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Sanitary Drainage Both Codes Agree On — Materials and Joints, Fittings and Changes of Direction, Slope, Fixture Units, Cleanouts, Backwater Valves, Sumps and Ejectors, Testing, Building Sewers (UPC ch. 7 / IPC ch. 7)
Both chapters run the same course: what the pipe is made of and how it is joined, which fittings may turn the flow which way, how much slope, how much load (fixture units) a pipe carries, where the cleanouts go, what happens when the fixtures sit below the sewer (backwater valves, sumps and ejectors), how the finished system is tested, and how the building sewer is laid. The UPC keeps its sewer rules in "Part II" (713–723); the IPC folds them into 701–708. The differences — mainly the sizing tables, the slope for 3-in pipe, cleanout intervals at changes of direction and cleanout sizes — are co
2018 UPC and 2018 IPC · Reviewed 2026-09-20
1. Materials
- Above- and below-ground DWV pipe in both codes: ABS, PVC (Schedule 40 DWV), cast iron (hub and spigot or hubless), copper DWV tube, stainless steel; building sewers add sewer-and-drain ABS / PVC, PE and vitrified clay (UPC Table 701.2; IPC Tables 702.1–702.3). Galvanized steel is above-ground only (UPC 701.2: kept 6 in above ground; IPC Table 702.1 vs 702.2).
- Vitrified clay is never used above ground or under pump pressure — UPC keeps it 12 in below ground (701.2); the IPC lists it for building sewers only (Table 702.3).
- Lead bends and lead traps: wall not less than 1/8 in (UPC 701.5; IPC 702.7). Sheet lead for safe pans 4 lb/ft² (UPC 701.5; IPC 402.4).
- Caulking ferrules (copper alloy): 2 in — 2-1/4 in ID, 4-1/2 in long, 1 lb; 3 in — 3-1/4 in, 4-1/2 in, 1 lb 12 oz; 4 in — 4-1/4 in, 4-1/2 in, 2 lb 8 oz. Soldering bushings: 1-1/4 in 6 oz; 1-1/2 in 8 oz; 2 in 14 oz; 2-1/2 in 1 lb 6 oz; 3 in 2 lb; 4 in 3 lb 8 oz (UPC Tables 701.6–701.7; IPC Tables 705.18–705.19 — identical).
- Threaded drainage fittings are the recessed drainage type with no ledges or shoulders that obstruct flow; burred ends reamed (UPC 701.3.1, 701.3.3; IPC 706.2). Wastewater above 140 °F needs piping rated for it (IPC 702.5).
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