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INTERNATIONAL
PLUMBING CODE ®
, 201 8 International Plumbing Code®
First Printing: August 201 7
ISBN: 978-1 -60983-745-7 (soft-cover edition)
ISBN: 978-1 -60983-744-0 (loose-leaf edition)
COPYRIGHT 201 7
by
INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL, INC.
Date of First Publication: August 31 , 201 7
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This 201 8 International Plumbing Code® is a copyrighted work owned by the International Code
Council, Inc. Without advance written permission from the copyright owner, no part of this book may be reproduced, distributed
or transmitted in any form or by any means, including, without limitation, electronic, optical or mechanical means (by way of
example, and not limitation, photocopying or recording by or in an information storage retrieval system). For information on use
rights and permissions, please contact: Publications, 4051 Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, IL 60478. Phone 1 -888-ICC-
SAFE (422-7233).
Trademarks: “International Code Council,” the “International Code Council” logo, “ICC,” the “ICC” logo, “International
Plumbing Code,” “IPC” and other names and trademarks appearing in this book are trademarks of the International Code Coun-
cil, Inc., and/or its licensors (as applicable), and may not be used without permission.
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
, PREFACE
Introduction
The In tern ational Plum bin g Code (IPC ) establishes minimum requirements for plumbing systems
using prescriptive and performance-related provisions. It is founded on broad-based principles that
make possible the use of new materials and new plumbing designs. This 2018 edition is fully com-
patible with all of the In tern ational Codes (I-Codes ) published by the International Code Council
(ICC ), including the In tern ational Buildin g Code , Intern ation al En ergy Con servation Code , In ter-
nation al Existin g Buildin g Code
, In tern ation al Fire Code , In tern ation al Fuel Gas Code , In tern a-
tion al Green Con struction Code , In tern ational Mechan ical Code , In tern ational Private Sewage
Disposal Code , In tern ation al Property Main ten an ce Code , In tern ation al Residen tial Code , In ter-
nation al Swim m in g Pool an d Spa Code , In tern ation al Wildlan d-Urban Interface Code , In tern a-
tion al Zon ing Code an d Internation al Code Coun cil Perform an ce Code .
The I-Codes, including this In tern ation al Plum bin g Code , are used in a variety of ways in both the
public and private sectors. Most industry professionals are familiar with the I-Codes as the basis of
laws and regulations in communities across the U.S. and in other countries. However, the impact of
the codes extends well beyond the regulatory arena, as they are used in a variety of nonregulatory
settings, including:
• Voluntary compliance programs such as those promoting sustainability, energy efficiency
and disaster resistance.
• The insurance industry, to estimate and manage risk, and as a tool in underwriting and rate
decisions.
• Certification and credentialing of individuals involved in the fields of building design, con-
struction and safety.
• Certification of building and construction-related products.
• U.S. federal agencies, to guide construction in an array of government-owned properties.
• Facilities management.
• “Best practices” benchmarks for designers and builders, including those who are engaged in
projects in jurisdictions that do not have a formal regulatory system or a governmental
enforcement mechanism.
• College, university and professional school textbooks and curricula.
• Reference works related to building design and construction.
In addition to the codes themselves, the code development process brings together building pro-
fessionals on a regular basis. It provides an international forum for discussion and deliberation
about building design, construction methods, safety, performance requirements, technological
advances and innovative products.
Development
This 2018 edition presents the code as originally issued, with changes reflected in the 2003 through
2015 editions and with further changes approved by the ICC Code Development Process through
2017. 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
plumbing 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 par-
ticular types or classes of materials, products or methods of construction.
201 8 INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE ® iii
