Building Division MULTI-TRADES INSPECTION Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Frame, Roof City of Palo Alto (CPA) Building Inspection Division 285 Hamilton Ave. Inspection Request: 650 329-2496 Inspection Code IVR# 301 Revision Date: 6/7/14 General Requirements/Checklist for: COMMERCIAL Codes Enforced: 2010-2013 California Building, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Codes Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) The information provided in this document is general and intended as a guide only. Each project is unique and additional requirements may be enforced as deemed appropriate. WARNING Failure to complete items below prior to inspection may result in a re-inspection fee. Recently This section shall be completed prior to All Trades inspection Building shall be watertight (roof complete, walls papered/waterproof, and windows installed. Exception: Contractor shall submit to Building Official a letter of responsibility for damaged materials due to weather exposure AND must use water resistant materials such as paperless interior drywall and siliconized/waterproof fire caulking. Any damaged work shall be completed under a separate permit. Prior to inspection verify all required sequential inspections and correction notices are complete. All required special inspections have been performed including HERS testing. Verify revisions have been submitted and approved. Gas stub-out location shall be approved and Green tagged by WGW, contact Thomas Hafner @ 650-496-5940 Fire blocking and caulking as required shall be completed at All-Trades inspection prior to insulation NO EXCEPTIONS. Fire sprinklers: Fire Department approval of fire sprinkler system is required. Alternate Methods and Materials Alternate methods and materials shall be submitted and approved prior to installation and inspection (i.e. CSST, PEX, PV Systems, Foam insulation, Blown-In-Insulation, Clothes dryer inline booster fans, Tankless Water Heaters, etc.) Photovoltaic System If photovoltaic is part of the permit, a separate inspection shall be scheduled. Helpful Reminder Don t forget to install the thermostat and communication wires.
Mechanical If applicable see Kitchen Hood Guidelines. Enclosed space housing mechanical equipment shall have a minimum (1) receptacle outlet and light installed near the equipment with the light switch located at the entrance to the passageway. CPA Policy Structural support for grab bars, tubs and shower seats Verify that structural support for grab bars, tub and shower seats, fasteners and mounting devices are designed to resist a single concentrated load of 250 pounds in any direction at any point. CBC 1115B.7.2 ; (Residential CBC 1607.7.2) Structural support for handrails and guards Verify that handrail assemblies and guard supports resist a load of 50 pounds per lineal foot in any direction and shall resist a single concentrated load of 200 pounds applied in any direction. CBC 1607.7.1, 1607.7.1.1 Plumbing If applicable, see attached Island Venting Illustration. Identify roof drain pipes with Label Palo Alto Municipal Code Requirements All commercial and industrial building whose building face is parallel to the City sidewalk shall have a HOSE BIB for washing the building face or watering plants. PAMC 16.08.100 If applicable, verify that Backflow Prevention Device is installed (water supply) PAMC 16.08.100. see backflow prevention inspection guidelines Drainage piping serving fixtures with flood level rims located below one foot above the elevation of the next upstream manhole cover of the public or private sewer serving such drainage piping shall be protected from backflow of sewage by installing an approved backwater valve. PAMC 16.08.130 Section 710.1 Materials CPC 701.1: Drainage piping shall be of *cast iron, galv. Steel, galv. Wrought iron, lead, **copper, brass, stainless steel 304 or 316L, schedule 40 ABS DWV, schedule 40 PVC DWV, extra-strength vitrified clay pipe, or other approved material having a smooth and uniform bore, except that: No galv. Wrought iron, stainless steel 304 or galv. steel pipe shall be used underground and shall be keep (6) inches above ground. ABS and PVC is allowed within COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS except when piping is exposed within ducts or plenums. Important: highly recommend solid core PVC ABS and PVC installations are limited to RESIDENTIAL construction not more than two stories of areas of residential accommodation. [ HCD 1 & 2] CPC 701.1.2.2
* CPC 701.1 (6) Cast iron soil pipe and fittings materials shall be marked with the following: Manufacturer s name OR registered trademark* Country of origin Date of manufacture (pipe only) *Note: Manufacturers trademark MUST be readily identifiable CPC 701.1 Materials shall comply with referenced standards CISPI 301: The following documents are required by CISPI 301, and shall be provided to the City inspector upon request: 1. Radiation screening records 2. Mechanical testing records to verify tensile strength (test done every 4 hours) 3. Chemical testing records (test done every 4 hours) 4. Dimensional inspection records (test done every 12 hours) 5. Certification letter from manufacturer legal name and address of actual manufacturer Note: a) All records MUST be provided by the manufacture, and kept by the manufacturer for a period of seven (7) years. b) All testing and record keeping are to be performed by the manufacture at the time the product is cast ( analysis of castings or test bars after the time of production shall not be used as evidence of compliance with this specification. - CISPI 301) **CPA ORDINANCE 16.08.080 Section 701.1.4 amended Materials. NOTE: CPA Ordinance Supersedes the California Plumbing Code Section 701.1.4 of the California Plumbing Code is amended to read: 701.1.4 Copper, copper alloys, lead and lead alloys, including brass, shall not be used for building sanitary sewer systems except for domestic waste sink traps and short lengths of associated connecting pipes where alternate materials are not practical. Where permitted by the Building Official, copper tube for drainage and vent piping shall have a weight of not less than that of copper drainage tube type DWV. 16.08.090 Table 7-1 amended - Materials for drain, waste, vent pipe and fittings. Footnote 2 is added to Table 7-1 to read as follows: 2 For limitations on the use of Brass and Copper (Type DWV) refer to Section 701.1.4. 16.08.150 Section 1101.3 amended Storm drainage, material uses. Section 1101.3 of the California Plumbing Code is amended to read: 1101.3 Material Uses. Rainwater piping placed within the interior of a building or run within a vent or shaft shall be of cast iron, galvanized steel, wrought iron, Schedule 40 ABS DWV, Schedule 40 PVC DWV, stainless steel 304 or 316L (stainless steel 304 pipe and fittings shall not be installed underground and shall be kept not less than six (6) inches (152 mm) aboveground), or other approved materials, and changes in direction shall conform to the requirements of Section 706.0. ABS and PVC DWV piping installations shall be installed in accordance with IS 5 and IS 9. Except for individual single-family dwelling units, materials exposed within ducts or plenums shall have a flame-spread index of a maximum of twenty-five (25) and a smoke-developed index of a maximum of fifty (50), when tested in accordance with the Test for Surface-Burning Characteristics of the Building Materials (see the Building Code standards based on ASTM E 84 and UL 723.). [HCD 1 & HCD 2] ABS or PVC installations are limited to not more than two stories of areas of residential accommodation.
Drainage piping shall maintain a minimum ¼ inch per foot uniform slope. CPC 708.0 Exception: At the discretion of the building official and when impractical due to the depth of the street sewer or structural features or to the arrangement of any building or structure, pipes 4 or larger may have a slope no less than 1/8 per foot. Testing piping system: Drain, waste, and vent (DWV) system shall be tested with water and no less than 10 of head water for 15 minutes OR 5 psi air test for 15 minutes. CPC 712.2 Push-Fit Fittings and Heat Fusion Weld Joints are allowed. CPC 316.1.10, 11 Water pipe shall be tested and proved tight under water pressure not less than the working pressure under which used CPC 609.4 Water service from meter to building shall be tested prior to or during this inspection. Sewer line clean-out Cleanout shall be approved type WYE, combo fittings or approved two way cleanout such as head to head double combos. Verify building clean-out is within 2 feet of the building terminating at grade level. CPC 718.3 Additional clean-outs are required at property lines, end of line, horizontal change of direction exceeding 135 degrees, and runs exceeding 100 in length. CPC 707.0 and 719.0 Clean-out shall be installed so that it opens to allow cleaning in the direction of flow. CPC 719.4 Vent size per CPC Table 7-5. The min. diameter of individual vent pipe shall not be less than 1-1/4 nor less than one-half the diameter of the drain to which it is connected and shall be vented by means of one or more vent pipes, the aggregate cross-sectional area shall not be less than the largest required building sewer pipe. CPC 904.1 See attached pipe circumferences table. Vents that connect to a horizontal drainage pipe shall have its invert taken off above the drainage centerline of such pipe downstream of the trap being served. CPC 905.2
Waste vents shall terminate vertically not less than 6 above roof, nor Less than 1 from any vertical surface and 10 from or 3 above any opening such as windows, doors, air intake, nor less than 3 from any lot line. Side wall vent may not terminate under vented soffit. CPC 906.1, 2 Venting shall be vertical until 6 above the flood rim of the fixture. CPC 905.3 Fire rated walls: All plastic pipe such as condensate lines, vacuum lines, exhaust lines, drain lines, waste & vent lines require an approved U.L. tested fire stop collar or equivalent at fire rated wall/ceiling OR use cast iron for DWV pipes. Transition fittings between metal and plastic pipe shall be listed for that use. Island sink foot vent cleanout (WYE) CPC 909.0 Check for steam shower requirements. Ejector vent shall be run separately through roof, vent size per Table 7-3 but never smaller than 1-1/2. CPC 710.10 Floor Drains CPC 411.2 (Verify at Underslab Plumbing Inspection) Floor drains shall be installed in the following areas: All floor drains shall be provided with a continuous type primer. Toilet rooms containing (2) or more water closets or a combination of (1) water closet and (1) urinal, except in dwelling unit. Commercial kitchens. Laundry rooms in commercial buildings and common laundry facilities in multi-family dwelling buildings. Fire service backflow device closet area. Note: Flushing of the fire system to sanitary sewer shall not exceed 30 GPM. Higher flushing rates shall be diverted to a detention tank to achieve the 30 GPM flow to sewer. See WGW plan review condition. Verify floor drain with a continuous drip type primer is available within the fire service backflow device closet. If no drain, area subject to splash shall be protected with paperless drywall such as DensGlass.
2013 CPC 814.3 CONDENSATE Point of Discharge. Air-conditioning condensate waste pipes shall connect indirectly to the drainage system through an air gap or air break to properly trapped and vented receptors, dry wells, leach pits, or the tailpiece of plumbing fixtures
Gas Other checklist See CSST gas piping See attached Gas Pipe Stub Out detail for location requirements. See Under Structure Gas Pipe checklist, if applicable. Gas piping 5 psi and above located inside a structure is prohibited unless one of the following conditions are met: 1. Pipe is located in a ventilated chase, 2. Pipe is located in buildings or separate area of building used exclusively for industrial heating or processing, research, warehousing or boiler or mechanical equipment room. 3. Pipe system is welded. CPC 1211.5 Label gas piping Prohibited locations: Gas piping shall not be installed in or through a circulating air duct, clothes chute, chimney or gas vent, ventilation duct, dumbwaiter, or elevator shaft. CMC 1311.2.5 Verify that WGW approved location of gas stub out prior to this inspection; a green sticker must be attached to gas stub out (call WGW @ 650-496-5947.) Where more than one gas meter exists, each separate gas meter shall be identified with a brass tag. CPC 1209.6.5 Gas pipe stub out shall extend a min. 4, max. 6 beyond face of wall. WGW Assembly Standard 250-630 * Gas pipe passing through outside wall shall be protected against corrosion by coating, wrapping or sleeve. Sleeved pipe shall be sealed at the annular space between the gas pipe and sleeve. (Recommend prime and wrap using 20 mill tape with two wraps) CPC 1211.2 and 1211.1.5 All branch piping in yard must be tied in prior to whole house gas test and shall be configured for isolated shut off lockable valve. Any underground metallic gas pipe that is extended below grade requires a dielectric union to be installed at a minimum of 6 above grade (CPC 316.2.4) It is recommended that a full way valve be installed on underground lines to provide for an ability to isolate them if needed. Test gauges shall have a pressure range not greater than twice the test pressure applied CPC 319 Test pressure not less than 1-1/2 times the maximum working pressure, but not less than 3 psi for 10 minutes CPC 1214.3.1,2,3 Recommend 15 psi test. Gas Shut-off valve shall be accessible rigid piping upstream from the flexible connector and within 6 of the gas appliance. CPC 1212.4 Verify gas shutoff valve is within 6 from appliance. Recommend shutoff be readily accessible in adjacent cabinet space. CPC 1212.1 Shutoff valves installed in firebox of fireplace shall be installed per manufacturer instructions. Gas pipe penetration into fireplace shall be sealed with refractory sealant. Verify gas flex lines are rated to supply max BTU input of appliances.
Electrical See electrical section of the book for all electrical requirements Palo Alto Municipal Code Requirements All buildings and structures (other than single or two family dwellings, apartment buildings of wood frame construction not exceeding three stories in height and accessory buildings thereto) shall be wired in an approved type raceway or metallic covered cable permitted by code. PAMC 16.16.060 (D) Verify rough electrical for light at address numbers location. See Address and Premises guidelines. CPA Policy Electrical (Multi Family) Partition wall outlet boxes: Horizontal separation between outlet boxes on opposite sides of the wall may not be less than 24 and not allowed in the same bay vertically. See [FIGURE A-1] Exception: May be less than 24 (not back to back/shadowing) when using listed putty pads. Back to back outlet boxes are not allowed. See [FIGURE A-3] Exceptions: Horizontal separation may be less than 24 provided one of the outlet boxes is boxed out with drywall. See [FIGURE A-2] Stuff one block of thermo-fiber between back to back receptacles. Putty pad installation recommendation: Clean electrical box, Spray-Glue the box and attach putty pad, or wire pad in place. FIRE BLOCKING See Fire Blocking inspection guidelines CPA Requires siliconized fire caulking FREQUENTLY MISSED/INSPECTION FAILURE Verify fire blocking and caulking at all exit corridors.