10A NCAC 13C .1406. PLUMBING AND OTHER PIPING SYSTEMS

(a)  All building plumbing systems shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of the North Carolina State Building Code, Volume II.

(b)  Plumbing Fixtures

(1)           The material used for plumbing fixtures shall be of non‑absorptive acid‑resistant material.

(2)           Lavatories and sinks required shall have the water supply spout mounted so that its discharge point is a minimum distance of five inches (12.7 cm.) above the rim of the fixture.  All fixtures used by medical and nursing staff shall be trimmed with valves which can be operated without the use of hands.  Where blade handles are used for this purpose, they shall not exceed four and one-half inches (11.43 cm.) in length, except that handles on scrub sinks and clinical sinks shall be not less than six inches (15.24 cm.) long.

(3)           Clinical sinks shall have an integral trap in which the upper portion of a visible trap seal provides a water surface.

(c)  Water Supply Systems

(1)           Systems shall be designed to supply water to the fixtures and equipment at a sufficient pressure to operate all fixtures and equipment during maximum demand periods.

(2)           Each water service main, branch main, riser and branch to a group of fixtures shall be valved.  Stop valves shall be provided at each fixture.

(3)           Backflow preventers shall be installed on hose bibbs and on all fixtures to which hoses or tubing can be attached.

(4)           Hot water distribution systems shall be arranged to provide hot water at each hot water outlet at all times.  Hot water at the handwashing and bathing facilities shall not exceed 116° F (46.6°C).

(d)  Drainage Systems

(1)           Drain lines from sinks in which acid wastes may be poured shall be fabricated from an acid‑resistant material.

(2)           Piping systems shall be designed to avoid, insofar as is possible, installations in the ceiling directly over operating rooms.

(3)           Floor drains shall not be installed in operating rooms.

(4)           Building sewers shall discharge into a community sewerage system.  Where such a system is not available, a facility providing sewage treatment which conforms to applicable local and state regulations is required.

(e)  Non‑flammable medical gas system installations shall be in accordance with the requirements of NFPA Standard 99 and NFPA 50. Clinical vacuum (suction) system installations shall be in accordance with the requirements of NFPA Standard 99.  The minimum number of outlets is shown below.

 

Minimum Medical Gas Station Outlets and Vacuum Station Inlets

 

Location	Oxygen	Vacuum	Medical Air
Operating Room	2/room	3/room	1/room
Recovery Room	1/bed	3/bed	1/bed

 

(f)  Service outlets for built‑in housekeeping vacuum systems, if used, shall not be located within operating rooms.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 131E‑149;

Eff. October 14, 1978;

Amended Eff. April 1, 2003.