, corporation, or association who
shall violate a provision of this ordinance, or fails to comply
therewith or with any of the requirements thereof, or of a permit
or certificate issued thereunder, shall be guilty of a misde-
meanor punishable by a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars
{$1,000 00) Each such person shall be deemed guilty of a
separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during
which any violation of this ordinance is committed, or continued,
and upon conviction of any such violations such person shall be
punished within the limits above
SECTION IV That this ordinance shall become effective
fourteen ~14} days from the date of its passage, and the City
Secretary is hereby directed to cause the caption of this
ordinance to be published twice in the Denton Record-Chronicle,
the offlclal newspaper of the City of Denton, Texas, within ten
(10) days of the date of its passage
PASSED AND APPROVED thls~/~ day of ~ , 1987
ATTEST
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM
DEBRA ADAMI DRAYOVITCH, CITY ATTORNEY
PAGE 14