The Chicago Plumbing Code

§ 18-29-713

Health Care Plumbing.

§ 18-29-713.1 Scope.

Sections § 18-29-713.1 through § 18-29-713.11.4 shall govern those aspects of health care plumbing systems that differ from plumbing systems in other structures. Health care plumbing systems shall conform to these sections in addition to the other requirements of this chapter. These sections shall apply to the special devices and equipment installed and maintained in the following occupancies: nursing homes, homes for the aged, orphanages, infirmaries, first aid stations, psychiatric facilities, clinics, professional offices of dentists and doctors, mortuaries, educational facilities, surgery, dentistry, research and testing laboratories, establishments manufacturing pharmaceutical drugs and medicines, and other structures with similar apparatus and equipment classified as plumbing.

§ 18-29-713.2 Bedpan washers and clinical sinks.

Bedpan washers and clinical sinks shall connect to the drainage and vent system in accordance with the requirements for a water closet. Bedpan washers shall also connect to a local vent.

§ 18-29-713.3 Indirect waste.

All sterilizers, steamers and condensers shall discharge to the drainage through an indirect waste pipe by means of an air gap. Where a battery of not more than three sterilizers discharges to an individual receptor, the distance between the receptor and a sterilizer shall not exceed 8 feet (2438 mm). The indirect waste pipe on a bedpan steamer shall be trapped.

§ 18-29-713.4 Vacuum system station.

Ready access shall be provided to vacuum system station receptacles. Such receptacles shall be built into cabinets or recesses and shall be visible.

§ 18-29-713.5 Bottle system.

Vacuum (fluid motion) systems intended for collection, moving and disposing of blood, pus or other fluids by the bottle system shall be provided with receptacles equipped with an overflow prevention device at each vacuum outlet station.

§ 18-29-713.6 Central disposal system equipment.

All central vacuum (fluid suction) systems shall provide continuous service systems equipped with collecting or control tanks shall provide for draining and cleaning of the tanks while the system is in operation. In hospitals, the system shall be connected to the emergency power system. The exhausts from a vacuum pump serving a vacuum (fluid suction) system shall discharge separately to open air above the roof.

§ 18-29-713.7 Central vacuum or disposal systems.

Where the waste from a central vacuum (fluid suction) system of the barometric-lag, collection-tank or bottle-disposal type is connected to the drainage system, the waste shall be directly connected to the sanitary drainage system through a trapped waste.

§ 18-29-713.7.1 Piping.

The piping of a central vacuum (fluid suction) system shall be of corrosion-resistant material with a smooth interior surface. A branch shall not be less than 1/2 inch (12 mm) nominal pipe size for one outlet and shall be sized in accordance with the number of vacuum outlets. A main shall not be less than 1 inch (25 mm) nominal pipe size. The pipe sizing shall be increased in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions as stations are increased. For the purposes of inspection, maintenance and replacement, all piping shall have cleanout facilities on mains and branches. Access shall be provided to such cleanout facilities.

§ 18-29-713.7.2 Velocity.

The velocity of airflow in a central vacuum (fluid suction) system shall be less than 5,000 feet per minute (25.4 m/s).

§ 18-29-713.8 Vent connections prohibited.

Connections between local vents serving bedpan washers or sterilizer vents serving sterilizing apparatus and normal sanitary plumbing systems are prohibited. Only one type of apparatus shall be served by a local vent.

§ 18-29-713.9 Local vents and stacks for bedpan washers.

Bedpan washers shall be vented to open air above the roof by means of one or more local vents. The local vent for a bedpan washer shall not be less than a 2-inch-diameter (50 mm) pipe. A local vent serving a single bedpan washer is permitted to drain to the fixture served.

§ 18-29-713.9.1 Multiple installations.

Where bedpan washers are located above each other on more than one floor, a local vent stack is permitted to be installed to receive the local vent on the various floors. Not more than three bedpan washers shall be connected to a 2-inch (50 mm) local vent stack, not more than six to a 3-inch (75 mm) local vent stack and not more than 12 inch (305 mm) to a 4-inch (100 mm) local vent stack.* In multiple installations, the connections between a bedpan washer local vent and a local vent stack shall be made with tee or tee-wye sanitary pattern drainage fittings installed in an upright position.

*Note As set forth in Coun. J. 3-28-01, p. 55444, 1; correct language appears to be ...not more than 12 to a 4-inch (100 mm) local vent stack.

§ 18-29-713.9.2 Trap required.

The bottom of the local vent stack, except where serving only one bedpan washer, shall be drained by means of a trapped and vented waste connection to the sanitary drainage system. The trap and waste shall be the same size as the local vent stack.

§ 18-29-713.9.3 Trap seal maintenance.

A water supply pipe not less than 1/4 inch (6 mm) in diameter shall be taken from the flush supply of each bedpan washer on the discharge or fixture side of the vacuum breaker, shall be trapped to form not less than a 3-inch (75 mm) water seal, and shall be connected to the local vent stack on each floor. The water supply shall be installed so as to provide a supply of water to the local vent stack for cleansing and drain trap seal maintenance each time a bedpan washer is flushed.

§ 18-29-713.10 Sterilizer vents and stacks.

Multiple installations of pressure and non-pressure sterilizers shall have the vent connections to the sterilizer vent stack made by means of inverted wye fittings. Access shall be provided to vent connections for the purpose of inspection and maintenance.

§ 18-29-713.10.1 Drainage.

The connection between sterilizer vent or exhaust openings and the sterilizer vent stack shall be designed and installed to drain to the funnel or basket-type waste fitting. In multiple installations, the sterilizer vent stack shall be drained separately to the lowest sterilizer funnel or basket-type waste fitting or receptor.

§ 18-29-713.11 Sterilizer vent stack sizes.

Sterilizer vent stack sizes shall comply with Section § 18-29-713.11.1 through Section § 18-29-713.11.4.

§ 18-29-713.11.1 Bedpan steamers.

The minimum size of a sterilizer vent serving a bedpan steamer shall be 1 1/2 inches (38 mm) in diameter. Multiple installations shall be sized in accordance with Table § 18-29-713.11.1.

§ 18-29-713.11.2 Boiling-type sterilizers.

The minimum size of a sterilizer vent stack shall be 2 inches (51 mm) in diameter where serving a utensil sterilizer and 1 1/2 inches (38 mm) in diameter where serving an instrument sterilizer. Combinations of boiling-type sterilizer vent connections shall be sized in accordance with Table § 18-29-713.11.1.

§ 18-29-713.11.3 Pressure sterilizers.

Pressure sterilizer vent stacks shall be 2 1/2 inches (64 mm) minimum. Those serving combinations of pressure sterilizer exhaust connections shall be sized in accordance with Table § 18-29-713.11.3.

§ 18-29-713.11.4 Pressure instrument washer sterilizer sizes.

The minimum diameter of a sterilizer vent stack serving an instrument washer sterilizer shall be 2 inches (50 mm). Not more than two sterilizers shall be installed on a 2-inch (50 mm) stack, and not more than four sterilizers shall be installed on a 3-inch (75 mm) stack.