Plumbing and gas piping shall be designed and installed so as to satisfy the following conditions and the requirements of reference standard RS-16: (a) All occupied premises shall have potable water. Every building intended for human habitation, occupancy, or use shall be provided with a supply of potable water.
(b) Sufficient water required. Plumbing fixtures, devices, and appurtenances shall be supplied with water in sufficient volume and at pressures adequate to enable them to function properly. The pipes conveying the water shall be of sufficient size to provide the water required without undue pressure reduction and without undue noise under all normal conditions of use.
(c) Water conservation. Plumbing shall be designed and adjusted to use the minimum quantity of water consistent with proper performance and cleansing of the fixture of plumbing appurtenance.
(d) Safeguarding against explosion. Devices for heating and storing water shall be designed, installed, and maintained to guard against rupture of the containing vessel through overheating.
(e) Connection to public water supply systems and to sanitary or combined sewer systems.
(1) GENERAL.
a. The water distribution system and system for conveying sewage from any building in which plumbing fixtures are installed shall be connected, respectively, to a public water main and a sanitary or combined sewer if either or both are available and, regarding the sewer, if the department determines that connection thereto is feasible. The department shall determine that connection is feasible if:
1. the sewer is of adequate capacity to receive all sewage flowing from the building;
2. the sewer is in adequate physical condition to receive such sewage;
3. no physical obstacles exist, between the boundaries of the lot or tract of land on which the building is located and the sewer, which would make connection to the sewer impracticable;
4. the elevation of the sewer in relation to the lot or tract of land on which the building is located is such that conveyance of the sewage from the building to the sewer is not impracticable;
5. the sewer is located in the same drainage area as all or most of the lot or tract of land on which the building is located; and
6. no other factor reasonably related to the conveyance of sewage from the building to the sewer would make such connection impracticable or undesirable as a proper means of sewage disposal.
b. Where a public water main is not available, an individual potable water supply shall be provided, and where neither a sanitary nor a combined sewer is available to which the department determines that connection is feasible, a private sewer or private sewage disposal system shall be provided. All such private systems shall be provided subject to the approval of the commissioner and of any other agency or agencies having jurisdiction, and constructed in accordance with the requirements of reference standard RS-16 and, with respect to the construction of individual on site private sewage disposal systems, in accordance with the specifications and standards prescribed by the commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of environmental protection, pursuant to section six hundred forty three of the charter.
c. Extensions of public sewers and water mains shall be made in accordance with the regulations of the department of environmental protection.
(2) SYSTEMS AVAILABLE.
a. A public water main, and a sanitary or combined sewer for the purpose of conveying sewage, shall be deemed available to a building in which plumbing fixtures are installed, except to a one-or two-family dwelling, if a property line of such building is within five hundred feet (measured along a street, alley, or right-of-way) of the public water supply system or the sewer. The connection shall be made in accordance with the applicable standards of the department of environmental protection.
b. A public water supply system, and a sanitary or combined sewer for the purpose of conveying sewage, shall be deemed available to a one- and two-family dwelling if a property line of such dwelling is within one hundred feet (measured along a street, alley, or right-of-way) of the public water supply system or the sewer. The connection shall be made in accordance with the applicable standards of the department of environmental protection, provided, however, that such one- and two-family dwelling need not connect directly to the sewer if the common elements of an internal private drain are located in a dedicated, unobstructed right-of-way that extends to the sewer with a minimum width of ten feet located entirely outside of the building footprint and outside of all overhangs and projections that are less than fourteen feet in height above grade.
c. Where two or more one-or two-family dwellings are to be constructed on a tract of land, or where a substantial improvement of any other type of building or buildings is contemplated on a tract of land, the public water supply system and/or the sanitary or combined sewer may be declared available thereto by the agencies having jurisdiction thereon even though the distances specified in subparagraphs a and b of this paragraph are exceeded.
(f) Well water systems. No well or individual water supply may be installed for any purpose without the approval of the commissioner and of the department of health and mental hygiene and the department of environmental protection.
(g) Design and maintenance of system for conveying sewage from building. The system for conveying sewage from the building shall be designed, constructed and maintained to guard against fouling, deposit of solids, and clogging, and shall be provided with adequate cleanouts so arranged that the pipes may be readily cleaned.
(h) Exclusion of certain substances from the plumbing system.
(1) DETRIMENTAL OR DANGEROUS MATERIAL. No person shall deposit, by any means, any of the following into the building drainage system or sewer: ashes, cinders, rags, flammable, poisonous, or explosive liquids, gases, oils, grease, or any other material that could obstruct, damage, or overload such system, or that could interfere with the normal operation of the sewage treatment processes.
(2) INDUSTRIAL WASTES. Wastes from hospitals, chemical plants, laundries, abattoirs, or any other industrial wastes that could be detrimental to the public sewer or public health, shall be treated before such wastes are discharged into the public sewer. At the time of the filing of plumbing plans for any hospital, chemical plant, laundry, abattoir, or any other industrial structure, a statement shall be filed with the commissioner indicating the substances, ingredients, or matter, that will be discharged into the sewer, together with written approval of the department of environmental protection for the method of treatment of said substance, ingredient or matter, before it is discharged into the public sewer.
(i) Prevention of contamination. Plumbing fixtures, devices, and appliances shall be provided with adequate protection to prevent contamination of food, water, sterile goods, and similar materials by backflow of sewage. The fixture, device, or appliance shall be connected indirectly with the building drainage system when necessary.
(j) Drainage below street level. The drainage of all sanitary and storm water below the crown level of the street sewer, or below a level where backflow from the street sewer is possible, shall be conveyed to a sewage ejector and/or sump through a system of subhouse drains, and lifted into the street sewer or disposal system.
(k) Disposal of storm water. Storm water falling or coming to rest on property on which new buildings or substantial horizontal enlargements are to be constructed, and on all streets and other paved areas constructed or altered in connection with the construction of such new buildings or substantial horizontal enlargements, shall be disposed of in accordance with the requirements of reference standard RS-16 and the rules and regulations of the department of environmental protection. No person providing a system for disposing of storm water, as required by this subdivision, shall in any way alter, relocate or affect any existing drainage system on the property, except in accordance with the provisions of section 19-137 of title nineteen of the administrative code. Except as otherwise permitted by this code, no person shall perform land contour work, as defined in section 19-137 of this code, which work causes storm water to flow across sidewalks or onto an adjacent property. For purposes of this subdivision, the term "substantial horizontal enlargement" shall have the meaning given such term in subdivision (a) of section P110.2 of reference standard RS-16.
(l) Required plumbing fixtures. Every dwelling unit in buildings classified in occupancy groups J-2 and J-3 shall have at least one water closet, one lavatory, one kitchen-type sink, and one bathtub or shower. All other buildings shall be equipped with the number and types of plumbing fixtures required by reference standard RS-16; provided, however, that the minimum required number of water closets in any arena, bar, concert hall, convention hall, motion picture theatre, public dance hall, stadium, or theatre shall be in accordance with article eight of this subchapter.
(m) Smooth surfaces required. Plumbing fixtures shall be made of smooth, nonabsorbent material and shall be free from fouling surfaces.
(n) Location of fixtures.
(1) LIGHT AND VENTILATION. For light and ventilation requirements of rooms or spaces containing plumbing fixtures, see subchapter twelve of this chapter.
(2) LOCATION. Piping, fixtures, or equipment shall be located so as not to interfere with the normal operation of windows, or doors and other exit openings.
(3) ACCESSIBILITY. Plumbing fixtures shall be located so that they are readily accessible to the users.
(o) Liquid-seal traps required. Each fixture directly connected to the drainage system shall be equipped with a liquid-seal trap, except as otherwise provided in this subchapter. The drainage system shall be designed to provide adequate air circulation in all pipes with no danger of siphonage, aspiration, or forcing of trap seals under conditions of ordinary use.
(p) Exhausting of foul air to outside. Each vent terminal shall extend to the outdoor air and be located and installed so as to minimize the possibility of clogging and the return of foul air to the building.
(q) Materials and workmanship. All materials and equipment used in the plumbing and gas systems shall be free from defects, and shall be designed, constructed, and installed so as to give satisfactory service for their expected life.
(r) Condemned equipment. Any plumbing materials or equipment condemned by the commissioner because of wear, damage, defects, or sanitary hazards shall not be used or re-used for plumbing purposes.
(s) Prevention of sewer flooding. Where a plumbing drainage system is subject to backflow of sewage from the public sewer, suitable provision shall be made to prevent its overflow in the building.
(t) Test of plumbing system. The plumbing system shall be subjected to such tests as will readily disclose all leaks and defects in the work or in the material used.
(u) Proper maintenance. Plumbing systems shall be maintained in a safe and serviceable condition from the standpoint of both operation and health.
(v) Protection of ground and surface water. Sewage or other waste shall not be discharged into surface or subsurface water unless it has been discharged by a method subject to the approval of the commissioner and of the department of health and mental hygiene and the department of environmental protection.
(w) Weather protection. Water service piping shall be installed at least four feet below exterior grade, and building house sewers shall be installed at least three feet below exterior grade. Plumbing piping in exterior building walls shall be adequately protected against freezing by insulation or heat, or by both.
(x) Structural safety. The structural safety of a building shall not be affected or impaired in any way as a result of the installation, alteration, renovation, or replacement of a plumbing system or any part thereof. See subchapters nine, ten, eleven and nineteen of this chapter.
(y) Strains and stresses in pipes. Piping shall be installed so as to prevent strains and stresses that would exceed the structural limitations of the pipe and so as to prevent deflection or deformation that would cause the system to malfunction. Provision shall be made for expansion and contraction and for structural settlement that might affect the piping.
(z) Installation limitations.
(1) ELEVATOR SHAFTS. No piping shall be installed in any elevator or counterweight hoistway.
(2) FIRE RATED CONSTRUCTION. No plumbing or gas piping shall be installed in any construction required to have a fire resistance rating except in accordance with the provisions of subchapter five of this chapter.
(3) STAIR ENCLOSURES. No piping of any kind, with the exception of piping required or permitted under subchapter seventeen of this chapter, shall be permitted within a stair enclosure.
(aa) Special flood hazard restrictions. Within special flood areas and below the regulatory flood datum as described in article ten of subchapter four of this chapter, plumbing installations shall comply with the applicable provisions of reference standard RS 4-5.
Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Appendix A at L.L. 1993/104, L.L. 1996/065 and L.L. 2005/057.