Chapter 11

Sanitary Drainage Systems

11.1 MATERIALS
See Section 3.1.

11.2 BUILDING SEWERS AND BUILDING DRAINS

11.2.1 Sewer or Drain in Filled Ground
Building sewers or building drains that are installed in lled or unstable ground shall be installed in accor-
dance with Section 2.6.

11.2.2 Existing Building Sewers and Building Drains

Existing building sewers and building drains may be used in connection with new building sewer and drain-
age systems only when found by examination to conform to the new system in quality of material prescribed
by this Code.

11.2.3 Building Sewer and Building Drain Size

The size of the building sewer and the size of the building drain shall be determined by xture unit loads
connected in accordance with Table 11.5.1A.

11.3 DRAINAGE PIPING INSTALLATION

11.3.1 Slope of Horizontal Drainage Piping
a. Horizontal drainage piping shall be installed in uniform alignment at uniform slopes not less than 1/4
inch per foot for 2-inch size and smaller, and not less than 1/8 inch per foot for 3-inch size and larger.
b. Where conditions do not permit building drains and sewers to be laid with slope as great as that speci-
ed, a lesser slope may be permitted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

11.4 FIXTURE UNITS

11.4.1 Load on Drainage Piping
The load on drainage system piping shall be computed in terms of drainage xture unit values in accordance
with Table 11.4.1 and Section 11.4.2.

11.4.2 Conversion of Flow in GPM to DFU

Where the discharge rate of xtures or equipment is expressed in gallons per minute (GPM), two (2) drainage
xture units (DFU) shall be allowed for each gallon per minute (GPM) of ow.

2009 National Standard Plumbing Code 145

 Table 11.4.1
DRAINAGE FIXTURE UNIT (DFU) VALUES
HEAVY-USE ASSEMBLY
OTHER THAN DWELLING UNITS
SERVING 3 OR MORE DWELLING UNITS
INDIVIDUAL DWELLING UNITS
BATHROOM GROUPS HAVING 1.6 GPF GRAVITY-TANK WATER CLOSETS
Half-Bath or Powder Room 3 2
1 Bathroom Group 5 3
1-1/2 Bathrooms 6
2 Bathrooms 7
2-1/2 Bathrooms 8
3 Bathrooms 9
Each Additional Half-Bath 0.5
Each Additional Bathroom Group 1
BATHROOM GROUPS HAVING 1.6 GPF PRESSURE-TANK WATER CLOSETS
Half-Bath or Powder Room 3.5 2.5
1 Bathroom Group 5.5 3.5
1-1/2 Bathrooms 6.5
2 Bathrooms 7.5
2-1/2 Bathrooms 8.5
3 Bathrooms 9.5
Each Additional Half-Bath 0.5
Each Additional Bathroom Group 1
BATHROOM GROUPS HAVING 3.5 GPF (or higher) GRAVITY TANK WATER
CLOSETS
Half-Bath or Powder Room 3 2
1 Bathroom Group 6 4
1-1/2 Bathrooms 8
2 Bathrooms 10
2-1/2 Bathrooms 11
3 Bathrooms 12
Each Additional Half-Bath 0.5
Each Additional Bathroom Group 1
BATH GROUP (1.6 GPF Flushometer Valve) 5 3
BATH GROUP (3.5 GPF Flushometer Valve) 6 4

146 2009 National Standard Plumbing Code

 Table 11.4.1 (Continued)
DRAINAGE FIXTURE UNIT (DFU) VALUES
HEAVY-USE ASSEMBLY
OTHER THAN DWELLING UNITS
SERVING 3 OR MORE DWELLING UNITS
INDIVIDUAL DWELLING UNITS
INDIVIDUAL FIXTURES
Bathtub or Combination Bath/Shower, 1-1/2” Trap 2 2
Bidet, 1-1/4” Trap 1 1
Clothes Washer, Domestic, 2” Standpipe 3 3 3
Dishwasher, Domestic, with Independent Drain 2 2 2
Drinking Fountain or Watercooler 0.5
Food-Waste-Grinder, Commercial, 2” Min Trap 3
Floor Drain, Auxiliary 0
Kitchen Sink, Domestic, with One 1-1/2” Trap 2 2 2
Kitchen Sink, Domestic, with Food-Waste-Grinder 2 2 2
Kitchen Sink, Domestic, with Dishwasher 3 3 3
Kitchen Sink, Domestic, with Grinder and Dishwasher 3 3 3
Laundry Sink, One or Two Compartments, 1-1/2” Waste 2 2 2
Laundry Sink, with Discharge from Clothes Washer 2 2 2
Lavatory, 1-1/4” Waste 1 1 1 1
Mop Basin, 3” Trap 3
Service Sink, 3” Trap 3
Shower Stall, 1-1/2” Trap 2 2 2
Shower Stall, 2” Trap 2 2 2
Showers, Group, per Head (Continuous Use) 5
Sink, 1-1/2” Trap 2 2 2
Sink, 2” Trap 3 3 3
Sink, 3” Trap 5
Trap Size, 1-1/4” (Other) 1 1 1
Trap Size, 1-1/2” (Other) 2 2 2
Trap Size, 2” (Other) 3 3 3
Trap Size, 3” (Other) 5
Trap Size, 4” (Other) 6
Urinal, 1.0 GPF 4 5
Urinal, Greater Than 1.0 GPF 5 6
Wash Fountain, 1-1/2” Trap 2
Wash Fountain, 2” Trap 3
Wash Sink, Each Set of Faucets 2

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 Table 11.4.1 (Continued)
DRAINAGE FIXTURE UNIT (DFU) VALUES
HEAVY-USE ASSEMBLY
OTHER THAN DWELLING UNITS
SERVING 3 OR MORE DWELLING UNITS
INDIVIDUAL DWELLING UNITS

Water Closet, 1.6 GPF Gravity or Pressure Tank 3 3 4 6

Water Closet, 1.6 GPF Flushometer Valve 3 3 4 6
Water Closet, 3.5 GPF Gravity Tank 4 4 6 8
Water Closet, 3.5 GPF Flushometer Valve 4 4 6 8
Whirlpool Bath or Combination Bath/Shower, 1-1/2” Trap 2 2

NOTES FOR TABLE 11.4.1:

1. A Bathroom Group, for the purposes of this Table, consists of not more than one water closet, up to two lavatories, and either one
bathtub, one bath/shower combination, or one shower stall. Other xtures within the bathing facility shall be counted separately to
determine the total drainage xture unit load.
2. A Half-Bath or Powder Room, for the purposes of this Table, consists of one water closet and one lavatory.
3. For unlisted xtures, refer to a listed xture having a similar ow and frequency of use.
4. When drainage xture unit (DFU) values are added to determine the load on the drainage system or portions thereof, round the
sum to the nearest whole number before referring to Tables 11.5.1A, 11.5.1B, or 12.16.6A for sizing the drainage and vent piping.
Values of 0.5 or more should be rounded up to the next higher whole number (9.5 = 10 DFU). Values of 0.4 or less should be rounded
down to the next lower whole number (9.4 = 9 DFU).
5. "Other Than Dwelling Units" applies to business, commercial, industrial, and assembly occupancies other than those dened
under "Heavy-Use Assembly." Included are the public and common areas in hotels, motels, and multi-dwelling buildings.
6. "Heavy-Use Assembly" applies to toilet facilities in occupancies that place heavy, but intermittent, time-based loads on the drain-
age system, such as; schools, auditoriums, stadiums, race courses, transportation terminals, theaters, and similar occupancies where
queuing is likely to occur during periods of peak use.
7. Where other than water-supplied xtures discharge into the drainage system, allow 2 DFU for each gallon per minute (gpm) of
ow. (See Section 11.4.2.)

11.4.3 Diversity Factors

In certain structures such as hospitals, laboratory buildings, and other special use or special occupancy build-
ings where the ratio of plumbing xtures to occupants is proportionally more than required by the building
occupancy and in excess of 1,000 drainage xture units, the Authority Having Jurisdiction may permit the
use of a diversity factor for sizing branches, stacks, building drains, and building sewers.

11.5 DETERMINING DRAINAGE PIPE SIZES

11.5.1 Selecting the Size of Drainage Piping
Pipe sizes shall be determined from Table 11.5.1A and 11.5.1B on the basis of the drainage xture unit load
(DFU) computed from Table 11.4.1 and Section 11.4.1. Sanitary drainage pipe sizes shall not be reduced in
the direction of ow.
EXCEPTION: Drain pipe sizes for individual xtures shall be not less than the minimum trap size required
in Section 5.2.

148 2009 National Standard Plumbing Code