The 2018 edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC©) represents the most current approaches in the plumbing field. It is the sixth edition developed under the ANSI Consensus process is designated as an American National Standards by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Contributions to the content of this code were made by every segment of the built industry, including such diverse interests as consumers, enforcing authorities, installers/maintainers, labor, manufacturers, research/standards/ testing laboratories, special experts and users.
The UPC is designed to provide consumers with safe and sanitary plumbing systems while, at the same time, allowing latitude for innovation and new technologies. Key changes to the 2018 UPC include:
New sound transmission provisions for plumbing piping systems (Chapter 3)
New product standards for plumbing fixtures such as wall hung fixtures, waste fittings, lavatories, showers, bathtubs and whirlpool bathtubs, flushometer valves, sinks and eyewash stations; and signage for single use toilet facilities (Chapter 4)
New provisions for connector capacities for elbows in connectors, minimum capacity for storage water heaters and clearance to combustible materials (Chapter 5)
New backflow protection provisions for chemical dispensers, new material provisions for pipes, tubes, fittings and joint methods for water supply and distribution, and new pressure testing for the hot and cold-water supply system (Chapter 6)
New materials requirements for drain, waste, vent pipe and fittings (Chapter 7)
New provisions for trap seal primers for potable water supply (Chapter 10)
New provisions for engineered storm drainage systems (Chapter 11)
New requirements for piping material, overpressure protection and gas piping installation for fuel gas piping systems (Chapter 12)
New requirements for medical gas and vacuum systems based on latest edition of NFPA 99 (Chapter 13)
New peak water demand method and calculator for estimating demand loads for water supply of single- and multi-family dwellings with water conserving plumbing fixtures, fixture fittings, and appliances (Appendix M)
