Significant changes to the 2018 International Plumbing Code

The 2018 Significant Changes guides are available for the International Building, Residential, Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes. This valuable series can help any code user save time by zeroing in on the most critical changes in the 2018 International Codes (I-Codes). The Code Council’s technical experts provide summaries, analysis and graphics for these changes making them clear and easy to understand.

2018 International Plumbing Code

A modification to Sections 608.17.1.1 and 608.17.1.2 (Independent Backflow Protection for Drink Dispensers) states that only carbonated beverage dispensers require a backflow preventer that is designed for exposure to carbon dioxide gas. Also, because of the potential for cross-contamination between non-carbonated drink dispensers and or coffee machines, each dispenser or machine supplied with potable water must have a backflow preventer (or air gap) at the connection to the potable water supply.

An ASSE 1022 backflow preventer, specially designed for carbon dioxide exposure, is only required for a carbonated drink dispenser, not for non-carbonated drink dispensers or coffee machines. Coffee machines and non-carbonated beverage dispensers can now be connected to the potable water supply using ASSE 1024 backflow preventers. The ASSE 1022 device has a vent opening that leaks water when the downstream check valve of the device fails. The leaking water requires a safe point of discharge (a drain) which sometimes necessitates a complex air gap drainage arrangement. The ASSE 1024 device (which does not have a vent opening) does not need a drain, thus simplifying many installations. Also, in order to protect against cross-contamination among individual coffee machines and non-carbonated beverage dispensers, each machine and each dispenser requires its own ASSE 1024 device.

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