Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 51 - PUBLIC HEALTH-SANITARY CODE
Part XIV - Plumbing
Chapter 6 - Water Supply and Distribution
Section XIV-621 - Joints

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code XIV-621

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

A. General. This Section contains provisions applicable to joints specifically for water service and distribution piping. Provisions for those joining methods which are applicable to more than one piping system are contained in Chapter 3 of this code.

B. Soldered Joints. Soldered joints for tubing shall be made with approved fittings (see §621. F of this code). Surfaces to be soldered shall be cleaned bright, all burrs shall be removed and the tubing shall be returned to full bore. The joints shall be properly fluxed and made with approved solder (see Table 303 of this code). All solder and flux used in the installation or repair of water supply systems, water distribution systems, and water service pipe shall be lead free. Soldered joints should not be made closer than 18 inches (457 mm) to an installed plastic-to-metal adapter in the same water line.

1. Exception. The lead free requirement of §621. B of this code above shall not apply to:
a. leaded joints necessary for the repair of existing cast iron pipes;

b. pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, or fixtures, including backflow preventers, that are used exclusively for nonpotable services such as manufacturing, industrial processing, irrigation, outdoor watering, or any other uses where the water is not anticipated to be used for human consumption; or

c. toilets, bidets, urinals, fill valves, flushometer valves, tub fillers, shower valves, service saddles, or water distribution main gate valves that are 2 inches in diameter or larger.

C. Flared Joints. Flared joints for soft tempered copper water tube shall be made with fittings meeting approved standards. The tubing shall be expanded with a proper flaring tool.

D. Brazed Joints. Brazed joints shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 of ANSI B31.1. Brazed joints should not be made closer than 18 inches (457 mm) to an installed plastic-to-metal adapter in the same water line.

E. Joints for Plastic Water Service and Water Distribution Pipe and Fittings. Joints for plastic water service and water distribution pipe and fittings shall comply with the following.

1. General. Plastic pipe and fittings for water service piping and water distribution piping may be of the insert type, compression type, solvent cemented (see Table 303 and Section 313. H.1 of this code), heat fused, pressure-lock, or may be hot or cold flared as recommended by the manufacturer or the Plastic Pipe Institute for the particular materials being used. With the exception of heat fused polypropylene, all other joints and fittings for plastic pipe are prohibited on inaccessible water distribution piping under slabs.

2. Polyethylene Water Service. Stiffener inserts used with compression type fittings shall not extend beyond the clamp or nut of the fitting. Pipe shall be cut square, using a cutter designed for plastic pipe and ends shall be chamfered to remove sharp edges. Electro and heat fusion joints for Polyethylene pipe and fittings shall be made in accordance with ASTM F 1290 and ASTM F 2620, respectively. Flared joints shall be permitted where recommended by the manufacturer and made by the use of a tool designed for that operation.

3. Polypropylene Piping and Joints. Heat fused joints for polypropylene pipe and fitting joints shall be made in accordance with ASTM D 2657.

F. Copper Water Pipe and Tubing Joints for copper water pipe and tubing shall be formed either by the appropriate use of approved brass, bronze or wrought copper water fittings, properly soldered or brazed together, or by means of approved flare fittings as provided in §621. C of this code.

G. Stainless Steel Pipe and Joints. Joints and fittings for stainless steel pipe shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions and approved standards. Welded joints shall be either fusion or resistance welded based on the selection of the base metal. Chemical composition of the filler metal shall comply with AWS A5.9 based on the alloy content of the piping material.

H. Special Joints. The special joints identified below shall comply with the following.

1. Copper Water Tubing or Stainless Steel Tubing to Threaded Pipe Joints. Joints from copper water tubing or stainless steel tubing to threaded pipe shall be formed by the use of bronze or copper adapter fittings. The joint between the copper tube or stainless steel tube and fittings shall be properly soldered or brazed, and the connection between the threaded pipe and the fitting shall be made with a standard pipe size threaded joint.

2. Ground Joint Brass Connections. Ground joint brass connections which allow adjustment of tubing but provide a rigid joint when made up shall not be considered as slip joints.

3. Plastic Pipe to Other Materials. Joints between plastic pipe and other materials shall be formed with proper adaption fittings as furnished by the manufacturer.

4. Unions. Unions in the water service pipe and water distribution system shall be metal-to-metal with ground seats.

The text in this Section will be effective on January 1, 2013.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:4(A)(7)R.S. 40:5(2)(3)(7)(9)(16)(17)(20), and R.S. 40:1299.27.1.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Louisiana may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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