2015 International Private Sewage Disposal Code

A strong companion to the 2015 International Plumbing Code, the 2015 INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL CODE offers provisions for design, installation, and inspection of private sewage disposal systems, and provides flexibility in the development of safe and sanitary systems. Updated to reflect the most current industry technology, trends, and standards, it is a valuable addition to a user's code books and a vital reference guide.

Introduction

Internationally, code officials recognize the need for a modern, up-to-date code addressing the safe and sanitary installation of individual sewage disposal systems. The International Private Sewage Disposal Code, in this 2015 edition, is designed to meet these needs through model code regulations that safeguard the public health and safety in all communities, large and small.

This comprehensive sewage disposal code establishes minimum regulations for sewage disposal systems using prescriptive and performance-related provisions. It is founded on broad-based principles that make possible the use of new materials and new sewage disposal designs. This 2015 edition is fully compatible with all of the International Codes (I-Codes) published by the International Code Council (ICC), including the International Building Code, International Energy Conservation Code, International Existing Building Code, International Fire Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International Green Construction Code, International Mechanical Code, ICC Performance Code, International Plumbing Code, International Property Maintenance Code, International Residential Code, International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, International WildlandUrban Interface Code and International Zoning Code.

The International Private Sewage Disposal Code provides many benefits, among which is the model code development process that offers an international forum for plumbing professionals to discuss performance and prescriptive code requirements. This forum provides an excellent arena to debate proposed revisions. This model code also encourages international consistency in the application of provisions.

Development

The first edition of the International Private Sewage Disposal Code (1995) was the culmination of an effort initiated in 1994 by a development committee appointed by ICC and consisting of representatives of the three statutory members of the International Code Council at that time, including: Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA), International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) and Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI). The intent was to draft a comprehensive set of regulations for sewage disposal systems consistent with and inclusive of the scope of the existing model codes. Technical content of the latest model codes promulgated by BOCA, ICBO and SBCCI was used as the basis for the development. This 2015 edition presents the code as originally issued, with changes reflected in the 1997 through 2012 editions and with changes approved through the ICC Code Development Process through 2013 (completion of the Group B cycle, see below). A new edition such as this is promulgated every 3 years.

This code is founded on principles intended to establish provisions consistent with the scope of a sewage disposal code that adequately protects public health, safety and welfare; provisions that do not unnecessarily increase construction costs; provisions that do not restrict the use of new materials, products or methods of construction and provisions that do not give preferential treatment to particular types or classes of materials, products or methods of construction.

Adoption

The International Code Council maintains a copyright in all of its codes and standards. Maintaining copyright allows ICC to fund its mission through sales of books, in both print and electronic formats. The International Private Sewage Disposal Code is designed for adoption and use by jurisdictions that recognize and acknowledge the ICC’s copyright in the code, and further acknowledge the substantial shared value of the public/private partnership for code development between jurisdictions and the ICC.

The ICC also recognizes the need for jurisdictions to make laws available to the public. All ICC codes and ICC standards, along with the laws of many jurisdictions, are available for free in a nondownloadable form on the ICC’s website. Jurisdictions should contact the ICC at adoptions@icc2015_IPSDC.book Page iii Wednesday, April 23, 2014 1:33 PM iv 2015 INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL CODE® safe.org to learn how to adopt and distribute laws based on the International Private Sewage Disposal Code in a manner that provides necessary access, while maintaining the ICC’s copyright.

Maintenance

The International Private Sewage Disposal Code is kept up to date through the review of proposed changes submitted by code enforcing officials, industry representatives, design professionals and other interested parties. Proposed changes are carefully considered through an open code development process in which all interested and affected parties may participate.

The contents of this work are subject to change through both the Code Development Cycles and the governmental body that enacts the code into law. For more information regarding the code development process, contact the Codes and Standards Development Department of the International Code Council.

While the development procedure of the International Private Sewage Disposal Code ensures the highest degree of care, the ICC, its members and those participating in the development of this code do not accept any liability resulting from compliance or noncompliance with the provisions because the ICC does not have the power or authority to police or enforce compliance with the contents of this code. Only the governmental body that enacts the code into law has such authority.

Code Development Committee Responsibilities (Letter Designations in Front of Section Numbers)

In each code development cycle, proposed changes to this code are considered at the Committee Action Hearing by the International Plumbing Code Development Committee, whose action constitutes a recommendation to the voting membership for final action on the proposed change. Proposed changes to a code section that has a number beginning with a letter in brackets are considered by a different code development committee. For example, proposed changes to code sections that have [BS] in front of them (e.g., [BS] 303.1) are considered by the IBC – Structural Code Development Committee at the Committee Action Hearings.

The content of sections in this code that begin with a letter designation is maintained by another code development committee in accordance with the following:

[A] = Administrative Code Development Committee;

[BS] = IBC – Structural Code Development Committee; and

[P] = International Plumbing Code Development Committee.

For the development of the 2018 edition of the I-Codes, there will be three groups of code development committees and they will meet in separate years. Note that these are tentative groupings.