⚖️ Quality & Weights of Materials
Quality & Weights of Plumbing Materials
Chapter 14 sets the material-quality baseline for the whole code: every pipe, fitting, trap, fixture, and device must be defect-free, factory-marked, and meet listed weights and dimensions. It defines IPS sizing, lead weights/thicknesses, copper tubing types and their color-stripe identification (K/L/M/DWV), and the dimensional tables for ferrules, bushings, closet rings, cleanouts, and drainage valves.
§ 1401
Material Quality & Marking
Defect-free, listed, and factory-marked — no field markings
- Defect-free mandate: all materials in a plumbing/drainage system must be free from defects; pipes, fittings, traps, fixtures, and devices must be listed or labeled per Table 14-4.
- Factory markings: each length/unit must be integrally embossed, etched, stamped, or indelibly marked with its weight, quality, and the manufacturer's mark or name.
- Field markings prohibited: all identification must be done at the factory.
- Special conditions: materials or designs not covered by the code require special permission from the Administrative Authority after verifying structural adequacy.
§ 1402
IPS Sizing & Lead Weights
Standard pipe dimensions and minimum lead weights/thicknesses
Iron Pipe Size (IPS): all iron, steel, brass, and copper pipe shall conform to standard IPS dimensions and the appropriate structural weights.
| Lead Application | Minimum Weight | Minimum Thickness |
|---|---|---|
| Safe pans | 19.56 kg/m² | 1.6 mm |
| Flashings / vent terminals | 14.63 kg/m² | 1.2 mm |
| Lead bends & traps | — | 3.2 mm (wall) |
§ 1403
Copper Tubing & Stripe Codes
Type requirements by use and the color-stripe identification system
- Drainage & venting (DWV): underground or above ground must meet Type DWV; prohibited for conveying industrial/chemical wastes.
- Water supply piping: weight not less than Type L.
- Exception: Type M may be used for water piping above ground (in/atop a building), or underground outside structures with an approved protective coating.
| Copper Type | Stripe Color | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Type K | Green | Heaviest wall — underground / high pressure |
| Type L | Blue | Water supply (minimum for supply piping) |
| Type M | Red | Above-ground water (per exception) |
| Type DWV | Yellow | Drain, waste & vent |
§ 1404
Caulking Ferrules & Soldering Bushings
Tables 14-1 and 14-2 — required dimensions and minimum weights
Table 14-1 — Caulking Ferrules (red cast brass, bronze, or copper)
| Pipe Size | Inside Diameter | Length | Min Weight Each |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51 mm (2″) | 57.2 mm | 114.3 mm | 0.454 kg |
| 76 mm (3″) | 82.6 mm | 114.3 mm | 0.790 kg |
| 102 mm (4″) | 108.0 mm | 114.3 mm | 1.132 kg |
Table 14-2 — Soldering Bushings (bronze, copper, or heavy cast red brass)
| Pipe Size | Min Weight Each | Pipe Size | Min Weight Each |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 mm (1¼″) | 0.168 kg | 63 mm (2½″) | 0.622 kg |
| 38 mm (1½″) | 0.224 kg | 76 mm (3″) | 0.908 kg |
| 51 mm (2″) | 0.392 kg | 102 mm (4″) | 1.586 kg |
§ 1405
Closet Rings & Anchorage
Water-closet flange dimensions and the 4-bolt rule
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Closet ring (flange) diameter | ≈ 178 mm |
| Flange & groove face (with soil pipe) | 38 mm wide — to seat the wax ball / gasket |
| Caulked-on flange thickness | ≥ 6.4 mm thick · 51 mm overall depth |
| WC base anchorage | Double pair of bolts = exactly 4 bolts per water closet, corrosion-resistant brass or copper, into the concrete floor |
§ 1406
Cleanouts, Drainage Fittings & Valves
Material and configuration requirements
- Cleanout fittings: cast-iron soil pipe needs a cast-iron or brass body with a screwed brass plug; galvanized steel/copper/brass lines may use a brass plug, brass cap, or approved ABS/PVC coupling and plug.
- Travel-way rule: cleanout plugs in pedestrian paths must have raised square heads or countersunk rectangular slots, and remain gas/watertight without gaskets or packing.
- Screwed drainage fittings: smooth interior waterway, tapped to enforce a uniform 2% downward slope (20.9 mm/m grade).
- Drainage gate valves: fullway type with corrosion-resistant working parts.
| Valve Line Size | Required Body Material |
|---|---|
| ≤ 51 mm (2″) | All brass or bronze |
| < 102 mm (under 4″) | Cast brass or bronze body |
| ≥ 102 mm (4″+) | Cast-iron body |