Report of Impact of Food Waste Disposers on Combination Waste and Vent Systems and Individual Vents Terminating to an Air Admittance Valve

Transcription

1 Report of Impact of Food Waste Disposers on Combination Waste and Vent Systems and Individual Vents Terminating to an Air Admittance Valve 1 ASPE Research Foundation

2 Report of Impact of Food Waste Disposers on Combination Waste and Vent Systems and Individual Vents Terminating to an Air Admittance Valve by Curtis A. Ray, Jr., CPD and Max Weiss 2 ASPE Research Foundation

3 This research project was conducted under the direction, and with funding from, the American Society of Plumbing Engineers Research Foundation, Inc. The Board of Directors of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers Research Foundation is as follows: President: Vice Presidents: Treasurer: Secretary: Julius Ballanco, PE, CPD, FASPE Mitch Clemente, CPD William Erickson William Hughes, CPD, FASPE, LEED AP Curtis Ray Jr., CPD Max Weiss Stanley Wolfson Carol Johnson, CPD, LEED AP Jim Kendzel, MPH, CAE Copyright 2013 by American Society of Plumbing Engineers Research Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved, including rights of reproduction and use in any form or by any means, including the making of copies by any photographic process, or by any electronic or mechanical device, printed or written or oral, or recording for sound or visual reproduction, or for use in any knowledge or retrieval system or device, unless permission in writing is obtained from the publisher. 3 ASPE Research Foundation

4 Purpose The purpose of this research project was to investigate the impact that food waste disposers have on the venting of the drainage system when vented by a combination waste and vent system or an individual vent that terminates to an air-admittance valve (AAV). The 2012 International Plumbing Code (IPC), published by the International Code Council (ICC), restricts the installation of food waste disposers on combination waste and vent systems, reportedly based on the presumption that such installations will compromise waste and vent system performance. This research establishes that there is no measurable effect on venting or adjacent trap seal integrity by operation of food waste disposers either in the case of a combination waste and vent system or in the case of an individual vent incorporating an air-admittance valve. Method Two test apparatuses representing plumbing installations were constructed: one utilizing a commercial food waste grinder in accordance with Diagram 3.1b and one utilizing a residential food waste grinder in accordance with Diagram 3.1c of the Test Protocol in Appendix A. Residential Apparatus The plumbing diagrams provided for 40 feet of drain, sloped at 1/4 inch per foot, and 45 feet of vent. Each apparatus was measured and verified to be in accordance with the prescribed dimensions of the test protocol relative to the test being conducted. The residential food waste grinder was InSinkErator 1 HP Evolution Excel, and the commercial food waste grinder was InSinkErator Model SS200. Ambient barometric pressure, temperature, and humidity within the laboratory were measured and recorded at mbar, 23.5 C, 18.2 percent respectively. 4 ASPE Research Foundation

5 Clear traps at the disposer and downstream fixture with adjacent lined charts calibrated at.200-inch lined intervals were utilized to maximize visualization of hydraulic performance. All test increments were filmed, and that film constitutes the demonstrative portion of this report. (Go to aspe.org/fooddisposertestvideos to view the recordings.) Residential Disposer TrAP Residential DownstreAM Fixture TrAP 5 ASPE Research Foundation

6 CoMMercial Disposer TrAP The food component introduced was 2 cups of La Choy Chicken Chow Mein for the residential test and 3 cups of La Choy Chicken Chow Mein for the commercial test. Water and food components were introduced in each increment in accordance with the provisions of the Test Protocol. Residential Food Quantity COMMerCIAL Food Quantity 6 ASPE Research Foundation

7 Observation No perceptible movement or diminishment of trap water-seal integrity was observed in any of the Test Protocol increments in either the residential or commercial versions. The only water movement observed in the object trap was a minimal reaction to disposer starting torque and vibration transmitted through test apparatus piping. Following the culmination of Test Protocol testing, a slug load consisting of 5 gallons was discharged to the receiving sink in approximately 10 seconds, thereby creating a flow load of approximately gallons per minute. The object trap showed no measurable change in water-seal integrity during the enlarged loading. Conclusion The installation and operation of food waste disposers in combined waste and vent systems in either a domestic or commercial piping system produce no compromise of adjacent trap seals or venting functions. This is true in open venting and AAV venting systems. 7 ASPE Research Foundation

8 APPendix A Test Protocol 1.0 PurPose 1.1 The purpose of this research project is to investigate the hydraulic impact food waste disposers have on the venting of the drainage system when vented by a combination waste and vent system or an individual vent that terminates to an air-admittance valve. The 2012 International Plumbing Code restricts the installation of food waste disposers on combination waste and vent systems. The research will establish whether such a restriction is justified. 1.2 Some jurisdictions have questioned the use of food waste disposers on sinks that have individual vents that terminate to an air-admittance valve. This research will determine if such concerns are valid. 2.0 DEFinitions & NOMenCLAture 2.1 Definitions Combination Waste and Vent: A specially designed system of waste piping embodying the horizontal wet venting of one or more sinks or floor drains by means of a common waste and vent pipe adequately sized to provide free movement of air above the flow line of the drain. 2.2 Nomenclature AAV = Air-admittance valve DWV = Drainage, waste, and vent PVC = Polyvinyl chloride Inch = Inches 3.0 TEST ASSEMbly 3.1 Three test assemblies will be constructed for testing. (Separate assemblies are not required. A standard test assembly can be modified for each series of tests.) See the three diagrams (3.1a, 3.1b, and 3.1c) below for the layout of the test assembly. DiagrAM 3.1a Legend 1. Sink 2. Residential Food Waste Disposer 3. Vat of water 4. Vent 8 ASPE Research Foundation

9 DiagrAM 3.1b Legend 1. Sink 2. Residential Food Waste Disposer 3. Vat of water 4. Vent DiagrAM 3.1c Legend 1. Sink 2. Residential Food Waste Disposer 3. Vat of water 4. Vent 3.2 Pipe Material All drainage and vent pipe and fittings shall be DWV PVC. The trap and trap arm shall be clear plastic so the trap seal can be observed during testing. 3.3 The drain pipe for the test assemblies (Diagrams 3.1a, 3.1b, and 3.1c) shall be piped per the diagram and at the sizes indicated. This pipe shall lay across the floor with a slope of 1/4 inch per foot terminating at the vat for water reclamation. 3.4 The vent pipe for the test assemblies (Diagrams 3.1a, 3.1b, and 3.1c) shall be piped per the diagram and at the sizes indicated. The vent pipe extension can run in any alternate method as long as no traps are formed. 3.5 Connect the largest food waste disposer to the test assembly for both the residential test and the commercial test. Fill each trap with water to establish a 2-inch trap seal. 4.0 TEST ProtoCOL 4.1 General Set up a video camera to record water motion in the drain pipe Place indexed board behind both traps to record fluctuations as the test is performed. 4.2 Residential Assembly (Diagram 3.1a) Preparation (A1 through A5): None required Test Cycles (A1 through A5) Flow the maximum amount of water (maximum of 1.5 gallons per minute [gpm]), wait five seconds, and then turn on the food waste disposer Run the food waste disposer for 25 seconds, turn off the food waste disposer, and then Record the traps for water movement during the entire test cycle time Wait two minutes, and repeat the test a minimum of four more times. 9 ASPE Research Foundation

10 4.2.3 Preparation (A6 through A10) Place 2 cups of La Choy Chicken Chow Mein in the food waste disposer Test Cycles (A6 through A10) Flow the maximum amount of water (maximum of 1.5 gpm), wait five seconds, and then turn on the food waste disposer Run the food waste disposer for 25 seconds, turn off the food waste disposer, and then Record the traps for water movement during the entire test cycle time Observation After each test cycle (A1 through A10), measure the depth of the trap seal in the adjacent sink trap and document the results. The minimum trap seal required for a successful test is 1-1/2 inches. 4.3 Commercial test assembly (Diagram 3.1b) Preparation (B1 through B5): None required Test Cycles (B1 through B5) Flow the maximum amount of water (maximum of 3 gpm), wait five seconds, and then turn on the food waste disposer Run the food waste disposer for 60 seconds, turn off the food waste disposer, and then Record the traps for water movement during the entire test cycle time Wait 5 minutes and repeat the test a minimum of 4 more times Preparation (B6 through B10) Place 3 cups of La Choy Chicken Chow Mein in the food waste disposer Test Cycles (B6 through B10) Flow the maximum amount of water (maximum of 3 gpm), wait five seconds, and then turn on the food waste disposer Run the food waste disposer for 60 seconds, turn off the food waste disposer, and then Record the traps for water movement during the entire test cycle time Observation After each test cycle (B1 through B10), measure the depth of the trap seal in the adjacent sink trap and document the results. The minimum trap seal required for a successful test is 1-1/2 inches. 10 ASPE Research Foundation

11 4.4 AAV Assembly (Diagram 3.1c) Preparation (C1 through C5): None required Test Cycles (C1 through C5) Flow the maximum amount of water (maximum of 1.5 gpm), wait five seconds, and then turn on the food waste disposer Run the food waste disposer for 25 seconds, turn off the food waste disposer, and then Record the traps for water movement during the entire test cycle time Wait two minutes, and repeat the test a minimum of four more times Preparation (C6 through C10) Place 2 cups of La Choy Chicken Chow Mein in the food waste disposer Test Cycles (C6 through C10) Flow the maximum amount of water (maximum of 1.5 gpm), wait five seconds, and then turn on the food waste disposer Run the food waste disposer for 25 seconds, turn off the food waste disposer, and then Record the traps for water movement during the entire test cycle time Observation After each test cycle (C1 through C10), measure the depth of the trap seal in the adjacent sink trap and document the results. The minimum trap seal required for a successful test is 1-1/2 inches. 5.0 TEST ProtoCOL 5.1 Record and document all results and observations for each test assembly. END ProtoCOL 11 ASPE Research Foundation