IL Plumber cheat sheet

The Illinois Plumbing Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 890) is adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health; the current edition is the 2014 Illinois Plumbing Code, and local units of government may adopt more stringent ordinances but may not adopt less stringent ones.

Minimum fixture unit values and drainage sizing follow the code's Appendix A tables: a water closet counts as 3 drainage fixture units (DFU), a lavatory 1 DFU, a bathtub 2 DFU, a floor drain 2 DFU, and a kitchen sink 2 DFU.

Minimum trap arm length is measured from the trap weir to the vent connection; the developed length may not exceed the values in the code table (for a 1-1/4 inch trap arm, 2 feet 6 inches; for 1-1/2 inch, 3 feet 6 inches; for 2 inch, 5 feet).

Every trap must be protected by a vent; a vent may not be installed on the downstream side of a trap, and each trap arm may serve only one trap except where a horizontal branch is sized per code.

A water closet must be set with its trap seal protected; the water closet compartment must have a minimum clear space of 15 inches from the centerline of the fixture to any side wall and 21 inches in front of the bowl.

Backflow protection by air gap is the preferred method; an air gap must be at least twice the effective diameter of the discharge pipe and never less than 1 inch above the flood-level rim.

Soil and waste stacks must extend at least 2 inches above the roof and be terminated with an approved vent cap; vent terminals must be at least 10 feet from any window, door, or air intake, or 2 feet above the roof line if closer.

A building drain must be installed below the lowest floor level with a minimum slope of 1/4 inch per foot for pipe 3 inches and smaller, and 1/8 inch per foot for pipe 4 inches and larger.

Water distribution pipe sizing uses the fixture-unit method per Appendix A; a water closet requires 2.5 fixture units and a lavatory 1 fixture unit, with minimum pipe sizes governed by the table of equivalent fixture units.

225 ILCS 320 creates the Illinois State Plumbing License Law; the Illinois Department of Public Health administers licensing of plumbers and plumbing contractors.

A licensed plumber is required for any plumbing work; a homeowner may perform plumbing work on a single-family residence that the homeowner occupies, subject to permit and inspection requirements.

A plumbing contractor license requires a licensed plumber as the responsible person; the contractor license is issued to a business entity and is not transferable.

Plumber licenses are issued as apprentice plumbers, journeyman plumbers, and master plumbers; a master plumber may supervise plumbing work and may be the responsible licensed plumber for a contractor.

An apprentice plumber must work under the direct supervision of a licensed plumber and must accumulate the required hours of experience before taking the journeyman examination.

The Department may refuse, suspend, or revoke a license for violations including gross negligence, incompetence, unlicensed practice, or fraud in obtaining a license; the licensee is entitled to a hearing under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

A license must be renewed on the schedule set by the Department; continuing education requirements, where applicable, must be met before renewal is granted.

A licensed plumber must display the license number on vehicles and advertising as required by rule; plumbing permits must be obtained from the local authority having jurisdiction before work begins.

The law authorizes the Department to adopt rules governing plumbing installation, inspection, and licensing, codified in 77 Ill. Adm. Code 890 and the Plumbers Licensing Code.

Plans and specifications must be submitted to the local authority having jurisdiction and approved before installation; the code requires that all plumbing work be inspected at rough-in and final stages.

Rough-in inspection must occur after all piping is installed and before it is covered; the building drain and water distribution system must be tested and approved before concealment.

A water distribution system is tested at working pressure or at least 100 psi for at least 30 minutes; a drainage system is tested with a water test of at least 10 feet of head or an air test of 5 psi for 15 minutes.

Alterations and extensions must conform to the code as it applies to new work; existing installations that are not altered may remain, but the altered portion must comply.

Repairs must restore the system to code-compliant condition; a repair that increases the load on a drain or vent must be evaluated for adequate sizing and venting.

Maintenance requires that fixtures, traps, and vents remain functional; a leaking trap or a blocked vent is a violation and must be corrected.

A plumbing permit is required for new installation, alteration, and replacement of piping and fixtures; ordinary repairs such as replacing a faucet washer may be exempt where the local code allows.

The authority having jurisdiction may require a plan review and may reject work that does not conform; the plumber must correct deficiencies and request reinspection.

Materials must be approved and listed; plastic pipe such as PVC and ABS may be used for drainage where permitted, and PEX may be used for water distribution where the code and manufacturer allow.

A cross-connection is any actual or potential connection between a potable water supply and a source of contamination; it must be eliminated or protected by an approved backflow prevention device or assembly.

Backflow may occur by backsiphonage (negative pressure in the supply) or by backpressure (downstream pressure exceeding supply pressure); the protection method must address the applicable type.

An air gap is the only absolute protection against backflow; a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly (RPZ) is required for high-hazard connections such as those to boilers, irrigation, and chemical feed systems.

A double check valve assembly may be used for low-hazard connections; a pressure vacuum breaker or atmospheric vacuum breaker may be used for specific low-hazard applications such as hose bibbs.

Backflow prevention assemblies must be tested at installation and annually by a certified tester; test results must be reported to the local water authority.

Water quality protection includes preventing contamination from nonpotable sources; a potable water line may not be directly connected to a nonpotable system, and hose bibbs must be protected by a vacuum breaker.

Pathogen control in plumbing includes maintaining a proper trap seal to prevent sewer gas and pathogen entry; trap seals must be maintained and vents must be kept open and unobstructed.

Water heaters must be protected against backflow and must have a temperature and pressure relief valve piped to a safe discharge point; a thermal expansion control device is required on a closed system.

Lead and copper concerns require use of lead-free materials in potable water systems; the code requires lead-free solder and flux and limits lead content in pipes and fittings.