§ 52.106 AIR TESTING OF SANITARY SEWERS.

   (A)   It is the purpose of this section to require air testing of sanitary sewers and sanitary sewerage systems for the safety and welfare of the residents of the city.

   (B)   This section shall apply to the construction of all sanitary sewers, public and private, which tie into the municipal sanitary sewerage system and which have a total length for each unit of sewer of 200 feet or more.

   (C)   The following test shall be made prior to the time of acceptance or approval of a sanitary sewer by the City Engineer. The City Engineer shall not approve any sanitary sewer until it meets the following test. This test shall be known as the official low pressure air acceptance test.

      (1)   The contractor or owner shall furnish all equipment and personnel to conduct an acceptance test using low pressure air. The test shall be conducted under the supervision of the City Engineer.

      (2)   All branch fittings and ends of lateral stubs shall be securely plugged to withstand internal test pressures. The section of line being tested shall also be securely plugged at each manhole. All stoppers shall be adequately braced when required.

      (3)   Air shall be slowly supplied to the plugged pipeline until the internal air pressure reaches four pounds per square inch greater than the average back pressure of any groundwater that may submerge the pipe. At least two minutes shall be allowed for temperature stabilization before proceeding further.

      (4)   The rate of air loss shall then be determined by measuring the time interval required for the internal pressure to decrease from three and one half to two and one half pounds per square inch.

      (5)   The pipeline shall be considered acceptable if the time interval for the 1.0 psi pressure drop is not less than the holding time listed in the following test table.

Table on following page

Minimum Holding Time in Seconds Required for Pressure to Drop From 3-1/2 to 2-1/2 PSIG

		Pipe Diameter (Inches)
		4	6	8	10	12	15	18	21	24	27	30	33	36	39
Length of Line in Feet	25	4	10	18	28	40	62	89	121	158	200	248	299	356	418
	50	9	20	35	55	79	124	178	243	317	401	495	599	713	837
	75	13	30	53	83	119	186	267	364	475	601	743	898	1020	1105
	100	18	40	70	110	158	248	356	485	634	765	851	935
	125	22	50	88	138	198	909	446	595	680
	150	26	59	106	165	238	371	510
	175	31	69	123	193	277	425
	200	35	79	141	220	317
	225	40	89	158	248	340
	250	44	99	176	275
	275	48	109	194	283
	300	53	119	211
	350	61	139	227
	400	70	158
	450	79	170
	500	88
	550	97
	600	106
	650	113	170	227	283	340	425	510	595	680	765	851	935	1020	1105

 

Note: To be used when testing one diameter only.

(2000 Code, § 13.08.580)