As a leader in trenchless lateral rehabilitation solutions, we’re pleased to share an explanation of some recent changes to the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) related to our CIPP (cured-in-place pipe) products. If you need assistance gaining approval for any of our products regulated by plumbing codes, please get it touch so that we can make resources available to help out.
Reversal of Ban on CIPP for Cast Iron
Over the past 2 years, many industry participants, including the National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO), have been working together advocating for the removal of language in the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) restricting the use of CIPP (cured-in-place pipe) to rehabilitate cast iron pipes. Back in the spring of this year (2020), in response to NASSCO’s petitions and the extensive efforts of key committee members, the IAPMO Board of Directors decided to remove this prohibition.
Read the full announcement >>>
For the past two years, HammerHead has engaged consultant Joanne Carroll of Subtegic Group Inc. to participate in this important industry-wide effort on behalf of our customers that provide trenchless services using HammerHead technologies. It took a lot of persistence and dedication of all involved, including Carroll, to achieve this significant accomplishment for our industry and we appreciate all their hard work getting it done. The rest of this post provides an explanation of the changes.
The 2018 Edition and the 2021 Edition of the UPC included prohibitive language for existing sewers in Section 715.3, which has been revised as follows:
- 2018 UPC
- 715.3 Existing Sewers. Replacement of existing building sewer and building storm sewers using trenchless methodology and materials shall be installed in accordance with ASTM F1216. Cast iron soil pipes and fittings shall not be repaired or replaced by using this method aboveground or belowground. Replacement using cured in place pipe liners shall not be used on collapsed piping or when the existing piping is compromised.
- 2021 UPC
- 715.3 Existing Sewers. Replacement of existing building sewer and building storm sewers using trenchless methodology and materials shall be installed in accordance with ASTM F1216, ASTM F2561, ASTM F2599 or ASTM F3240.
Addition of ASTM Standards Involving Patented Products
The 2021 model codes for both the UPC and the IPC include the addition of three ASTM standards which involve the use of materials or methods that are protected by patents. The following is a brief description of these standards, along with guidance on obtaining approval for HammerHead solutions, if required.
- ASTM F2561 – this is a patent-involved standard practice for the sealing of the lateral to the main with a full-wrap style CIPP solution including the use of hydrophilic o-rings and gaskets. At present, HammerHead does not offer a CIPP lateral to main sealing solution. However, there are several suppliers of such systems that include the use of non-patented hydrophilic materials with both ambient and light curing methods.
- ASTM F2599 – this is a patent-involved standard practice for making a sectional (point) repair using CIPP installed by an inversion method including the use of hydrophilic o-rings at the terminations of the CIPP. HammerHead CIPP Point Repair solutions are installed using methods and materials that are not precluded by the existing patents and are compliant with the plumbing code and ASTM F1216 as certified by ICC-ES, IAPMO and NSF.
- ASTM F3240 – this is a patent-involved standard that describes the material testing and installation method for the hydrophilic gaskets and o-rings required in ASTM F2561 and ASTM F2599. The patent holder recently sponsored changes to all of the associated ASTM standards to require the use of their o-rings and gaskets with the guise that only their patented systems and materials provide a watertight solution. CIPP systems have been rehabilitating sewer pipe for almost 50 years providing watertight solutions. The use of hydrophilic materials is not novel and occasionally are used to supplement the already tight-fitting finished CIPP with resin migration filling voids in the host pipe creating a leak-tight seal. If necessary, HammerHead Lateral Lining and Point Repair solutions may be submitted for approval using equivalent non-patented hydrophilic materials.
If operating under the IPC 2021 model code, you may use Section 316.1 Alternative Engineered Design and third-party certification (by ICC-ES and NSF) to submit HammerHead solutions compliant with ASTM F1216 for the rehabilitation of building sewers and building storm sewers using CIPP. This is consistent with currently approved use of CIPP where the local jurisdiction is utilizing the IPC 2018 model code.
HammerHead is continuing its efforts to expand its solutions for building drains, vents and sewers, as well as establishing new industry standards through ASTM while also presenting proposals for further inclusion of these solutions within national plumbing codes under development. If you need assistance gaining approval for HammerHead solutions regulated by plumbing codes, we encourage you to contact us as we have resources available to support you. Questions? Get in touch!