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BRANCH OPINION


TESTING OF DRAINAGE AND VENTING SYSTEMS BY WATER TEST

As required by Article 7.3.6.4. of the Ontario Building Code.

GENERAL PROCEDURE:

  1. Every opening except the highest shall be tightly closed in each section of pipe. If the entire system is not tested, each section shall be 3 m high and include 1.5 m of the section below.

  2. Filling the piping completely with water until overflowing, standard industry practice is for a 5 foot head on underground piping.

  3. Visually examining all of the piping, fittings and connections after 15 minutes has passed to ensure no leakage.

  4. If the water level has remained constant with no additional water being added and no sign of leakage or seepage, then the piping will have passed the water test.

  5. If the water level does not remain constant, then the leak will have to be located and repaired. The test procedure will then be repeated again.

NOTES: Some municipalities are allowing the water test up to the highest bathtub outlet to test the waste and overflow rather than to the vent stack in single family dwellings. On high rise buildings care must be used to ensure the material can withstand the pressures being exerted.

TESTING OF DRAINAGE AND VENTING SYSTEMS BY AIR TEST

As required by Article 7.3.6.5. of the Ontario Building Code

GENERAL PROCEDURE:

  1. Every opening shall be closed and an air compressor (pressurized cylinder with an inert gas is sometimes used) is securely attached to the piping.

  2. Air is forced into the system until a pressure of 35 kPa (5 psi) is obtained.

  3. Visually examining all of the piping, fittings and connections after 15 minutes has passed to ensure no leakage.

  4. If the pressure has remained constant with no additional air being forced in and no sign of leakage or seepage, then the piping will have passed the air test.

  5. If the air pressure does not remain constant, then the leak will have to be located and repaired. The test procedure will then be repeated again.

NOTES: If the air temperature changes by 2.5 øC (5øF) then the results of this test will not be correct due to expansion or contraction of the air in the piping. It is far more difficult to find leakage using this method than the water test. Usually a mixture of soap and water is required on every joint to find a leak.

TESTING OF DRAINAGE USING A BALL TEST

As required by Article 7.3.6.7.

GENERAL PROCEDURE:

  1. A test ball, usually a billiard ball, shall be placed at the high end of the pipe, and allowed to roll through the pipe to the low end of the pipe. If there are not obstructions and the pipe is graded correctly, it shall be caught and removed. The piping then passes the ball test.

  2. If the ball doesn't roll all the way through, an inspector will usually allow one 5 gallon bucket of water to be poured into the drain. If this does not dislodge the ball and cause it to roll through the piping then the piping does not pass the ball test.

  3. The ball will then have to be retrieved and procedure 1 completed again.

NOTES: On newly installed plastic piping, the solvent is heavily corrosive towards billiard balls. The solvent must be given time to cure otherwise the ball will not be able to roll through.

FINAL TESTING OF DRAINAGE AND VENTING SYSTEMS

As required by Article 7.3.6.6. of the Ontario Building Code.

GENERAL PROCEDURE:

  1. Fill all traps to their minimum water seal

  2. Plug the building drain through the main cleanout where the drain leaves the building

  3. All future connections are capped with permanent caps.

  4. One test procedure is done.

  5. A final visual is done for the plumbing fixtures and trim.

TEST PROCEDURE #1

  1. Smoke (or air) is forced into the system through the main cleanout or other convenient connection.

  2. When the smoke appears at the vent terminal it shall be closed.

  3. Smoke will continue to be added until a pressure of 1 inch water column is achieved.

  4. This pressure will then be maintained for a minimum of 15 minutes without the addition of more smoke.

  5. If this pressure cannot be maintained, the leak shall be located and repaired. Once this is complete the procedure shall be completed once more.

  6. The test equipment is removed, the main drain unplugged, and the caps on the vent terminals removed. All traps are to have their trap seals replenished if necessary.

TEST PROCEDURE #2
  1. A toilet bowl is filled slowly with water, until the level in the bowl rises to the underside of the bowl rim.

  2. If the system is air tight, the level of the water in the bowl will remain at the underside of the bowl rim. The pressure that is created by the head of the water is equal to the air pressure in the plumbing system. This proves the system air tight.

  3. If the water level drops slowly, a small leak in the system is evident. If the water will not rise at all, then a large leak is evident. The leak must be located and repaired. The final test must then be repeated.

  4. Once the water level has remained constant for 15 minutes, a cleanout will be opened or the plug in the main drain pulled. At this time the toilet bowl will flush and the traps may siphon.

  5. The caps on the vent terminals are to be removed and the water seal replenished on all fixtures.

NOTES: This method uses no gauges and will exert a pressure equal to or greater than 1 inch water column.

May 15, 1995

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