Document 3JYZa61EKERpy0DZDa4dJk7Mx

'0 Cobles +o PRO Sliei la <Ui | TECHNICAL SERVICES in October 2, 1990 X? W FAILURE ANALYSIS ^ PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT GRAPHICS TECHNOLOGY LICENSE #PI115S2 Mr. A1 Reventas Shintech, Inc. #24 Greenway Plaza, Ste. 811 Houston, TX 77046 j< D_ WD OCT 5 ]ggn Ref: IFT 88-076 Vinyl Institute Codes Dear Al: Subject: Report on IAPMO Code Development Meeting, Boise, ID Week of September 24, 1990 In my earlier letter to you I reviewed the code changes on the agenda at the IAPMO meeting having potential interest or importance to Vinyl Institute membership. Amongst these were four changes, (#6, 32, 37, and 117), which dealt specifically with the "combustible construction issue." This was of primary importance inasmuch as the restrictions limiting plastic pipe to combustible construction type buildings meant practically that they would be used only in residential structures four stories or less in height. As you are aware from my earlier correspondence, at the prospect of continuation of the term "combustible construction" in the UPC by IAPMO, ICBO effected an emergency code change to delete the "combustible construction" language from the plumbing code when adopted with the Uniform Building Code. At the Denver ICBO meeting, a compromise struck with IAPMO was presented, such that the IAPMO Board of Directors would work to remove the combustible construction language from the Uniform Plumbing Code through an appeal to the membership at their Boise meeting. Subsequently in Boise, IAPMO President Adele Bacon requested the membership to support her efforts to remove the combustible construction language, and indicated at the end of her talk to the membership that there would still be sufficient language in the code [based on an amendment she was preparing] to prevent expanded use of plastic pipe in the new Uniform Plumbing Code. CTL029696 88-076/Revenlis.]0290jg 2550 NINTH STREET, SUITE 112, BERKELEY, CA 94710 TELEPHONE 415-548-3451 FAX 415-548-0290 At the Tuesday code change session, the amendments she discussed were distributed, and after an extended debate, they were accepted. The amendments removed the combustible construction language and in fact, removed all the PPFA sponsored code change language and replaced it with the three clauses you find attached. The amended PPFA code change thus was changed into a series of caveats which simply restrict the use of PVC and ABS DWV to buildings which are three stories or less. However, they will be allowed in noncombustible, non-residential buildings up to three stories in height. Thus, structures like shopping malls, stores and offices less than four stories will become available. The debate related to the changes was long and arduous, but the outcome was a foregone conclusion. A number of amendments were suggested which would, for example, have allowed plastic pipe to be used in structures up to four stories in height, so that their use would be consistent with the allowances for wood framing in the Uniform Building Code. That amendment was supported [along with certain other changes] by Gene Zeller, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ICBO, who spoke to the group. However, when the vote finally came up, the membership was lock step and unanimous in supporting their president's position The ICBO position was rather interesting. In prefacing his remarks and speaking as the representative for ICBO, Zeller indicated that he had no particular interest in whether or not plastic pipe was restricted in the Uniform Plumbing Code. Rather he did not want the restrictions to be made on grounds other than plumbing related performance. He also objected to language contained in the changes which were actually adopted because they still contain conflicts with the building code. [Additionally, code change #6, the definition for combustible construction, was retained in the Uniform Plumbing Code for other reasons.] The question now will be "What will ICBO do with their emergency amendments?". Although the bulk of the combustible construction language has been removed from the IAPMO code, conflicts continue to exist and there is no serious interest apparent from IAPMO to resolve those conflicts. I will be following up with calls to ICBO board members and other personnel to assess their approach to the situation. Overall, however, the three story restriction removing building types may actually be a step forward -- or at least half a step. 88-076/Revemis.l0290jj CTL029697 Sincerely yours. ^2UHfJr- Joseph B. Zicherman, Ph.D. JBZ/jag Attachments cc: Dr. Roy Gottesman Mr. Patrick Toner Dr. Fred Clarke HI 88-076/Reveous. 10290jg CTL029698 PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CODE CHANGE ITEM 32 ITEM 32 -- Section 401(a) (2) Chapter 4, Section 401 -- Materials (a) Drainage piping shall be cast iron, galvanized steel, galvanized wrought iron, lead, copper, brass. Schedule 40 ABS DWV, Schedule 40 PVC DWV, extra strength vitrified clay pipe, or other approved materials having a smooth and uniform bore, except that: (1) No galvanized wrought iron or galvanized steel pipe shall be used under ground and shall be kept at least six (6) inches (152.4 mm) above ground. (-2-)---- ABS--and PVC -D-WV -piping--installations--shall--be--limi-ted--te--those structures where combustible-construction is--allowed-. (2) ABS ancf^PVC DWV piping installations shall be limited to structures not exceeding three floors above grade. For the purpose of this subsection. the first floor of a building shall be that floor that has fifty percent or more of the exterior wall surface area level with or above finished grade. One additional level that is the first level and not designed for human habitation and used only for vehicle parking, storage, or similar use shall be permitted. Remainder of section is unchanged. ~t) 0 f\l CTL029699 PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CODE CHANGE ITEM 37 ITEM 37 _ Section 503(a) (2) Chapter 5 Section 503 -- Materials (a) Vent pipe shall be cast iron, galvanized steel, galvanized wrought iron, lead, copper, brass. Schedule 40 ABS DWV, Schedule 40 PVC DWV or other approved materials except that: (1) No galvanized wrought iron or galvanized steel pipe shall be used underground and shall be kept at least six (6) inches above ground. '(3^---- ABS-and PVC DW-V piping installations shall be- limited to those structures where combustible construction-is allowed; (2) ABS and PVC DWV piping installations shall be limited to structures not exceeding three floors above grade. For the purpose of this subsection, the first floor of a building shall be that floor that has fifty percent or more of the exterior wall surface area level with or above finished prade. One additional level that is the first level and not designed for human habitation and used only for vehicle parking, storage, or similar use shall be permitted. Remainder of section is unchanged. CTL029700 PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CODE CHANGE ITEM 117 ITEM 117 -- Appendix D-D 1(a) (a) Rainwater piping placed within the interior of a building or run within a vent or shaft shall be of cast iron, galvanized steel, wrought iron, brass, copper, lead. Schedule40 ABS DWV, Schedule 40 PVC DWV or other approved materials. ABS and PVC DWV' piping installations- shall be limited to those--structures--where combustible--censtruc-tion--is--allowed? ABS and PVC DWV piping installations shall be limited to structures not exceeding three floors above grade. For the purpose of this subsection, the first floor of a building shall be that floor that has fifty percent ormore of the exterior wall surface area level with or above finished grade. One additional level that is the first level and not designed for human habitation and used only for vehicle parking, storage, or similar use shall be permitted. Remainder of section is unchanged. CTL029701