Chapter 10: Traps, Interceptors and Separators General Comments The provisions of Chapter: 10 govern the material and in- stallation of traps, interceptors and-separators. When the concent'of bringing plumbing indoors was developed, all ‘drainage piping wes open. Because the bathroom and toi- let room often:had: objectionable odors, various, means were developed to isolate them. Rooms were aften|vent- lated to the outdoors by. means of a louvered opening. ‘A\water seal trap was developed as one of the simplest forms of isolating sewer: gas from the interior environ- ment. The use of the trap accelerated the revolution of in- door: plumbing snd resulted in'a need for a vent pining system. is Purpose ‘Chepter 10 contains design requirements and installation citeria for traps. interceptors, separators and backwater valves. Traps prevent sewer gas from escaping from the ‘drainage piping into the building. Interceptors, separators and grease traps prevent certain materials from discharg- ing into the drainage system. ee ‘SECTION 1001 GENERAL, 1001.1 Scope. This chapter shall govern the material and instal- lation of traps, interceptors and separators, ‘This section contains the scope of the chapter, which is to provide and maintain a physical barrier betwoon a building and its drainage system, protect the drainage system from prohibited materials and prevent the emis- slon of sewer gases into the building. t SECTION 1002 ‘TRAP REQUIREMENTS 1002.1 Fixture traps. Each plumbing fixture shall be sepa- ‘ately trapped by a water-seal trap, except as otherwise permit. ted by this code. The trap shall be placed as close as possible to the fixture outlet. The vertical distaric from the Fixture outlet to the trap weir shall wot exceed 24 inches (610 mm). The distance of aclothes washerstandpipe above a trap shall conform to Sec- tion 802.4, A fixture shall nt be double trapped. Exception 1. This seco sal ot apply to furs with integral ‘ups. 2. A combination plumbing fixture is permitted to be in- stalled on one trap provided that one compartment isnot ‘more than 6 inches (152 mm) deeper than the other com partment and the waste outlets are not more than 30) inches (762%am) apart. 2 £2003 INTERNATIONAL. PLUMBING CODE® COMMENTARY 3, A grease ip intonded to serve asa fisture trap in ac- cordance withthe manufacturer's installation instruc~ tions shal be permitted to serve asthe wap fora single fixture of a combination sink of not more than three ‘compartments where the vertical distance from the fixture outiet to the inlet of the interceptor does not ex- ‘ceed 30 inches (762 mmm), and the developed tength of the waste pipe ftom the most upstream fixture outletto the inlet ofthe interceptor does not exceed 60 inches 1524 mm) ‘+ This section provides design and installation criteria for fixture traps, which are required to protect bullding oo- cupants from the hazards associated with the contents of drainage systems. A trap is the method used to keep ‘sewer gases from emanating out of the drainage system. The water seal prevents sewer gases and aerosol-bome bacteria from entering the building ‘space. Sewer gases often contain methane gas and ‘could cause an explosion wheh exposed t6 an ignition source. : The configuration of a trap interferes wih the flow of drainage; however, the interference fs minimal because Of the construction ofthe trap and the relatively high in- let velocity of the waste flow [see Figure 1002.1(1), Ex- ception 1]. Double trapping of a fixture is prohibited because of the additional obstniction of low and poten- tial for stoppages. Double trapping will cause alr to be trapped between two trap seals, and the “alr-bound” ‘drain wil impede the flow. The: maximum. vertical distance of 24 inches (610 mm) from a fixture outlet to the trap weir fs required for two reasons. The:primary purpose is to reduce odor ‘and the growth of bacteria; therefore, itis desirable to locate the tap as close as possible to the fixture. Buildup on the wal ofthe fixture outlet pipe will breed toaFIGURE 1002.1(1) FIGURE 1002.1(2) bacteria and cause odors to develop. The vertical dis- tance Is also limited to control the velocity of the drain age flow. if the trap has a long vertical separation distance from the fixture, the Velocify of flow at the trap inlet cen create a self siphoning of the tap [see Figure 41002.1(1), Exception 2). Because of high-discharge volumes and suds-pro- ducing detergents, clothes washers and /aundry sinks could cause the backup of waste in a kitchen sink. Kitchen sinks might contain clean dishes or food an, therafore, must be protected from such potential con- tamination. . ae : [Exception 1 addresses fixtures such as water ciose!s ‘and urinals that have Integral traps end, therefore, do fot require a field-instaled trap [see Figure 1002.1(1), Exception). 5 ‘Exception 2 allows a’single tap to serve multiple ‘compartment sinks and other combination fixtures. A difference in elevation of sink wells (compartments) in “TRAPS, INTERCEPTORS AND SEPARATORS ‘combination fixtures will affect the vertical distance be- tween the fixture outlet and the trap. The head pressure difference caused by elevation could affectthe drainage rate of the fixture or cause waste from one wall of a sink {o discharge into a lower well. The limitaion on distance between oulels is intended to minimize the amountof waste piping on the inlet side of the trap [see Figure 1002.1(1), Exoeption 2). Exception 3 in Figure 1002.1(2) intends to permit the common practice of allowing a grease trap to act as the fixture trap where recommended by the grease trap ‘manufacturer. Because grease traps function lke a trep, ‘double trapping’ will result where the typically designed ‘Grease trep Is precetied by a fixiure trap. Grease traps ‘ef the submerced inlet design will not allow the gases in the holding tank to enter the fixture drain; therefore, the source of odor would be limited to the section of piping between the fixture outlet and the interceptor infet [see Figure 1002.1(2))! |—ounsr TA Lenoir Xi rmee i EXCEPTION 1 WATER CLOSETS HAVE Iasi Te EXCEPTION + Sear a Le i veri ‘Sowers 2 Figure 1092441) “TRAP REGUIREMENTS ae EXCEPTION? a c ¢ c aoa ~ wad VERTICAL DISTANCE = 30" Figure 1002.4(2) ‘TRAP REQUIREMENTS: Maxamune DEVELOPED LENGTH = 60" ‘TOUPSTREAM PXCTURE, ‘ourter Venn mica ——1 | DISTANCE = 30" GREASE TRAP EXCEPTION 3 ‘2003 INSERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE® COMMENTARY‘TRAPS, INTERCEPTORS AND SEPARATORS. 1002.2 Design of traps. Fisture traps shall be sel-scouring. Fixture traps shall not have interior panitions, except. where such traps are integral with the fixture or where such traps are constructed of an approved material tha is resistant to corrosion and degradation. Slip joints shall be made with an approved elastomeric gasket and shall be installed only on the trap inlet, ‘rap outlet and within the tap seal + Atrap must have ¢ pattem allowing unobstructed flow. to the drain. Interior partitions are allowable. where, con- stfucted of @ material resistant to corrosion and degra~ dation. A common use would be tight installation areas, like pedestal lavatories. ¢ Most traps are premanufactured; however, a trap can’ (7 "be field fabricated with pipe and fitinas (see commen- d tary, Section 705.16 and Figure 1002.2). ¢ SLIP JOINTS = . QO 1. CO ACCEPTABLE LOCATIONS FOR. SLIP JOINTS HAVING AN ELASTOMERIC SEAL _Figure 1002.2 SLIP JOINTS IN TRAPS Je 10023 Prohibited traps. The following types of raps are pro- Tibited: 1. Traps that depend on moving parts to maintain the seal. 2, Bell traps. 3.Crown-vented traps, 4, Traps not integel with a fixture and that depend on inte- rior partitions for the seal, except those traps constructed (of an approved material that is resistant to corrosion and degradation, “Exception: Drum traps used as solids interceptors and drum traps serving chemical waste systems shall notbe probibited. A trap is Intended to be a simple U-shaped ping ar- rangement that offers minimal resistance to flow. Based ‘on thelr design or configuration, prohibited traps are not simple U-shape piping design. Such traps typically im- pede drainage flow by moving parts, design (tends to ‘log with debris), flow pattern and abtity to lose a trap. seal (see Figure 1002.3). 4 , 2001 INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE” COMMENTARY. 1002.2 10024 Item 4 refers to mechanical traps that employ moving paris such as floats or Nlappers. Such designs are not. dependable because of corrosion, clogging’ and waste deposits that inlerfers with the operalion- of moving components and Seals.” Item 2 prohibits bell traps that, because of their de- sign, tend to clog with debris, end their trap seal has a lata exposed surface afea that accelerales evapora: tion. ment than 2 type of trp. A’ crown-vented trap isa factory-made or fidid-constructed"P'or “Strep that has fa Vent opening located in the crown of the outlet weir of. the trap. The flow patter and momentum of waste flow will cause waste to enter and eventually clog the vent ‘connection, “tem refers toindenendent aps that are not integral with fixtures. For example, water closet traps are parti- tion traps but, of course, are not prohibited because they are regulated as pert of the fixture. Parton traps are single-wall taps that ely ona single partition to sep- arate the house side of the trap from the sewer side of the trap. Partition traps made of noncorrosion-resistant ‘materials can structurally fait without any leakage that would indicate 2 failure of the partition; therefore, the in- billy to maintain a rap seal would not be indicated bye, partion trap. Item. 5 prohibits factory-made. and field-constiictsd “S!-configuration traps because of their inherent ability to sel-siphon, which results in 2 Joss of trap seal. Item 6 prohibits. drum traps because they azé not ‘self-cleaning and therefore clog easily. An except provides for the use of such traps where installed as a solids interceptor or serving chemical wasle systems. Many drum traps are used to prevent solids from enter ing the drainage system. Heir traps, metal traps, plaster traps and single-fixture acid neutralizers are variations ofthe drum-trap design. 1002.4 Trap seals. Exch fixture trap shall have a liquid seal of not less than 2 inches (51 mmm) and not more than 4 inches (102 ‘mm, or deeper for specinl designs Felating to accessible fix- tures, Where a trap seal is subject to loss by evaporation a trap seal primer valve shall be installed. A tip'seal primer valve shall conform to ASSE 1018 or ASSE 1044. ‘A .waler seal of 2 inches (51 mm) is standard for most traps, Some larger pipes, 3 through-6 inches (76 through 152 mm), have a greater seal of up to 4 inches (102 mm) to construct @ smooth patter of flow for the ‘given pipe size [See Figure 1002,1(1), Exception 1]. ‘trap seal must be deep enough to resist the pres- sures that can develop ina properly vented drainage system, but not so deep as to promote the retention of solids or the growth of bacteria, ~ Traps that do not periodicaly recelve waste dis- charge will eventually lose thelr seal as @ result of evap- ‘oration. The rate of trap seal evaporation is somewhat dependent on the location ofthe trap. For exemple, fix- --lure traps in environments with high ambient tempera- tures ‘or high-volume ir movement wil evaporate Tem 3 more accurately deserves venting arrange-_