Thread: Questions on existing piping

Are there guidelines that determine when a house should be brought up to code when it's being remodeled?

Here's an (incomplete) example:

I tore the quest out of a 4-unit dwelling, replaced everything with pex/copper. We swapped out the washerbox to a new one with pex valves (instead of leaving the box and just swapping the valves), the inspector said the horizontal run of the washerbox discharge had to be 3"

(There's more to the story of course, but I was curious when a house had to be brought up to code if, for the most part, the drains weren't touched.)

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Joshua,

From the Existing Building Code.

- [P] 302.9 Plumbing.

Additions, alterations, renovations or repairs to plumbing installations shall conform to the International Plumbing Code without requiring the existing installation to comply with all of the requirements of this code. Additions, alterations or repairs shall not cause an existing installation to become unsafe, hazardous or overloaded. Minor additions, alterations, renovations and repairs to existing installations shall meet the provisions for new construction, unless such work is done in the same manner and arrangement as was in the existing system, is not hazardous and is approved.

Then it gets more complicated:

- SECTION 403
- - ALTERATION—LEVEL 1
- - - 403.1 Scope.

Level 1 alterations include the removal and replacement or the covering of existing materials, elements, equipment, or fixtures using new materials, elements, equipment, or fixtures that serve the same purpose.

- - - 403.2 Application.

Level 1 alterations shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 6.

- SECTION 404
- - ALTERATION—LEVEL 2
- - - 404.1

Scope. Level 2 alterations include the reconfiguration of space, the addition or elimination of any door or window, the reconfiguration or extension of any system, or the installation of any additional equipment.

- - - 404.2 Application.Level 2 alterations shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 6 for Level 1 alterations as well as the provisions of Chapter 7.

- SECTION 405
- - ALTERATION—LEVEL 3
- - - 405.1 Scope.

Level 3 alterations apply where the work area exceeds 50 percent of the aggregate area of the building.

- - - 405.2 Application.

Level 3 alterations shall comply with the provisions of Chapters 6 and 7 for Level 1 and 2 alterations, respectively, as well as the provisions of Chapter 8.

And even more complicated as you need to go to those chapters - 6, 7, and 8 to see what is required.