How to Guide

109
INSTALLATION PROCEDURES
Testing with or use of compressed air or gas in PVC / ABS
/ CPVC pipe or fittings can result in explosive failures and
cause severe injury or death.
• NEVER test with or transport/store
compressed air or gas in PVC / ABS / CPVC
pipe or fittings.
• NEVER test PVC / ABS / CPVC pipe or
fittings with compressed air or gas, or air
over water boosters.
• ONLY use PVC / ABS / CPVC pipe or
fittings for water or approved chemicals.
• Refer to warnings on PPFA’s website and
ASTM D 1785.
or capped with test plugs or test caps.
When testing Foam Core pipe, always use external caps to
eliminate the possibility of leakage through the foam core
layer of the pipe.
Fill the system to be tested with water at the highest point.
As water fills a vertical pipe it creates hydrostatic pressure.
The pressure increases as the height of the water in the
vertical pipe increases. Charlotte Pipe recommends testing
at 10 feet of hydrostatic pressure (4.3 pounds per square
inch.) Filling the system slowly should allow any air in the
system to escape as the water rises in the vertical pipe. All
entrapped air in the system should be expelled prior to the
beginning of the test. Failure to remove entrapped air may
give faulty test results.
Once the stack is filled to “ten feet of head,” a visual
inspection of the section being tested should be made to
check for leaks. If a leak is found, the joint must be cut
out and a new section installed. Once the system has been
successfully tested, it should be drained and the next section
prepared for testing.
Alternate Test Methods
Vacuum Test
Charlotte Pipe and Foundry recognizes vacuum testing of
ABS and PVC DWV piping system to 8.75 inches of mercury
is a safe practice and does not object to conducting this type
of test. However, vacuum testing is complex and requires
dedicated equipment. Identifying leak sites can be difficult.
The plumbing industry has not developed an efficient
methodology for vacuum testing piping systems in the field.
The Smoke Test
Should a smoke test be specified by an engineer, architect, or
plumbing code, proceed as follows:
1. Permanently connect all fixtures and fill all traps with
water.
2. Be prepared to test all parts of the plumbing drainage
and ventilation system.
3. Close all windows in the building until the test has been
completed.
4. Fill the system with a thick, penetrating smoke that has
been generated by one or more smoke-producing machines.
5. When smoke begins to appear at the stack opening on the
roof, close off that opening.
6. Continue filling the system with smoke until a pressure
equal to one inch of water is built up.
7. Maintain this pressure for fifteen minutes or longer, as
required to test the entire system.
8. Check all components of the system to help ensure that
smoke is not escaping. Smoke should not be visible at any
point, connection, or fixture.
The Peppermint Test
This test is most often used in older installations to detect
faulty plumbing. NOTE: Peppermint oils are not chemically
compatible with ABS and therefore should not be used to test
ABS DWV systems. The peppermint test should only be used
to test PVC DWV systems.
1. Permanently connect all fixtures and fill all traps with
water.
2. Be prepared to test all parts of the plumbing drainage
and ventilation system.
3. Close all windows in the building until the test has been
completed.
4. Mix two ounces of peppermint oil with one gallon of hot
water.
5. Pour the mixture into the system’s roof opening.
6. Tightly close the roof opening.
To reduce the risk of fire, smoke inhalation, chemical
inhalation or burns, never use chemical mixtures for
producing smoke. These mixtures may be dangerous and
can cause serious personal injury.